5 miles
Distance
582 ft
Climb
-3,505 ft
Descent
00:52:31
Avg time
Trail Supporters, Builders & Maintainers of Santa Cruz (Little Pine Mountain) Trail

Details

  • Riding Area
    Santa Barbara
    Santa Barbara, California
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue rate
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Trail Usage
    Multi-use
  • Direction
    Downhill Primary
    Popular direction shown
  • Global Ranking
    #4784
  • Land Manager
    Los Padres National Forest

Santa Cruz Trail, also known as Little Pine, is a Santa Barbara back country classic. The upper trail head is near Happy Hollow camp ground at the top of Little Pine Mountain, and the bottom trail head is a short way up the Camuesa OHV road from the Upper Oso camp ground. While some adventurous souls climb the Santa Cruz trail, most continue past the lower trail head and up the OHV road. Take a left at the intersection with Buckhorn road. Next take the cut off to Happy Hollow at the cistern. The trail head is on your right as you arrive in Happy Hollow. It is about 11 miles and 4000 feet of climbing from Upper Oso to the upper trail head.

While overall an intermediate trail, there are sections of extreme exposure and loose shale. The section near the top from Alexander Saddle down to the upper meadow has breathtaking views, but you really don't want to ride off the trail here. And don't be shy about walking areas in the shale slides. Otherwise just hang on for more than 5 miles of single track bliss.

You will often encounter hikers on this trail, so please ride with a bell.

Local Trail Association
More Stats for Santa Cruz Trail (Little Pine Mountain) bike trail
  • Altitude change
    -2,923 ft
  • Altitude min
    1,344 ft
  • Altitude max
    4,352 ft
  • Altitude start
    4,302 ft
  • Altitude end
    1,379 ft
  • Grade max
    -51.037%
  • Grade min
    48.475%
  • Distance climb
    4,164 ft
  • Distance down
    4 miles
  • Distance flat
    2,109 ft
  • Avg time
    00:52:31
  • view trail stats
Status:
on Aug 26, 2017
Dry
Avg: 5 (3 votes)

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Layers winter
Trail Style
  • ?
Activity Type
Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
Directions to santa-cruz-trail-little-pine-mountain trailhead (34.601055, -119.746627)
update trails status or condition

Santa Cruz Trail... Trail Reports

datedescription
Aug 26, 2017 @ 10:28am
Aug 26, 2017
 Still closed and in need of a ton of work. Want to help? Look up SBMTV and join in!
Dec 3, 2016 @ 11:41am
Dec 3, 2016
 Closed due to forest fire
view all reports »

Photos

more »
37 |
Nov 30, 2017 @ 2:34pm
Nov 30, 2017
Santa Cruz Trail (Little Pine...
34 |
Nov 30, 2017 @ 2:34pm
Nov 30, 2017
Santa Cruz Trail (Little Pine...
3,593 |
Aug 12, 2016 @ 4:01pm
Aug 12, 2016
| 6 comments Santa Cruz Trail (Little Pine...
256 |
Apr 25, 2015 @ 3:48pm
Apr 25, 2015
Santa Cruz Trail (Little Pine...

Routes with this trail

titleratingdistance
Santa Cruz Trail Loop
17 miles

1 Review & Comments

  • + 0
flag otahally (Nov 30, 2017 at 14:32)
 I went to ride this late November 2017. Upper 2/3’s of the trail is completely overgrown, washed out and desrteoyed by forest fire. Unrideable. Highly recommend to skip this until it’s fixed, if that is a Even feasible.
[Reply]

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Videos

more »
Little Pine Loop - 1 of 2 - Santa Barbara -...
267 | Apr 11, 2016 , Santa Barbara
Little Pine Loop - 2 of 2 - Santa Barbara -...
258 | Apr 11, 2016 , Santa Barbara
Santa Cruz Trail – Santa Barbara, CA
24:13 | 139 | Dec 9, 2014 , Santa Barbara

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