Field GuideLos Padres N.F.

Santa Barbara
Dirt Bike Routes

The Santa Ynez and San Rafael backcountry behind Santa Barbara takes in the Camuesa OHV area, the East Camino Cielo crest, and remote green-sticker roads, plus quieter plated routes. Route geometry and elevation come from the Forest Service's official travel maps and public terrain data. Many roads here close in wet weather, storm-driven rather than calendar-based, so expect closures during and after winter and spring rains (roughly November–April) until the tread dries out.

Santa Barbara, California · Los Padres National Forest · 7 routes

Plated street-legal bikes are fine on every route here. The badges below show where green-sticker (non-street-legal) OHVs are allowed; that's the part that varies, sometimes segment by segment.

Green sticker OK

Non-street-legal (green-sticker) OHVs allowed on the route.

Green sticker: partial

Green-sticker allowed on some segments only; read the note.

Street-legal plate only

Street-legal, plated vehicles only; no green-sticker OHVs.

Access unverified

Couldn't verify green-sticker access; confirm with the managing agency.

New to this, or riding an electric or 2022-plus bike? The sticker & access guide covers green, red, and tan stickers, street-legal plates, electric bikes (SB 586), spark arresters, the Adventure Pass, and the penalties, all sourced from California government pages.

Where can I ride?

Los Padres National Forest travel map

Every legal motorized road and trail in the Santa Barbara area, straight from the Forest Service's Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM). Most numbered roads are open to street-legal plated bikes only; the green routes are the comparatively few where a green-sticker (non-street-legal) bike is allowed. Hover any line for its road number and access.

What can ride here

  • Green-sticker OHV allowed
  • Street-legal plate only
  • Dashed = seasonal access
Loading area map…

Make a day of it

2 suggested loops

Ways to string these routes into a full ride instead of a single road. Mileage is a rough composite; segments overlap and connect, so plan time and fuel with a margin.

Camuesa Backcountry Traverse

~34mi↓ GPX

The green-sticker crest-to-backcountry day, Santa Barbara's best OHV riding.

Heads up before you plan around this one: most of this loop is currently closed by a forest order (see the closure notice up top), so confirm it has reopened before making the drive. When it's open, it's the three green-sticker roads that make this range worth it: East Camino Cielo (5N12.1) along the crest above town, the Romero–Camuesa spine (5N15.2) into the Camuesa OHV area, and Buckhorn (9N11.4) deep into the San Rafael backcountry. Treat it as a committing all-day epic, not a casual outing: long, remote, and lightly traveled, so carry water, fuel, and a way to call for help. The Camuesa side also closes after rain (the wet-season gate closures, roughly November–April), and the access roads between these stretches are frequently gated, so they don't always link cleanly. Bring an Adventure Pass. Open and dry, it's the best green-sticker riding in the area.

East Camino Cielo (OHV segment)Camuesa Road (Romero–Camuesa)Buckhorn Road

Figueroa & Zaca Country

~24mi↓ GPX

Wine-country ridges and oak-shaded backroads northwest of the valley.

The mellow, scenic counterpoint to the backcountry epics: climb Happy Canyon (7N07) out of the ranch land, cruise Sunset Valley (8N09) toward the dispersed camps, and finish on Zaca Ridge (8N02) in the Zaca Peak OHV area for big views over the wine country. Mostly relaxed graded dirt that genuinely connects into a real loop, ideal for seat time, scenery, or bringing along a newer rider, and a wildflower showcase in spring. Plated throughout, except part of Zaca Ridge is also open to green-sticker bikes, so check the signs there.

Happy Canyon RoadSunset Valley RoadZaca Ridge OHV Road

The Routes

7 rides
GPX Track↑ 1,562 ft↓ 2,169 ft
1,237 ft2,789 ft

Camuesa Road (Romero–Camuesa)

No. 5N15.2
Green sticker OK
Distance
11.8mi
Difficulty
Difficult

Per the MVUM, 5N15.2 is designated open to all vehicles, so green-sticker (non-street-legal) bikes are allowed. Registration + spark arrestor required. This route has a seasonal (wet-weather) closure, so confirm it's open before you go.

Source: USFS Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM), 2026

The backbone of Santa Barbara's Camuesa OHV area, green-sticker riding.

The Romero–Camuesa road (5N15) is the spine of the Camuesa OHV area in the Santa Ynez backcountry, with segment 5N15.2 designated open to all vehicles. It's a rugged, remote backcountry road through chaparral and oak, the heart of the only real green-sticker network near Santa Barbara, with seasonal wet-weather closures.

Elevation
1,250–2,800 ft
Best season
Late spring–fall (closed when wet)
Surface
Rugged backcountry dirt with rocky, eroded sections
  • Core of the Camuesa OHV area
  • Designated green-sticker (open to all vehicles)
  • Remote Santa Ynez backcountry
GPX Track↑ 1,309 ft↓ 3,094 ft
2,759 ft4,603 ft

East Camino Cielo (OHV segment)

No. 5N12.1
Green sticker OK
Distance
11.9mi
Difficulty
Moderate

Per the MVUM, 5N12.1 is designated open to all vehicles, so green-sticker (non-street-legal) bikes are allowed. Registration + spark arrestor required.

Source: USFS Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM), 2026

The legendary ridge road above Santa Barbara, its OHV-open stretch.

East Camino Cielo rides the crest of the Santa Ynez Mountains directly above Santa Barbara, with the 5N12.1 segment designated open to all vehicles. Expect knife-edge ocean-and-backcountry views, sandstone outcrops, and a mix of graded and rougher tread along one of the most scenic ridgelines in the county.

Elevation
2,750–4,600 ft
Best season
Spring–fall (seasonal closures when wet)
Surface
Mixed graded dirt and rocky sandstone tread
  • Crest-of-the-range ocean and backcountry views
  • Sandstone outcrops along the ridge
  • Green-sticker-open ridge segment
GPX Track↑ 876 ft↓ 2,792 ft
2,782 ft4,728 ft

Buckhorn Road

No. 9N11.4
Green sticker OK
Distance
10.1mi
Difficulty
Difficult

Per the MVUM, 9N11.4 is designated open to all vehicles, so green-sticker (non-street-legal) bikes are allowed. Registration + spark arrestor required. This route has a seasonal (wet-weather) closure, so confirm it's open before you go.

Source: USFS Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM), 2026

Remote green-sticker road into the San Rafael backcountry.

9N11.4 (Buckhorn) pushes into the remote San Rafael / upper Santa Ynez backcountry as a designated road open to all vehicles. It's a long, rugged, lightly-traveled high-clearance route through chaparral and pine, proper green-sticker backcountry with seasonal closures, so go prepared and self-sufficient.

Elevation
2,800–4,750 ft
Best season
Late spring–fall (closed when wet)
Surface
Rugged high-clearance dirt; rough and remote
  • Deep San Rafael backcountry
  • Designated green-sticker road
  • Quiet, remote, and rugged
GPX Track↑ 1,575 ft↓ 1,601 ft
3,442 ft4,186 ft

Zaca Ridge OHV Road

No. 8N02
Green sticker: partial
Distance
7.6mi
Difficulty
Moderate

Per the MVUM, Zaca Ridge OHV Road is mixed: some segments are open to all vehicles (green-sticker OK) and others are open to street-legal vehicles only, so access goes segment by segment. Read the signs at each junction; registration + spark arrestor required. This route has a seasonal (wet-weather) closure, so confirm it's open before you go.

Source: USFS Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM), 2026

Ridge road in the Zaca Peak OHV area, green-sticker on part of it.

8N02 climbs to Zaca Ridge in the Zaca Peak OHV area north of the Santa Ynez Valley. Rolling chaparral ridgetops, oak woodland, and big views over the wine-country valleys make it one of the more approachable rides in the forest. Part of the road is open to all vehicles, with green-sticker access changing by segment, and it's open seasonally.

Elevation
3,450–4,200 ft
Best season
Spring–fall (seasonal)
Surface
Graded-to-rocky ridge road
  • Green-sticker access on part of the road (seasonal)
  • Chaparral ridgetops and oak woodland
  • Views over the Santa Ynez wine country
GPX Track↑ 2,848 ft↓ 308 ft
3,248 ft5,804 ft

West Dry Canyon Road

No. 8N19
Street-legal plate only
Distance
7.9mi
Difficulty
Moderate

Per the MVUM, 8N19 is open to street-legal vehicles only: plated bikes, no green-sticker (non-street-legal) bikes. This route has a seasonal (wet-weather) closure, so confirm it's open before you go.

Source: USFS Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM), 2026

Quiet plated backcountry road in the Sunset Valley area.

8N19 runs through the West Dry Canyon / Sunset Valley country as a road open to street-legal vehicles only. It's a quiet, scenic plated dual-sport ride through oak and chaparral with creek crossings, a good way to link the area's backcountry without the technical demands of the OHV roads.

Elevation
3,250–5,800 ft
Best season
Spring–fall
Surface
Graded dirt with creek crossings
  • Quiet oak-and-chaparral backcountry
  • Seasonal creek crossings
  • Scenic plated dual-sport route
GPX Track↑ 256 ft↓ 1,516 ft
1,804 ft3,110 ft

Sunset Valley Road

No. 8N09
Street-legal plate only
Distance
5.7mi
Difficulty
Easy

Per the MVUM, 8N09 is open to street-legal vehicles only: plated bikes, no green-sticker (non-street-legal) bikes.

Source: USFS Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM), 2026

Mellow plated road into the Sunset Valley backcountry.

8N09 is a gentler graded road into the Sunset Valley area, a relaxed plated ride good for easy miles and reaching trailheads and dispersed camps. Oak woodland, open valley, and easy navigation. Open to street-legal vehicles only.

Elevation
1,800–3,100 ft
Best season
Spring–fall
Surface
Wide graded dirt, generally smooth
  • Easy, beginner-friendly grade
  • Oak woodland and open valley
  • Access to dispersed camping (plated only)
GPX Track↑ 2,323 ft↓ 1,667 ft
2,451 ft4,455 ft

Happy Canyon Road

No. 7N07.2
Street-legal plate only
Distance
9.8mi
Difficulty
Moderate

Per the MVUM, 7N07.2 is open to street-legal vehicles only: plated bikes, no green-sticker (non-street-legal) bikes. This route has a seasonal (wet-weather) closure, so confirm it's open before you go.

Source: USFS Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM), 2026

Scenic plated road from the Santa Ynez Valley into the forest.

Happy Canyon (7N07) climbs from the Santa Ynez Valley up into the Los Padres backcountry, transitioning from oak-dotted ranch country to chaparral forest. A long, scenic road for street-legal bikes only, a classic plated dual-sport climb toward Figueroa Mountain country.

Elevation
2,450–4,450 ft
Best season
Spring–fall
Surface
Graded dirt, smooth lower, rougher up high
  • Santa Ynez Valley to forest transition
  • Toward Figueroa Mountain country
  • Long scenic plated climb