Hiking and Backpacking Santa Barbara and Ventura (2nd Edition)

Find Adventure in California’s Los Padres National Forest

For what's changed in the 2nd Edition compared to the 1st, check out Craig R. Carey's, the author's, post.

Majestic waterfalls, sweeping vistas, granite-clad ridges, and hot springs—the southern Los Padres National Forest stretches across Southern California’s incomparable scenery. Let local author Craig R. Carey lead you through the best of this varied terrain. Hiking & Backpacking Santa Barbara & Ventura presents nearly 100 of the finest routes between Gaviota Pass and Lake Piru.

Explore lush trails above Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, Ventura, Ojai, Santa Paula, Fillmore, and Piru. Plan a day hike, a weekend backpacking trip, or a deep backcountry journey through stretches of the Chumash, San Rafael, Dick Smith, Sespe, and Matilija wildernesses. This guide provides the information you need to plan and implement your next hiking and backpacking adventure!

Inside You’ll Find:

• 98 of the top routes in California’s second-largest national forest
• Day trips, weekend excursions, and deep backcountry treks
• Detailed section maps and GPS coordinates
• Waypoints, camps, trailhead directions, and permit information
• Recommendations for hiking with children

About Craig R. Carey
Bitten by the trail bug the moment his parents strapped a little Kelty frame pack to his six-year-old shoulders and led him across a stretch of the El Dorado National Forest, Craig R. Carey grew up hiking and backpacking the trails of the southern Los Padres (with “side-trips” across the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Europe, and New Zealand).

An active scout leader and rugby follower, Craig holds a BA in History from the University of California at Santa Barbara. His work has appeared in Wilderness New Zealand, Islands, Hooked on the Outdoors, Rugby, The Green, and New Zealand Adventure.