Hell's Half Acre/McKinley Peak

Hell's Half Acre is an interesting rock formation on McKinley Road about 5.5 miles from the start at Cachuma Saddle on Happy Canyon Road. McKinley Peak is one of the highest peaks in Santa Barbara County, over 6000ft. high (1564 meters).

The trail is really a dirt road, but the road is closed to traffic, unless you have a forest service key to unlock the gate. The road can be steep at times as it winds its way along the crest of the San Rafael range and along the San Rafael Wilderness boundary. There are firs and pines, meadows and rocky outcrops along the way. It is an excellent bicycling route.

Along McKinley road is the junction with the Big Cone Spruce trail which has a nice, shady camp along a creek (after quite a steep drop from the road). The Big Cone Spruce trail eventually meets up with the Manzana trail just beyond the Narrows camp, making this a possible loop or car shuttle back pack trip. The Big Cone Spruce trail does get quite overgrown with poison oak along the bottom portions, however. At the end of McKinley Road is the trail head to Mission Pine Springs and beyond, wonderful backpacking destinations, and the trail head to Santa Cruz Mountain and beyond.

The total round-trip mileage to McKinley Peak is about 20 miles, making this a strenuous hike. However, on the rainiest and most miserable and cold day imagineable a couple of 60+ year old women were observed jogging to McKinley Peak, a weekly ritual, so how hard could it be? (Famous last words, eh? Believe me those ladies are TOUGH.)

The total round trip mileage to Hell's Half Acre is about 12, and it's pretty tough, too.

The GPS waypoint information was donated by Alex Chernikov.

You will need an Adventure Pass to park at the trailhead.

Hell's Half Acre/McKinley Peak Updates

Update trail conditions

Posted: June 24, 2010, 7:57 pm
by: santiar

Yesterday I hiked from Cachuma Saddle up McKinley Mountain Road and camped at McKinley Spring. Like most fire-road hikes, this one is exposed for the most part and it was quite hot when the breeze died down. The faucet at the Spring tank is working, but it's quite hot refilling your backpack bladder as there is no shade. McKinley Spring camp is cool - no views as it is surrounded by trees so you have to go up to the peak for the vista booty. A word of caution - the horse water trough from the spring is a mosquito factory, so cover up at dawn and dusk...I brought a mosquito net for my head which I think was a live-saver. Swarming! The spring at McKinley Spring is clean and full.
Got up early this morning to greet the sun on McKinley Mountain peak. From McKinley saddle to the summit requires a little meandering but if you look, you can see where other people have made their way up. Wow! What a view!
San Rafael looked so temping right next door (what's another 1.7 miles if you are already up there?) So I headed East after breakfast on the Mission Pine Trail to San Rafael Mountain peak. The trail is in good condition with wildflowers still present. This is a great hike! It sneaks along the northwest side of San Rafael Mountain with amazing views of the San Rafael wilderness to the northwest, and then bang! You are at the peak and the top of Santa Barbara county! Amazing 360 degree views. There is only one sketchy part on a steep/gravely/incline that you must use extra caution as to not go tumbling down the hill (with a 30lb pack on.) Returned to camp and then hiked back to my car at Cachuma saddle.
Keep well hydrated as this one is a hot hike for the summer. If you don't mind the flies and 'squitos, enjoy!

Posted: January 2, 2010, 6:16 pm
by: TheBeeman

A day after Thanksgiving day (Nov.27) I hooked a ride up to McKinley Saddle on a Volunteer Wilderness Ranger trip to hike to Mission Pine Springs and Basin. The road was littered with the usual rocks sloughed off from the upslopes with the exception of one large boulder that almost prevented us going on this trip. Fortunately 3 strong men with a rock bar chipped and moved a large chunk to allow our truck to pass. The road is open all the way to the San Rafael wilderness boundary. Lots of water at McKinley springs. The trough needs some leak fixing. Time to think about hiking the road in a full moo; just missed doing it under the recent blue moon. I have posted pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/beemancron. Happy Trails.

Posted: October 5, 2009, 8:14 pm
by: Glen

I was overnight at McKinley Spring last night and found lots of water there. Temp was 45 when I arrived in the early afternoon, dropping to 35 overnight!

Posted: May 23, 2009, 8:20 pm
by: george

Rode the mountain bike up to just before Hell's Half Acre today, then hiked up to McKinley and San Rafael Peaks. The road looks like it hasn't been driven at all since the fire and has tall grass in parts. Plenty of footprints and some big bear tracks, but I didn't see anyone all day until the way down. Some fine flowers still on display, and the blue-flowered ceanothus was fragrant. You don't encounter any sign of the Zaca Fire until up near McKinley Springs or thereabouts; and the camp/spring area itself is intact with a nice cold (1-liter per minute) flow. The Mission Pine Springs trail enters the burn after about a mile, but crews have made a fire break next to it down low. The fire improved the view from the peak quite a bit!
The cut up to McKinley Peak is wider than before, and sadly, they cut down the couple of small oaks on top that used to make it a prettier spot. (We camped up there once.) The views are still great!

Posted: December 28, 2008, 7:32 pm
by: mcstonehousesb

We got a later then expected start and only made it to Hell's Half Acre . . . Heavenly day , , no wind, clear skies, above 40 in the shade, and toasty on the south slopes. A small bit of snow here and there. Very little mud.
This was a great way to get outa that too-much-in-the-house celebration mode.

Nira had one serious camper,as did D.Brown, other then that the back side was empty.... probably because the Figuora gate above the Saddle was closed again (no notice sign either).

mcsb

Posted: December 26, 2008, 5:39 pm
by: Chris Chirgwin

My Chesapeake retriever (Casey) and I hiked up to McKinley Springs today. We left early in the morning and the ground was frozen all the way from Cachuma Saddle to the Springs - which is better then hiking in the mud! I am guessing the temperature at the Springs was in the high 20's and the wind was blowing pretty hard. There was about a foot of snow at the spot where we turned around. All in all, it was a great day for a winter hike.

Posted: January 4, 2007, 1:20 pm
by: bkraushaar

My brother and I biked to McKinley Peak on new years eve. Encountered a deer, and caught a glimpse of a mountain lion. (Very cool experience) About 3" base of snow for the last 3 miles of the trip. Great trip. Took 3 and a half hours to get up, and 1 and a half to come down! Gotta love that downhill section!

Posted: April 16, 2006, 10:25 pm
by: Chris Chirgwin

Hiked from Cachuma Saddle to McKinley Peak on Saturday, April 15. There are still some patches of snow around McKinley Springs. Although certain parts of the road are still pretty muddy, it was a beautiful day for a hike.

Posted: March 26, 2006, 6:39 pm
by: Jeff

Dayhiked to McKinley Springs yesterday in the rain. The campground is completely buried in snow still (1-2' in parts). Snow on the road from just past the Big Cone Spruce junction on through to San Rafael where the snow is deeper. If the current weather pattern holds, there will be snow on the north-facing slopes for at least two more weeks. Go hike and build a snowman!

Posted: March 5, 2006, 9:10 pm
by: Anonymous

Saturday, 4 March 2006, I day hiked to San Rafael Peak. The snow line was just below 5000 ft, so that would be just after Hells Half Acre, which means 10 miles in the snow. It was really nice though, clear skies and great views. Quite amusing to play in the snow in Santa Barbara County. Trail conditions past McKinley Saddle are fine and water available at McKinley Springs (pretty much year round I think).

Posted: November 15, 2005, 1:10 pm
by: BSA Troop 42

Cachuma Saddle to McKinley Peak on 11 November 2005. Great graded road and now a cleared and marked trail to the top of McKinley Peak. There is stock and people tank water by the table near the spring 3.9 miles in. McKinley Spring Camp ( Cold Spring ) has superior tasting water for stock and people with a reservoir replenishment spring flow of about ¼ inches in diameter.

Posted: June 17, 2005, 9:48 am
by: Anonymous

the trail is really nice right now. I would definately suggest lots of bug spray and water, it gets hot up there!! It is a great escape from june gloom...clear skies as soon as you get into santa ynez! Watch out for cows and little road squirrels on the drive into the trail!!

Posted: March 23, 2005, 8:35 pm
by: Diane

Post your update here.