Arroyo Burro Trail
This hike has uphill both on the way up and on the way back, and all of it is steep. There are great views of the city and ocean.
The Arroyo Burro Trail is a historic trail. In the days before automobile travel trails the only way over the impenetrable mountain barrier between the coast and the interior. Arroyo Burro supplied a route for miners and other trade. The trail continues over the other side of the mountains to the Santa Ynez River. This other half of the trail is shady and very lovely, but not described here.
The full hike is 12 strenuous miles round trip with an approximate 4000ft elevation gain. The gratuitous 500ft. drop you do in the middle of the ascent adds that extra 1000ft. You can turn around at any point though. A 3 mile hike will reward you with great views of the city, the ocean and university.
Begin this hike on the Jesusita Trail.
At the beginning, go downhill, avoiding the trail to the left. That one goes down to the creek and eventually to Steven's Park.
You will walk on adobe clay soil that has large cracks when dry and is very sticky and slippery when wet. It can be dangerous when wet.
At .5 miles, pass a picnic table.
At .75 miles, reach the fork in the road for either continuing on Jesusita Trail or taking the Arroyo Burro Trail. Each fork is marked with a sign. Take the Arroyo Burro Trail, which is more straight ahead than to the left.
At the 1 mile mark, the trail ends and you reach pavement. Follow signs as you climb steep paved roads out of the creek canyon.
You will alternate between paved and dirt roads and trail as you follow trail signs. The trail is well-marked.
At just under the 3 mile mark you will finally reach the real trail at the base of two power lines.
Go one tenth of a mile and reach a nice, pink boulder of soft sandstone that people have carved graffiti into over the years. This makes a good turn-around point for a good work-out hike. Continue on for a more strenuous workout.
At mile 4.75 you crest the hill at a small flat. Now you will descend into the canyon.
Follow the trail in the canyon, crossing the creek a few times. Soon you will begin a more earnest ascent out of the creek.
At the 6 mile mark you will reach East Camino Cielo Road. There you will see Little Pine mountain on the other side, framed by some hills in the foreground. There is a target shooting area called the "Glass Factory" up here. The trail continues on the other side of East Camino Cielo Road and descends down to the Santa Ynez River if you want to hike even further. Turning around here the total round trip miles is 12 miles.