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 Interior Foothills & Mountains
C1
Tepusquet Canyon (map)
 Directions:
(Exit 169) U.S. 101
in Santa Maria exit at Betteravia Road
and drive east through the valley toward the foothills. Betteravia Road becomes Foxen Canyon Road as it
curves to the south. At approximately 6.5 miles veer left onto Santa Maria Mesa
Road before entering the small town of Garey. Continue east 4.5 miles to the
stop sign at Tepusquet Canyon Road. Turn left (north) and drive into the canyon.
You can follow this road over the summit all the way to Highway 166 to the
north- a pleasant 15 mile stretch of canyon and oak covered foothills
(approximately six miles to the
summit from the stop sign). You can
also reach Tepusquet Canyon from Highway 166 driving east from Santa Maria (Exit
175). It
is 17 miles from the Highway 101-Highway 166 junction to Tepusquet Canyon Road. It is a two lane paved road with several places to
pull out, but do so where safe and not block driveways.
Photo: View from the top of Tepusquet Canyon Road
Rewards:
Pronounced "Tep-us-kay"
(the Chumash word "fishing for trout"), the stream and
oak woodland at the bottom of this canyon is quite good for spring birds.
Migrants move through the narrow riparian habitat, sycamores and shaded oaks of
Tepusquet Creek and
include warblers, vireos, orioles, tanagers, thrushes and flycatchers. Common
western birds include California Towhee, Wrentit, Oak Titmouse and Western
Screech-Owl. Between the 4 - 6 mile mark from Santa Maria Mesa Road the
habitat is best. Steller's Jay is found in the cooler shaded portions of the canyon
and in the oak woodland near the top of the ridge. You can access Colson
Canyon and Los Padres National Forest from Tepusquet Canyon Road, but this is a
dirt road with a few creek crossings and is not advisable for low clearance
vehicles. As you reach the summit listen for Canyon Wren in the rocky
outcroppings above the road. Costa's Hummingbird may also be seen in the sage and
yucca in
these rocky areas. Continue over the ridge top
to the north facing side of the hills where oaks predominate. Black-throated
Gray Warbler, Swainson's Thrush and Cassin's Vireo may be found in spring.
C2 Los
Alamos County Park (map)
Directions:
(Exit 154) U.S. 101 at the town
of Los Alamos take Highway 135 (Bell St.)
west through town to Centennial
St. Turn left (south) and drive a short distance past the elementary school to
the park entrance on the left. Gate closes at dusk. Continuing beyond the park
will take you up scenic Drum Canyon for a variety of woodland and chaparral
birds.
Rewards:
This small county
park provides a variety of common California specialties such as nuthatches,
wrens, woodpeckers,
Western Bluebird, Oak Titmouse, California Thrasher, and Wrentit. Yellow-billed
Magpie can be common here at times or just outside the park in the elementary
school and around town.
A drive up Drum Canyon might provide Lazuli Bunting, Nuttall's Woodpecker, Ash-throated
Flycatcher and occasionally a Phainopepla.
C3
Nojoqui
Falls County Park (map)
 Directions:
Drive
4 miles south of Buellton
(Exit 140A)
on U.S. 101 to Old Coast
Road. Exit 101 here and drive 1 mile and turn left (east) onto Alisal Road. The park
entrance is to the right 0.8 miles. From the town of Solvang (Highway 246), follow Alisal Road south about 6.5 miles to the park entrance. Gate closes at
dusk.
Rewards:
Nojoqui Park
is known to local birders for its small breeding population of Purple
Martins in the county. A rare and local breeding bird in much of
California. Look for them in spring and summer around the sycamore trees
near the entrance to the park. A few of these birds may be seen circling
overhead or flying into nest holes in the sycamores. An easy hike up the trail
into the cool, shaded canyon to see the cascading falls at the end of the
path (best in spring) is well worth the effort. Looking for birds all
along the way, you may see Black-chinned Hummingbird, Band-tailed Pigeon,
Warbling and Cassin's Vireo, Yellow Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler,
and migrant grosbeaks and orioles. Winter is good for White-crowned and
Golden-crowned Sparrows, kinglets, thrushes and occasionally a Winter Wren, Canyon Wren
and Varied Thrush. This park has been an irregular breeding spot for
Northern Parula (rare) in the county. In early summer a pair may be
found in the canopy of oaks with hanging moss near the front of the park.
A drive north of Nojoqui Park on Alisal Road toward the town of Solvang
around the Alisal Guest Ranch and Golf Course will often provide a few
more Purple Martins. Look for them circling over the sycamore trees lining
the golf course. Birding along much of Alisal Canyon is also very good for
oak woodland birds. Photo: Nojoqui Falls
County Park
C4 Refugio Road - Quiota Creek (map)
Directions:
(Exit 140A) U.S. 101 at Buellton,
drive east on Highway 246 approximately 6 miles to Refugio Road. Turn
right (south) and cross over the Santa Ynez River into Quiota Canyon.
Birding can be done at several places along the road where you can safely pull
out.
Rewards:
This seven mile drive along Quiota Creek and into the
canyon is excellent in spring and early summer for resident and migrant
birds. Check the riparian habitat along the creek for warblers,
flycatchers, vireos and
orioles. The road crosses the creek at a few places into canyon and often
provides the most productive birding. A few rarities have been recorded along the creek
including five Hooded Warblers in summer of 1992. The road along
much of lower canyon is easy to traverse, but is unpaved as you
head up into the Santa Ynez Range. As you near the top of the
Santa Ynez Mountains look for nesting Chipping Sparrows,
Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and Black-throated Gray Warblers. Lewis's
Woodpecker may be encountered in winter in the valley oaks near the
entrance to the canyon.
C5
Solvang (map)
Directions:
(Exit 140A) U.S. 101 at Buellton,
drive east on Highway 246 (Mission Drive) approximately 3 miles to the
picturesque town of Solvang. At Mission Drive and Atterdag Road turn left
(north) and continue several blocks until you reach the park entrance on
the left.
Rewards:
This scenic park in the
bottom of a narrow canyon can be good for many western specialties and
migrants in spring. Look for nuthatches, woodpeckers, jays, bluebirds and
sparrows throughout the park. Walk the oak trees and willow-riparian
habitat along the creek for more birds. Warblers and flycatchers are
regular migrants along the creek in spring. Return to Mission Drive and
turn left (east) to visit the Santa Ynez Mission. The pepper trees around
the Mission have been reliable for Red-breasted, Red-naped and Yellow-bellied
Sapsuckers in winter. Park in the lot near the Mission buildings and look
through the garden and pepper trees in front and behind the Mission. In
addition to enjoying the beautiful town of Solvang, be sure to look
through the sycamore trees and power poles throughout town for the
occasional wintering Lewis's Woodpecker (rare) seen fly catching
from the tall trees and poles.
C6 Figueroa Mountain
& Ranger Peak
(forest pass required)*
(map)
 Directions:
(Exit 146) Highway 154 east at
its junction with U.S. 101 and drive about 3 miles to the town of Los Olivos (map) Turn left (north) from
154 on Figueroa Mountain Road (opposite
Grand Ave.). Be sure to look for Yellow-billed Magpies along lower Figueroa
Mountain Road just north of town. To reach the mountain, continue north some 13
miles to the summit (elevation, 4528’).
Continue east to Figueroa Campground,
Davy Brown trailhead, and
Ranger Peak
(elevation, 4652’). Continuing east from here will take you down to Happy
Canyon and Sunset Valley Road, but seasonal closures may prevent access to
Happy Canyon from Figueroa. *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: White-headed Woodpecker, Brad Schram
Rewards:
Drive up Figueroa Mountain
Road in spring (April and May) and you will be treated to incredible
displays of wildflowers and amazing views of much of the surrounding Santa Ynez Valley below. Birding can be done all along this road as you ascend
toward the top. The habitat is a mixture of oak-savannah, grassland and
chaparral at lower elevations, and oak, pine and fir forest at the top. A
short distance past Catway Rd. is a 1.5-mile unpaved
road to the Pino Alto Day Use Area and old fire lookout at the summit. The
road is fine for most passenger cars and the Day Use Area provides some of
the best birding on Figueroa Mountain. An interpretive trail loops through
forest habitat where you can find Pygmy Nuthatch, Olive-sided
Flycatcher, Steller’s Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Black-throated Gray
Warbler, Western Tanager, Chipping Sparrow and Brown Creeper in early
summer. Cassin's Finch and Pine Siskin are also possibilities in spring. Looking
north and east into the backcountry wilderness from the Figueroa Mountain
fire lookout at the end of the road is a sight to behold! The reintroduced California Condor has
historically been seen from this spot. While at the top, look for
ravens, hawks
and swifts. A drive along Figueroa Mountain Road at dawn or dusk is also
good for Common Poorwill in summer. Winter birds on Figueroa Mountain include Golden-crowned Kinglet,
White-headed
Woodpecker and Williamson's Sapsucker
(both rare). Evening
Grosbeak has been recorded during invasion years. Birding around
Ranger Peak east of Figueroa Mountain has been a reliable spot for
Townsend's Solitaire and Clark's Nutcracker (rare) in winter. In
the cool fir trees on the north slope Spotted Owl may be found.
C7 Happy Canyon Road
to Nira Camp
(forest pass required)* (map)
Directions:
(Exit 140A) Highway 154 east at
its junction with U.S. 101 and drive about 8 miles to Highway 246/Armour
Ranch Road (map). Turn left (east) on to Armour Ranch and drive about 1.5 miles
to Baseline Road. Turn left on Baseline and drive 1.1 miles ahead to Happy Canyon
Road on the right. *Note- A Los Padres National
Forest Adventure Pass is required to park a vehicle on forest roads and
must be obtained prior to entering. In addition, a Wilderness Permit is
required to hike beyond Nira Campground into the San Rafael Wilderness.
Check the Los Padres National Forest web site for information on seasonal
closures and current conditions.
Rewards:
This scenic drive through
much of the ranchland in the Santa Ynez Valley is good for oak-savannah
birds such as Lark Sparrow, Acorn Woodpecker, Bullock’s Oriole,
Yellow-billed Magpie and Western Kingbird in summer. Lewis’s Woodpecker
and Mountain Bluebird are both irregular visitors some winters. Just east
of Highway 154 along Armour Ranch Road flocks of Horned Larks have held a
few Chestnut-collared Longspurs in the open fields. As the road winds
upward, you eventually enter the Los Padres National Forest. Golden Eagle
is frequently spotted here. A stop in Cachuma Campground for birding along
the creek is productive for migrants in spring. Cassin's and Warbling
Vireos, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Western Tanager and several warblers
are regularly seen. The drive beyond the fork at Figueroa Mountain Road
becomes Sunset Valley.
Birding anywhere along this stretch of canyon is well worth the effort.
Continue on to the shaded riparian habitat along Davy Brown campground and a
check for more spring migrants. The road eventually terminates at Nira Campground and Manzana Creek at the San Rafael Wilderness a short distance
ahead. Mountain Quail, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Phainopepla, Costa’s
Hummingbird and Townsend’s Solitaire (winter) have been seen here. While
the campground is open to the public, a Wilderness Permit is required to
hike the Manzana Trail into the back country.
C8 Cachuma Lake Recreation Area (fee) (map)
Directions:
(Exit 101B)
From Santa Barbara, take
Highway 154 (San Marcos Pass) from U.S. 101 north about 20 miles to the
lake entrance on the right. Coming from the north, take Highway 154 east
at its junction with U.S. 101 and drive about 20 miles to the lake
entrance on the left. Camping, Eagle Cruises and boat rentals are
available.
 Rewards:
Lake Cachuma County Park
is the largest body of fresh water in the county. Each winter a multitude
of waterfowl along with cormorants, grebes and loons can easily be spotted
from various sites along the south shoreline. These include: Hooded and
Common Mergansers, Greater and Lesser Scaups, Ring-necked Ducks, Common
Goldeneye and occasionally American White
Pelican and Tundra Swan. Bald Eagles and Ospreys are regularly spotted
on the lake’s Eagle Cruise. Western and Clark’s Grebes
are breeding birds on the lake. Oddities at Cachuma Lake are Parasitic
Jaeger, Long-tailed Duck, Tufted Duck and Barrow’s
Goldeneye. Photo: Bradbury Dam at Cachuma
Lake
C9
Bradbury
Dam Overlook (map)
Directions:
Continue north of the Lake Cachuma County
Park main entrance about 1.2 miles on Highway 154 to the Bradbury Dam
Vista Point road on the right. Drive a short distance to the parking area.
Rewards:
This overlook of the
Cachuma Lake dam and spillway will often be good for more waterfowl, gebes
and loons that congregate at the lake’s west end. A spotting scope is
helpful since many of the birds are some distance away. Oak woodland birds
and sparrows are around the parking lot.
C10 Paradise Road - Santa Ynez Recreation
Area
(forest
pass required)* (map)
 Directions:
(Exit 101B)
From Santa Barbara, drive
north on Highway 154 (San Marcos Pass) about 10 miles to the Paradise Road
exit on the right. Drive east on Paradise Road for approximately 10 miles
into Los Padres National Forest and Paradise, Los Prietos, Upper Oso and
Santa Ynez camps. Continue to the end of the road at Live Oak Picnic Area
to reach the Red Rock Trailhead.
*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 narrow, interior
stretch of the upper Santa Ynez River offers a mix of rocky canyon and
riparian habitat. It is excellent in early summer for Swainson’s
Thrush, Yellow Warbler, Cassin's, Warbling, and the endangered “Least”
Bells Vireo and "Southwestern" Willow Flycatcher. Many other migrant passerines can be found here in spring.
The Upper Santa Ynez River is recognized as an Audubon Society Important
Bird Area (link).
Photo:
Red Rock area, Upper Santa Ynez River
C11 Chumash Painted
Cave State Historic Park (map)
Directions:
(Exit 101B)
From Santa Barbara drive north on Highway 154 (San
Marcos Pass) to Painted Cave Road. Drive north on the narrow Painted Cave
Road about two miles to reach the park on the left. There is only a small
pull out for parking, and RV's and trailers should not make the drive. A
trail through the oak woodland takes you to the Painted Cave archeological
site.
Rewards:
Much of the drive to Painted Cave Park is
dominated by chaparral covered hills which is good habitat for a number of
western bird species. The shaded oak canyon along the trail to the
Painted Cave site is excellent for spring migrants such as warblers,
tanagers, flycatchers and typical oak woodland species.
C12
Kinevan Road - E.
Camino Cielo Road (Upper
Santa Ynez River) (forest pass required along the
USYR)* (map)
 Directions:
(Exit 101B)
From Santa Barbara, drive
north on Highway 154 (San Marcos Pass) about 8 miles to the turn off at
East Camino Cielo Road. Exiting left (west) will take you to Kinevan Road-
a short stretch of riparian habitat excellent for spring migrants.
To drive East Camino Cielo exit to the right (east). Follow East Camino Cielo 11
miles to the fork at Gibraltar Road. Keep left at the fork and continue
east along the ridge for about 6.7 miles where it descends down the north
side (unpaved road at this point). It is about 5.5 miles to Juncal
Campground. The Mono Debris Dam and Mono Camp are another 7.8 miles
farther. This road is not recommended for low clearance vehicles or after
heavy rains. *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:
Kinevan Road is a short
drive from Santa Barbara and can be quite good for migrants. Warblers,
vireos, flycatchers and thrushes are found along the creek here. Birding along much of East
Camino Cielo Road is good for
resident chaparral species such as
Greater Roadrunner, Mountain Quail, Rufous-crowned and Sage Sparrows
(rare). Costa’s Hummingbirds, Black-chinned Sparrows and Lazuli Buntings.
In invasion years montane species have been seen including Clark's
Nutcracker, White-headed Woodpecker and Cassin's Finch.
Small flocks of Black Swifts may be seen along the ridgetops during spring migration. Continue driving east beyond La Cumbre Peak to reach the Mono Creek area.
Similar in habitat to lower Paradise Road, spring and early summer birding
in the backcountry is best. This is home to breeding Spotted Sandpipers in
the creek, Tree Swallow, Swainson’s Thrush and Yellow-breasted Chat.
The endangered “Least” Bells Vireo may be found along Mono Creek and at
the upper end of Gibraltar Reservoir. Photo:
Least Bell's Vireo, Jamie Chavez
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