Red Rock
Red Rock, at the end of Paradise Road on the Santa Ynez River is one of the most popular weekend destinations for summertime fun. It's a local party spot. Families, teenagers, hikers and all kinds of people come to this area to enjoy the deep swimming holes, picnic spots and campgrounds along the Santa Ynez River. This area is a car camping/picnic spot.
You will need an Adventure Pass to park your car in the area.
The hike to Red Rock is only about 2 mile or less, round trip, but you will get your feet wet sloshing through the creek.
Red Rock is a deep swimming hole popular to weekenders. Sometimes drunk teenagers dive from the 40 foot cliffs into the narrow pool below, sometimes fatally, sometimes successfully. For this reason, and because there is a lot of drinking in the area, there is a strong police presence on summer weekends.
Past the Red Rock swimming hole you can continue sloshing your way along the creek, following an old jeep road to another deep swimming hole or two, and then at about the 3.5 mile mark, reach Gibraltar Dam, the reservoir for the City of Santa Barbara.
The dam is a 7 mile round trip hike.
Red Rock Updates
Update trail conditions
Posted: September 16, 2006, 7:16 pm
by: Diane
There's always water at red rock.
Posted: September 13, 2006, 2:19 pm
by: Anonymous
Hi,
Does anybody know if there is currently water at red rocks?
Posted: February 4, 2006, 1:34 pm
by: Anonymous
i went ot redrock this weekend with a couple of my freind, 5 to be exact, only 2 of us returned, do not jump off the cliffs unless your incredibly fat like me, otherwise you WILL NOT bounce off the rocks. 8===D
Posted: November 21, 2005, 10:24 am
by: Anonymous
My friend and I did the complete 7.5 mile loop at Redrock. Great time of the year to go, not too many people around. Started on the road that led to Gibralter Dam and then hiked back through the river rocks. Make sure to bring your insect repellent! The mosquitos and flies are in full force. Good time of the year to take picture with the fall colors.
Posted: November 13, 2005, 12:31 am
by: Anonymous
Hiked Red rock trail today, first hike in CA for a NY transplant. Loud, obnoxious young guys drinking and smoking, monopolizing 1st pool. Will forgive them because of the guitarist, who was nice to hear. Got lost about 1/2 mile from the end of the trail and turned back because of sundown. A lot of bees! Love this site, plan on using all your tips and recommendations.
Posted: August 24, 2005, 3:48 pm
by: Tali
A friend of mine did it this weekend and almost died. A number of other people have tried and died. The little rocks are a great alternative.
Posted: July 16, 2005, 11:17 pm
by: Anonymous
Enjoyed a nice family jaunt up to Red Rocks last week. The stone section at the beginning that used to be a challenge for our little ones seems to have settled in more like cobbblestone (or perhaps the fact that the kids are big enough to walk now is the key). At any rate, the trail was in good condition, easy to find, easy to follow. Unfortunately there was more garbage at the swimming hole that I've ever seen before. Carried as much out as we could, but there were glass bottles and cans stashed in most every hole. I finally felt defeated in my effort when, just after removing glass trash from "jumping rock", a youngster jumping onto the same tapped her beer bottle a bit too hard. It exploded, LITERALLY, in her face. Rendered first aid, left glass shards behind to wash in with the millions of others.
Posted: March 23, 2005, 7:31 pm
by: Diane
Post your update here.
