**Gaviota Peak**, at 2,458 feet, offers eye-popping views up and down the coast. You can look east clear across **Santa Barbara**, and west across Lompoc toward Point Conception. In between is vast sea adorned by Channel Islands that hover on the horizon. To the north, gentle rolling hills frame the fertile Santa Ynez Valley.
We’ll begin on the wide **Gaviota Peak Trail**. On the way up to the mountains we’ll stop and visit the milky blue waters and sulfur bubbles of **Gaviota Hot Springs** (aka Las Cruces Hot Springs). It’s a natural spring that was built up with concrete many years ago.
*I will be extending the classic 7-mile Gaviota Peak loop hike to about 11 miles*
A little before we get to the peak we will turn onto the **Campbell Trail** and extend the hike another 4 miles. It is currently abandoned by the US Forest Service because they do not want hikers to discover any **Chumash archeological sites**. We’ll be hiking along **Las Canovas Creek** for a bit and the trail may be overgrown with scrub and poison oak in some places. But I’ve heard it is a very nice trail 😉
We’ll take our lunch/snack break at **Corrie Meadows.** I expect the meadow will be filled with wildflowers and a tiny little creek.
We’ll return to the classic loop along **West Camino Cielo Rd,** bag Gaviota Peak and head back toward the Pacific via the **Trespass Trail,** a narrow singe-track with stunning ocean views. Then its back to the trail head along **Tunnel View Trail** offering a view of the **Gaviota Tunnel.**
Hike is rated DIFFICULT due to length and terrain. See the [Hike Rating Guide](https://www.hikingwithdean.com/hike-rating-guide/)
**POST HIKE GATHERING AND OPTIONAL CAMPING**
I’ve reserved **campsite #3 at** [Gaviota State Park Campground](https://goo.gl/maps/JJioDUMfBNiuYntz5) and after the hike everyone is invited back to my campsite for potluck lunch, drinks, etc. There is a day-use lot but at the time of this writing I do not know the parking fee.
My reservation is from 04/26/22 2:00 PM – 04/28/22 12:00 PM – let me know if you will also be reserving a spot and I will organize more events – there are many more trails nearby
**DIRECTIONS TO TRAIL HEAD**
Use [Google Maps](https://goo.gl/maps/1gRBx5NYwsoJguJM7) and follow directions to map pin. According to my latest info there is $2 parking fee that requires exact change. Look for the envelope thingy. We’ll meet at the Gaviota Peak Trail trail head by the map pin
