Here’s some good news for local camping and hiking enthusiasts: The road to Red Rock—a popular destination at the end of the Santa Ynez River—has been reopened to motorized vehicles.
The Los Padres National Forest’s Santa Barbara Ranger District announced the reopening in a press release on Feb. 17. The road to Red Rock has been closed since last summer to allow U.S. Forest Service personnel time to make repairs to the bridge at Lower Oso Day-Use Area.
Those repairs were completed this past fall. Forest Service employees cleared the road of accumulated debris from last year’s winter and spring storms and repaired vandalism damage to other facilities while the road was closed to vehicles. Maintenance on the general day-use areas has been completed as well.
The Forest Service would like to remind the public that Rocky Mountain, Inc. manages the entire Lower Santa Ynez Recreation Area under permit, and an Adventure Pass (day or annual) is required to recreate in the area. There are numerous day-use areas with picnic tables, restrooms, barbecue pits, and access to the river.
Camping in the Upper Santa Ynez Recreation Area is limited to established campgrounds through the reservation system, which is accessible online at recreation.gov.
Visitors are encouraged to “plan ahead and come prepared” and to contact the Los Prietos Ranger Station for the latest site conditions by calling 967-3481.
This article appears in Feb 23 – Mar 1, 2012.
