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Blue Canyon Connector Trail - Los Padres National Forest
Trail Distance 1.44 Miles

Blue Canyon gets its name from the blue-green serpentine formations found along its 5 mile length. The canyon runs directly along the Santa Ynez Fault. This is a relatively narrow canyon with several overnight camps along it and a stream that flows year round. Beyond Cottam Camp a number of options are available. You can walk to the car camps at P-Bar Flats and Mid-Santa Ynez, continue down the Santa Ynez River to the Mono Trail and Mono Debris Dam, or make your way up to Forbush Flat.

Trail Details

  • Trail #: 26W13
  • Wilderness Area: Non Wilderness Area
  • County: Santa Barbara County
  • Ranger District: Santa Barbara Ranger District
  • Trail-head Latitude: 34.51363
  • Trail-head Longitude: -119.60055
  • Trail Condition: Kind of Good - Little to no bushwacking and easily followable
  • Topo Maps:
  • Activities & Features:
    • Backpacking
    • Creek
    • Day Hiking
    • Horseback Riding
    • Mountain Biking
    • Panoramic Views
    • Wildlife Viewing



Trail Stats

  • Total Elevation Gain: + 163 feet.
  • Total Elevation Loss: - 150 feet.
  • Overall Average Slope Gain: + 4 %.
  • Overall Average Slope Loss: - 4 %.
  • Kilometers: (km)
  • Meters: (m)
  • Miles: (mi)
  • Feet: (ft)
  • Average Slope: (%)
Upload Images Aerial Overview Image Login to Download GPS File
Survey This Trail

Survey Photos:


  • Paul Cronshaw - 02-21-2015

  • Paul Cronshaw - 02-21-2015

  • Paul Cronshaw - 02-21-2015

  • Paul Cronshaw - 02-21-2015

  • Paul Cronshaw - 02-21-2015

  • Craig R. Carey - 01-20-2019

  • Craig R. Carey - 01-20-2019

  • Craig R. Carey - 01-20-2019

  • Craig R. Carey - 01-20-2019

  • Craig R. Carey - 01-20-2019

Submitted Trail Reports

Blue Canyon Connector Trail Survey - 10-01-2022 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Blue Canyon Connector Trail
Date: 10-01-2022
Surveyor Name:Los Padres Forest Association
Trail description:LPFA and Scout Troop 4 performed trail work along the Blue Canyon Trail from P-Bar to Cottam Camp. The trail is in good shape but look out for cairns at the crossings.
Mode of transport:Array
Trail condition:Good shape and easy to follow
Blue Canyon Connector Trail Survey - 03-30-2022 - by Addison Jerlow
Link: Blue Canyon Connector Trail
Date: 03-30-2022
Surveyor Name:Addison Jerlow
Trail description:Look across the creek, up and to the right for a trail marker when continuing from Cottam. You go up and over the hill, not down either creek. I managed to miss this and took a walk down the far creek a ways before turning back and finding it.
Mode of transport:Hike
Trail condition:Good shape and easy to follow
Blue Canyon Connector Trail Survey - 03-06-2021 - by Anonymous Surveyor
Link: Blue Canyon Connector Trail
Date: 03-06-2021
Surveyor Name:Anonymous Surveyor
Trail description:
Mode of transport:Hike
Trail condition:Needs some work
Condition details:just confusing around the creek crossings
Blue Canyon Connector Trail Survey - 12-14-2019 - by Troop 26
Link: Blue Canyon Connector Trail
Date: 12-14-2019
Surveyor Name:Troop 26
Trail description:Trail is clear and in good shape from Cottam camp down to Santa Ynez river.  One or two spots through the streambed, you have to follow cairns.
Mode of transport:Hike
Trail condition:Good shape and easy to follow
Blue Canyon Connector Trail Survey - 06-03-2019 - by Steve Schott
Link: Blue Canyon Connector Trail
Date: 06-03-2019
Surveyor Name:Steve Schott
Trail description:Very heavily overgrown and difficult to follow for first quarter mile heading north from Cottam. Thereafter, the trail improves. 
Mode of transport:Bicycle
Trail condition:Hard to follow
Blue Canyon Connector Trail Survey - 01-20-2019 - by Craig R. Carey
Link: Blue Canyon Connector Trail
Date: 01-20-2019
Surveyor Name:Craig R. Carey
Trail description:Troop 111 (Ventura) backpacked the length of the Blue Cyn Connector from Rowe's/Rose Gulch to Cottam (north to south) on Sunday, 1/20/19. Trail is in okay shape, but could stand some brushing and the landmark oak at the trailhead at Romero-Camuesa Road has fallen and so the trail's a bit trickier to find if you haven't been there before. Recent rains have washed away the very start of the trail; just stay close to the northern bank until you reach the flats around that first bend.

A few trees down along the way; all the crossings were deep enough to get one's boots wet. Great times. 
Mode of transport:Hike
Trail condition:Needs some work
Images:







Blue Canyon Connector Trail Survey - 02-21-2015 - by Paul Cronshaw
Link: Blue Canyon Connector Trail
Date: 02-21-2015
Surveyor Name:Paul Cronshaw
Trail description:A nice level hike from Cottam Camp to the dirt road passes through some oak grasslands.  There was no water in the sections of this trail that cross the Blue Canyon Creek and Santa Ynez River. The last section of trail is a little hard to find; it follows the SYRiver before a steep ascent up the bank to the dirt road. 
Mode of transport:Hike
Trail condition:Good shape and easy to follow
Images:

Trail section about 1/4 mile north of Cottam Camp

The trail follows this wash in Blue Canyon Creek


Oak grassland

Santa Ynez River crossing


Trail passes through the Santa Ynez river before climbing the bank to the road
Blue Canyon Connector Trail Survey - 01-11-2015 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Blue Canyon Connector Trail
Date: 01-11-2015
Surveyor Name:Los Padres Forest Association
Trail description:Downed tree here:
N34.5110589,W119.6027835


Mode of transport:Hike
Trail condition:Needs some work


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Last Updated: Tuesday, March 1, 2016



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L.P.N.F. Contacts »

  • Forest Headquarters
    Phone: (805) 968-6640
  • Mt. Pinos District
    Phone: (661) 245-3731
  • Ojai Ranger District
    Phone: (805) 646-4348
  • Santa Barbara District
    Phone: (805) 967-3481
  • Santa Lucia District
    Phone: (805) 925-9538
  • Monterey District
    Phone: (831) 385-5434