A Waterfall in the Wilds of Los Padres Forest

Least known and certainly least traveled of Santa Barbara’s foothill trails, the West Fork Trail ventures into some surprisingly wild terrain. Bold sandstone formations, clear springs, lush canyon vegetation and a 200-foot waterfall are a few of the considerable charms of this branch of Cold Spring Canyon in the Los Padres National Forest.

The canyon’s near-wilderness nature is all the more surprising considering its location--scarcely a mile as the orange-crowned warbler flies from the villas of Montecito’s rich and famous, and just two miles from its boutiques and bistros.

West Fork Trail has been used for more than 100 years. Rangers used the trail up the West Fork of Cold Spring Canyon to patrol Santa Barbara’s back country.

Forest rangers soon realized that this tricky trail, which climbed around a waterfall and crossed shale slopes, was difficult to maintain. In 1905, the U.S. Forest Service built a trail up the East Fork of Cold Spring Canyon. West Fork lost its status as a government-maintained transportation artery, and the pathway even disappeared from some maps over the years. Local hikers, however, never forgot the wonders of West Fork Trail, and today, while little used, it offers a fine hike.

A good time to hike it is after the first heavy rain of winter. The creek pools bubble over, innumerable newts take to the trail and the canyon’s 200-foot waterfall is a sight to behold.

An important note about that waterfall: For most hikers, Cold Spring Canyon’s waterfall is a natural wonder to view from afar, not walk to. Experienced trekkers can follow a sketchy, soggy creek-side route to the base of the falls and even beyond, but this is serious, time-consuming business--slow and often very wet going.

Directions to trail head: From U.S. 101 northbound in Montecito, a few miles south of Santa Barbara, exit on Olive Mill Road and drive two miles north (toward the mountains) to East Mountain Drive. Turn left and drive a mile to the signed trail head on the right. Look for the trail head at a point where Cold Spring Creek flows over a cement drainage apron on Mountain Drive. Parking is along Mountain Drive near the trail head.

The hike: The trail immediately crosses the creek to the east side of the canyon. It rises briefly through oak woodland, then returns to the creek. Look to your left, 0.25 mile out, for the signed West Fork Trail. A strategically placed trench allows contemplation of the creek bubbling through Cold Spring Canyon.

Cross the creek on West Fork Trail and begin a mellow ascent westward under a canopy of oak and bay laurel. Water pipes, historic and modern, parallel the trail.

After a short mile, you’ll spot an unsigned trail on your right leading down to the creek. This is the rough and sketchy path leading north up the canyon to the waterfall. (Not recommended for any but the most experienced hikers.)

After this junction, the main West Fork Trail crosses and recrosses the creek, then switchbacks in deep shade past ferns, alder and sycamore out of the creek bed onto more open slopes. The trail delivers a view of the waterfall, then turns away from it as the canyon narrows and gets steeper.

West Fork Trail ends at a hairpin turn of Gibraltar Road, an access road into Los Padres.

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Cold Springs Canyon (West Fork) Trail

WHERE: Santa Ynez Mountains.

DISTANCE: 4 miles round trip with 1,000-foot elevation gain.

TERRAIN: Oak woodland, lush canyon.

HIGHLIGHTS: Bold rock formations, quiet pools, view of a 200-foot waterfall.

DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: Moderate.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Los Padres National Forest, tel. (805) 683-6711; Santa Barbara Conference and Visitors Bureau, tel. (805) 966-9222.