Hell's Half Acre/McKinley Peak
Hell's Half Acre is an interesting rock formation on McKinley Road about 3 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 mountain biking and peak-bagging route. A very fit person can check off two or three 6000+ peaks in the area in a single very long day: McKinley, San Rafael and Santa Cruz. Cachuma peak makes it four. Look up Hundred Peaks Section for more information.
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.
The total round trip mileage to Hell's Half Acre is about 6 miles.
The parking area is at Cachuma Saddle, which is at a junction with Figueroa Mountain Road. The parking area is hard to see from the road.
The trail starts at a locked gate on the dirt road just beyond the informational sign on the northeast side of Sunset Valley Road road.
Hell's Half Acre/McKinley Peak
The trail itself is pretty straightforward. You walk along the dirt road for a very very long time. There are gorgeous views on both sides, looking down into the Santa Ynez Valley and into the Manzana River Valley. You can see Hurricane deck and the Sierra Madre in the distance to the North, and the Santa Ynez Mountains to the South. You may even be able to see the ocean horizon, if the day is especially clear.
There is snow in winter and spring, and ice as well, making this a better choice for warmer months.
You begin the hike at the locked gate. In about 3 miles you come to a horse watering station with a picnic table and large water tank. There is a faucet on the back side. In hot months, it feels good to splash some water on your face, especially since you just did quite a long, slow climb.
Past the water tank you continue to climb slowly. You pass a large meadow and then head toward the north side where you find yourself among very large fir trees. It smells like the Sierra Nevada.
Hell's Half Acre is an area of rounded sandstone rock formations and dead manzanita wood that is quite beautiful to look at and fun to explore. The rocks are wind-worn and eroded with small caves. At this point you've gone nearly 6 miles. The road will get steeper from here. Continue if you want, or turn back.
McKinley Peak
Past Hell's Half Acre the road continues its steady climb.
After an eternity or so, you will come to a large metal sign marking the Big Cone Spruce trail. The two mile trail down to the camp is an old firebreak and is very steep. From the camp, which is dark, shady, swampy and almost spooky, you can continue down the creekbed, following large ducks and a faint, poisonoaky trail all the way to the Manzana trail. With Bryan Conant's San Rafael Wilderness map or information on Hike Los Padres you can plan a backpack trip.
Continue beyond the Big Cone Spruce sign along the road, passing McKinley camp along the way. This camp is below the trail and has a spring that runs all year long protected inside a rusty tank. You can fill up your water here and then rest on the picnic table. Or camp if it's a multi-day trip you are doing.
Continue along the road and in about 1/4 mile you will come to its end. McKinley Peak can be climbed from here on the south-east side of its peak.
There is a metal box on a pole with sign-in sheets from the forest service. This is the trail junction for San Rafael Peak, Mission Pine Springs camp and beyond, beautiful, wild and remote backpacking destinations.
If this was a day hike to climb McKinley peak, just head back the way you came. You'll need a foot rub when you get home because the trip was a good 20 miles!