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 Highway 166 to Cuyama Valley
D1
Sierra Madre Road -
Miranda Pine
(map)
(forest pass required)*
 Directions:
(Exit 175) From Highway 166 at its junction
with U.S. 101 near Santa Maria,
drive east about 26 miles to
Sierra Madre Road and Miranda Pine Mountain. This is opposite the Rock Front
Ranch on the north side of the highway (San Luis Obispo County). The road to
Miranda Pine Campground is unpaved but
generally passable except after spring rains. Low clearance vehicles should
avoid this drive however. *Note- A Los
Padres National Forest Adventure Pass is required to park a vehicle on forest
roads and must be obtained prior to entering.
Rewards:
This dirt road
meanders through oak-savannah where bluebirds, wrens, nuthatches grosbeaks and
hawks abound. It winds its way up to the Sierra Madre Ridge and enters a variety
of habitat types. As you approach the top of the Sierra Madre Range, the habitat
opens to a mix of chaparral, manzanita and grassland where singing Lazuli
Buntings are abundant in spring. “Bells” Sage and Rufous-crowned Sparrows
reside, and Black-chinned Sparrow is found in spring and summer, but are more
often heard than seen. There are few pines at Miranda Pine Mountain Campground,
but the elevation (4061’) provides for a few interesting birds such as Hairy
Woodpecker and Mountain Quail. The spectacular view from this ridge top is worth
the drive alone! Continuing east on Sierra Madre Road about one mile will take
you by Timber Peak (4758’) where there are more pines, and on to Bates Canyon
approximately 13 miles to the east. Photo: Miranda
Pine, Mary Beth Stowe
D2
Cottonwood Canyon -
Bates Campground (map)
(forest
pass required)*
 Directions:
(Exit 175) From Highway 166 at its junction with U.S. 101 near Santa
Maria, drive east
about 40 miles to Cottonwood Canyon Road on the right (south). Continue south
on Cottonwood Canyon Road, turning right (west) on Foothill Rd. following the
sign to White Oaks Station and Bates Canyon Campground. Bates Camp is about a
10-mile drive south from 166. Beyond Bates Camp the road is unpaved but it is
possible to drive to the top and along the Sierra Madre Mountains east to
McPherson Peak (5749’). However, low clearance vehicles should avoid this
mountain road. *Note- A Los Padres National Forest Adventure Pass is required to
park a vehicle on forest roads and must be obtained prior to entering.
Rewards:
Raptors inhabit the lower
elevations of Cottonwood Canyon and include Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Harrier,
American Kestrel and Golden Eagle. Yellow-billed Magpies are often present
around the wash in the bottom of the canyon. Continue driving into the oak
forest and look for nuthatches, bluebirds, titmice and wrens in spring and
summer. At the fork in the road, as the sign reads, head left to White Oaks
Station and into Bates Canyon and campground. Look for Phainopepla, Bullock’s
Oriole and Purple Finch among other oak forest birds. Black-chinned Sparrows Sparrows can be heard singing in spring in the chaparral covered
hills. The cool, shaded, northern edge of the Sierra Madre Mountains is home to
nesting Cassin's Vireo, Black-throated Gray Warbler and Northern Pygmy-Owl.
Spring migrants often move along this transverse ridge so the birding can be
prolific in April and May. A view from the ridge top is a spectacular sight!
Although exceedingly rare, this is California Condor country, but no
promises are made. Condors have been released from
Lion Canyon located southeast of Cottonwood Canyon. Photo:
California Condor, Jessica Sterling
D3
Cuyama Valley
(map)
Directions:
(Exit 175) From Highway 166 at its junction
with U.S. 101 near Santa Maria, drive east about 56 miles to the town of New
Cuyama. Birding along the immediate highway is not considered safe due to
traffic, but there are a few places to pull off the road. You should consider
doing so only where there are wide shoulders to pull your vehicle completely off
the highway. There are several roads that can be taken off Highway 166 near the town of New Cuyama. You can pull off the highway along Wasioja Road and Aliso
Park Road
between 2 and 5 miles west of town. The agriculture fields south and east of
town off Bell Road are good for winter birding.
Rewards:
The wide expanse of the Cuyama Valley is a scenic wonder-
hot and arid in the summer, and lush and green in the late winter and spring.
Wildflowers often blanket the Sierra Madre foothills in spring. Much of the
entire area is recognized as an Audubon Society Important Bird Area (link). Winter is the best season for birding in the Cuyama
Valley. Look for Northern Harriers, Golden Eagles, Ferruginous Hawks, Prairie
Falcons and Rough-legged Hawk (rare) while driving through this open
country. Common Raven is always seen.
Mountain Bluebirds (irregular) can occasionally be found perched along fences. Many of the short-grass fields and open rangeland can contain hundreds of
American Pipits and Horned Larks. Occasionally, a Lapland or
Chestnut-collared Longspur can be found in these flocks. Despite the good
habitat Mountain Plover has only been recorded a few times. In the town of New Cuyama right off Highway 166 and Hubbard Avenue is the small Richardson County
Park. Migrants such as Varied Thrush and sapsuckers can sometimes be found in
the park poplar trees in spring, fall and winter. Flocks of Tricolored
Blackbirds are frequently spotted in Cuyama Valley. Look for them around
pastures, cattle pens and farm ponds. Look for Sage Thrasher (rare) and Vesper
Sparrow in the valley semi-desert scrub in fall and winter.
D4
Ballinger Canyon
(map)
(forest
pass required)*
 Directions:
Continue east of the town of New Cuyama
on Highway 166 to Highway 33 junction. Turn right (south) on Highway 33 and
drive about 3.5 miles
to Ballinger Canyon road. Drive this road
to its end 3.3 miles to reach the Ballinger Campground. A short drive south on Highway 33 takes you to Quatal Canyon with
excellent birding habitat in Ventura County which takes you to Mt. Pinos. *Note- A Los Padres National Forest Adventure Pass is required to park a
vehicle on forest roads and must be obtained prior to entering. Photo: Black-chinned
Sparrow, Alan Schmierer
Rewards:
This arid, high-desert habitat
features pinyon-juniper woodland and sage scrub. It is home to a unique variety
of birds found only in this corner of Santa Barbara County. Spring and early
summer is best, and early mornings are more productive before the heat of day
reduces bird activity. Walk in the canyon wash and scan the hills to find
Black-throated, Brewer’s and Sage Sparrows, Greater Roadrunner and Costa’s
Hummingbird. Lesser Nighthawk hunts at dusk in this part of the county. Prairie
Falcon is resident. This spot is also home to a small introduced population of
Chukar. Plan your visit during the week and avoid the weekend motorcycle
activities.
D5
Santa Barbara Canyon (map)
(forest
pass required)*
 Directions:
(Exit 175) From the north, take Highway 166 at its junction with U.S.
101 near Santa Maria about 56 miles east to just beyond the town of New Cuyama.
Turn right (south) from 166 at either Bell Road (2 miles east of town) or Kirschenmann Road (5 miles east of town). Drive south to Foothill Road. Turn
left (east) and drive to the entrance of Santa Barbara Canyon. From the south,
take Highway 33 from the town of Ojai in Ventura County and drive north about 60
miles to its junction with Highway 166. Turn left (west) and drive about 4.5
miles to Kirschenmann Road. Beyond the creek crossing the road is not paved. A
four-wheel drive vehicle is necessary to continue into the Los Padres National
Forest several miles up Santa Barbara Canyon. *Note- A Los Padres National
Forest Adventure Pass is required to park a vehicle on forest roads and must be
obtained prior to entering.
Rewards:
At the lower elevations the
habitat is primarily grassland and is a good spot for wintering Mountain
Bluebirds. Similar in habitat to Ballinger Canyon, lower Santa Barbara
Canyon’s desert-like sage scrub and pinyon-juniper woodland is home to a variety
of interesting birds. Spring and early summer is best when birds are singing.
Check for Scott’s Oriole and some of the same sparrows found in Ballinger
Canyon. If your vehicle is so equipped and the gate is open, continue to the
higher elevations along the jeep trail to Dry Canyon and Tinta Creek. The
habitat eventually changes to pine and fir forest where the elevation reaches
5000’. In “invasion” years, Pinyon Jay, Clark’s Nutcracker and
Cassin's Finch have been recorded. Photo:
Cuyama Valley at
Santa Barbara Canyon
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