Baron Ranch Trail

From the main gate, the trail follows the entrance road into the canyon that forms the Arroyo Quemado Creek watershed. The trail is well marked and follows a network of ranch roads leading through an inactive agricultural section and into the backcountry.

At about the one-mile mark the road transitions into riparian and chaparral plants and continues to parallel the creek, it’s here that trail starts to take on more wilderness feel.

At about the 2.1 mile mark the trail branches forming a loop up into the mountains. The upper portion of the trail provides some exceptional vistas down the canyon and out towards the ocean with views of the island on a clear day. Views along the canyons open up to reveal the Pacific Ocean and the Channel Islands.

Turning left and just a 1/2-mile past the creek crossing the trail forks with one option to turn left and follow a single track up to the saddle with Arroyo Hondo or turn right and complete the loop trail by following a ranch road to a single track path through upper reaches of the canyon. At the top of the loop, the trail connects up with another ranch road and then returns down the east side of the canyon and back to the beginning of the loop.

Note:  This trail is restricted for use by only pedestrians/hikers at this time.  DOGS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THIS TRAIL. Currently, the trail is open Saturday, Sunday and Monday, but will be open every day in the future. The pedestrian gate may be locked by accident on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, but the trail is open unless a notice is posted that it is closed for a particular reason.

Learn More →

Map: Baron Ranch Trails

Article by James Wapotich at Songs of the Wilderness (2012)

Article by Valerie Norton: Baron Ranch Trails  (2014)

Article by Tom Modugno:  Baron Ranch History (2017)

Article by John Callender: Birds Seen on Baron Ranch (2018)

Directions →

Directions from the South:

1) Hwy 101 North, 2.4 miles past Refugio Road exit turn right at road crossing onto Arroyo Quemada Ln., just past a yellow sign indicating “cross-traffic ahead”, before reaching Tajiguas Landfill. There is no northbound deceleration lane, so the turn-off must be anticipated.

2) Immediately turn left onto Calle Real and proceed approximately ¾ mile until the road reaches a white gate and a street sign that says “End”.

Directions from the North:

1) Hwy 101 southbound, 2 miles past View Point turn off (at Arroyo Hondo) first left across Highway 101 is to the Tajiguas Landfill and the second left is to Baron Ranch. Turn left off of 101 then an immediate turn left onto Calle Real and proceed approximately ¾ mile until the road reaches a white gate and a street sign that says “End”.