Tequepis Trails
(te-KAY-piss)
Icy Leaves on Tequepis
This is a beautiful trail. You will get gorgeous views of Cachuma Lake while climbing, and great views of the coast when you reach the summit. Another bonus is that there are two geocaches at the top for you to look for.
This is a challenging hike, with 2000ft elevation gain in 3 miles, one way. Total mileage is approximately 6 miles.
Tequepis Trail Updates
Update trail conditions
Posted: July 5, 2008, 7:19 pm
by: eric_h
We were cut short today on this hike. The winds shifted a bit and caused Gap Fire smoke to head up and over the ridge and we turned back at about 1 mile from the top, bummed to not get the view from the top, although views of Cachuma were great.
It's worth noting that not far from the camp, the road bends uphill to the right and goes through a gate, but the trail actually goes left. My wife and I got lost at this point on our first trip up Tequepis last year.
Also, not to scare anyone, but we saw a mama black bear and her little cub today. They were definitely more scared of us than we were of them, but worth noting for sure.
Posted: April 13, 2008, 7:08 pm
by: rar
I found the length, from the parking lot at St V camp, to the moment you can see Goleta from the top of the ridge to actually be 4.1 miles as measured by my GPS. Which would make the total length 8.2 instead of the 6 miles listed. Quite a difficult hike at my fitness level!
Here is a picture of the trail from Google Earth:
Tequepis Trail
Posted: October 7, 2007, 11:19 pm
by: elisabeth
Trail in great shape (perhaps the best condition of any I've seen in SB); also about two hours up, 1.5 down -- didn't leave enough light to make it out to the car, and if it weren't for a small flashlight, we would have been stranded (saw only one other person as he was hiking out)... it gets very, very dark back there. All in all, a very nice hike, an excellent trail, lovely weather (and plenty of shade), and one lesson learned.
Posted: December 3, 2006, 9:43 pm
by: dsandrs
My first hike in SB. 2:06 on the way up. Trails were clear, weather beautiful, views unbelievable.
1:30 on the way down.
Recommend this trail.
Posted: November 12, 2006, 10:12 pm
by: Anonymous
Hiked this on Nov. 12. There was a pile of wood blocking the trail with an arrow pointing off to the left about .75 miles from the boy scout camp. That is definitely the WRONG WAY. We encountered many trucks and decided to turn around when we were heading very north (trail should go south) and heard weird techno music being blasted from a grove of trees up ahead. All the private property signs kind of gave us a clue too.
So, early on when you reach a junction where there are some rusted metal tanks to your left and some piles of wood and scrap metal on your right, take the right-veering path. Even if the pile of wood with the left-pointing arrow is still there, just step over it. You know you're on the correct trail if it's too small for a car to drive on.
Posted: January 29, 2006, 5:04 pm
by: BSA Troop 42
Hiked to Tequepis Canyon Falls on 29 January 2006; the falls are up canyon past the signed left turn off up to Camino Cielo. To the falls from Rancho Alegre and returned through Old Camp Drake. Trails are reasonable. The Creek is rock hoppable. Falls good with full pool below.
Posted: October 5, 2005, 8:27 am
by: Anonymous
October 4, 2005
I hiked Tequepis yesterday afternoon. It took me about 2 hours to get up to the ridge and 1.25 on the way back down. First off I have to say that this trail is perhaps my favorite on the front range. There are never any people on the trail! and its got the best views of Cachuma, the San Rafaels, and eventually the Gaviota Coast and Channel Islands. Blah blah blah..... Unfortunately I forgot my loppers yesterday. The trail is very followable but there are a few sections on the top third of the trail where the brush is starting to impede on the trail. The tread is great but if you plan on doing this hike and are looking for some karma bring some loppers.
Posted: February 20, 2005, 12:01 am
by: Anonymous
Revisited this trail with some friends...a recent slide closed a portion of this trail, but it's since been reopened by an alt route. Cachuma Lake finally looks like a lake again. Good trail.
- Greg
Posted: January 21, 2002, 9:45 am
by: Diane
Post your update here.
