The Playgrounds

This hike is a very special treat. The hike itself is not very long. Perhaps you will travel 3 or 4 miles. But much of that will be rock hopping on a Playground of sandstone boulders and crevices. If you are lucky, maybe you will find your way to The Narrows, which is a very long, narrow crack in the rock that runs for several hundred yards and leads you through a dark cave at one point. If you are a climber, there are many great opportunities for bouldering, and there is even a climbing wall or two. I am not much of a climber, but looking at one of them, I would guess it is rated quite high on the climber's rating scale as it is an overhang all the way and possesses "biohazards"—wasp nests in enough holes that I would be afraid of each and every handhold. But it is a well-used and obviously well-loved climbing spot. Someone has taken the time to put in wood benches.

Disclaimer: Just because this hike is short it is not easy. It can be difficult climbing the rocks. But you can make a short, easy hike out of this if you want. You are free to stop at the first rocks you see for a nice picnic overlooking Goleta.

The Playgrounds Updates

Update trail conditions

Posted: August 17, 2008, 5:01 pm
by: Doss805

Can someone give me a hint of where the narrows might be. I know its hard to explain but if somone could give me the general direction of where to go from the boulder at the top of the canyon that would be great.

Posted: August 3, 2008, 4:30 pm
by: pope

Thought I'd check it out after the Gap Fire. Trail down to the Playground is pretty burnt to a crisp so quite easy to follow. Once at the Playground I was surprised how much burnt even with all the rocks around, I had thought the nooks and crannies would of protected a lot. Only my 3rd time there and still didn't find the Narrows, but we didn't give it too much effort. A lot of ash and my lungs now feel like crud. Could even see some new green shoots coming up underneath some of the Manzanita trees.

Posted: March 14, 2008, 3:01 pm
by: JMader2008

Trail conditions to the rocks were in good condition, although some of the bushes had grown over the trail and were somewhat obstructive. There was also some trail erosion from all the rain in January.

The rocks were amazing. Didn't find The Narrows, but there's always next time.

Only concern was that there was a lot of broken glass on some of the rocks from what appeared to be beer bottles.

Posted: March 30, 2007, 9:08 pm
by: Logan

I was up there on Tuesday and it was perfect! No one else there and completely above the unseasonal fog we've been getting. Along with the usual rat droppings in the narrows there were bats, which I had never seen there before.

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Posted: January 8, 2006, 3:01 pm
by: Jeff

Brilliant today. Trail good, few people.

Posted: October 22, 2005, 10:26 am
by: Anonymous

everyting cool and red , reap what you sow- garlic/haze

Posted: March 23, 2005, 7:26 pm
by: Diane

Post your update here.