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Matias Potrero Trail - Los Padres National Forest
Trail Distance 4.86 Miles

The Matias Potrero Trail is a beautiful 4.86 mile trail in Santa Barbara County. The trail connects the Arroyo Burro Road (5N20) and the Tunnel Trail (27W14). Named after Matias Reyes and his wife, Griselda filed a claim and built a small cabin. He also owned property just east of the Botanical Garden in Mission Canyon. He cut wood to sell in Santa Barbara. There is a historical picture of he and his burros loaded with wood in front of the Santa Barbara Mission. Please let us know if you have explored this trail recently.

Trail Details

  • Trail #: 27W19
  • Wilderness Area: Non Wilderness Area
  • County: Santa Barbara County
  • Ranger District: Santa Barbara Ranger District
  • Trail-head Latitude: 34.52473
  • Trail-head Longitude: -119.74956
  • Water Sources: No Water Available
  • Trail Condition: Kind of Good - Little to no bushwacking and easily followable
  • Topo Maps:
  • Activities & Features:
    • Backpacking
    • Camping
    • Day Hiking
    • Wildlife Viewing



Trail Stats

  • Total Elevation Gain: + 1609 feet.
  • Total Elevation Loss: - 1780 feet.
  • Overall Average Slope Gain: + 12 %.
  • Overall Average Slope Loss: - 11 %.
  • Kilometers: (km)
  • Meters: (m)
  • Miles: (mi)
  • Feet: (ft)
  • Average Slope: (%)

Trail Camps

Matias Potrero 1600 feet

Upload Images Aerial Overview Image Login to Download GPS File
Survey This Trail

Survey Photos:


  • Los Padres Forest Association - 04-25-2017

  • Los Padres Forest Association - 09-15-2017

  • Los Padres Forest Association - 09-15-2017

  • Los Padres Forest Association - 09-15-2017

  • Los Padres Forest Association - 09-15-2017

  • Los Padres Forest Association - 09-15-2017

  • Erin C. - 12-03-2017

Submitted Trail Reports

Matias Potrero Trail Survey - 06-01-2024 - by Piper
Link: Matias Potrero Trail
Date: 06-01-2024
Surveyor Name:Piper
Trail description:Very overgrown. Stickers and foxtails destroyed my pants and shoes. Several washouts difficult to walk through. Plenty of water in small and large streams. There was water at the camp as well.
Mode of transport:Hike
Trail condition:Needs some work
Condition details:Washed out and overgrown
Matias Potrero Trail Survey - 12-03-2017 - by Erin C.
Link: Matias Potrero Trail
Date: 12-03-2017
Surveyor Name:Erin C.
Trail description:I had heard that this trail recently got some maintenance so I decided to ride the entire trail east to west from Angustora Road. Bad idea! Only 50% of this trail has been recently brushed.  The eastern half of this trail is just as heinous and evil as it was last time I rode this trail 4 years ago.  THIS TRAIL IS ONLY CLEARED OUT WEST OF MATIAS CONNECTOR TRAIL, DO NOT ATTEMPT THE EASTERN PORTION BETWEEN ANGUSTORA ROAD AND MATIAS CONNECTOR TRAIL UNLESS YOU LOVE BUSHWACKING.
Mode of transport:Bicycle
Trail condition:Needs some work
Images:

Matias Potrero Trail Survey - 09-15-2017 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Matias Potrero Trail
Date: 09-15-2017
Surveyor Name:Los Padres Forest Association
Trail description:The LPFA led three days of trail maintenance along the Matias Trail in spring 2017.  We were able to brush the trail extent of the Matias Trail from the Arroyo Burro Rd across to the Matias Connector Trail.  All major slides were removed, all holes in the trail filled in and almost all the brush/grass/jungle has been cleared from the trail corridor.  The trail remains rutted in spots and we're hoping to return this winter after some rain to work on the water control.  There are also some grassy sections.

Matias is in great shape and ready for you to explore and ride!  Go get it!
Mode of transport:Bicycle
Trail condition:Good shape and easy to follow
Images:







Matias Potrero Trail Survey - 04-25-2017 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Matias Potrero Trail
Date: 04-25-2017
Surveyor Name:Los Padres Forest Association
Trail description:Overgrown in grass and encroaching brush with 5-6 sections of narrow tread, 1 branch blocking the trail and 1 significant slide.  The trail is not stock passable at the moment and as a result is not seeing much (if any use).  It needs to be cleared so the trail users can beat the grasses down.

http://arcg.is/2ps83Kv
Mode of transport:Hike
Trail condition:Hard to follow
Images:

Matias Potrero Trail Survey - 04-03-2017 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Matias Potrero Trail
Date: 04-03-2017
Surveyor Name:Los Padres Forest Association
Trail description:GREAT article by ValHikes of her exploration along the Matias Trail.  The photos are fantastic, especially the closeups of the spiders.  Enjoy:

http://valhikes.blogspot.com/2017/04/matias-trail.html
Mode of transport:Hike
Trail condition:Needs some work
Matias Potrero Trail Survey - 04-01-2017 - by Valerie Norton
Link: Matias Potrero Trail
Date: 04-01-2017
Surveyor Name:Valerie Norton
Trail description:Stopped looking from the signs and thinking that would be wonderful to hike and actually hiked it.  The thin trail clearly is not getting much traffic, but is obvious ever step of the way.  There are a few small landslides on it.  They could really use smoothing out, but are nothing that would stop the average hiker.
Mode of transport:Hike
Trail condition:Needs some work
Condition details:3 or 4 small land slides, brushing
Matias Potrero Trail Survey - 05-12-2015 - by Jeff B.
Link: Matias Potrero Trail
Date: 05-12-2015
Surveyor Name:Jeff B.
Trail description:Ridden several times between Feb. and May of 2015: trail is in very good shape, and some brushing (particularly of poison oak) has been done. Beautiful and easy to follow.
Mode of transport:Bicycle
Trail condition:Good shape and easy to follow


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Last Updated: Wednesday, February 24, 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