Out/Back: Romero Canyon Loop

Above Santa Barbara

High above Santa Barbara, California with a trailhead beginning in a neighborhood sits the Romero Canyon Loop. Frequented by trail runners and mountain bikers, I was one of a handful of hikers on a quiet Saturday in early January. As the trail climbed higher and higher, I found myself making tremendous time. Then, things crawled slowly to a stop. Not because the trail became physically demanding, because of the vista. A few hours in, you reach a point when you can see all of Santa Barbara below you and the Pacific Ocean at its doorstep. Sitting down to drink some water, eat a snack, and admire the view, I considered myself lucky to once again find a view to admire.

All Trails

I should have learned by now. “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” Yet, I continue to trust that All Trails will deliver me to an unforgettable hike. Throughout most of the day on this trail, I battled with runners and mountain bikers for space. On the backside of the trail, I found myself competing with ATV riders. For me, nothing spoils the beauty, calm, and peace of a hike quite like someone screaming past at 40-miles per hour while they throw dirt in your face. Yet again, All Trails failed me. Not once, but twice on this trip.

Missed the Loop