No Hike if Raining. Bring plenty of water.

This is a Friday 8:30am meetup – no need to register.

SNYDER TRAIL TO KNAPP’S CASTLE – 8:30am.  THIS IS A NEW HIKE.  This a backcountry hike off of Paradise Road.  Knapp’s Castle is the ruins of a sandstone hilltop lodge built by the found of Union Carbide around 1920.  Located just below Camino Cielo road, it burned in the 1940s and was never rebuilt.  The ruins offer great views of the Santa Ynez Valley and San Rafael Mountains.

The Snyder Trail climbs from Paradise Road up the ridge alongside Lewis Canyon.  The hike utilizes service roads and trails as it climbs through forests and grassy slopes on its way up to Knapp’s Castle.  Some recent fire mitigation activity has altered the trail somewhat, but it remains a popular hike with increasingly good views as one gets higher and higher on the trail.  This hike is a little more strenuous than some of our hikes, with an elevation gain of 2000’ and round trip (out and back) distance of 6.6 miles. At the top, we will spend some time exploring the ruins and enjoying the views.

DIRECTIONS: From Highway 101 in Santa Barbara, take the State Street/Highway 154 exit.  Turn right onto Highway 154 and drive approximately 10 miles to Paradise Road on the right.  Turn right and continue 4.2 miles to the trailhead, which is a turnout on the right side of the road near a gate.  If that area fills up, there is parking in and around the Ranger Station about 0.25 miles further down the road.  Avoid parking in campgrounds or other areas that have facilities unless you are willing to pay the $10 day use fee that is collected in those areas.

Hike Leader: Janet Martin

Hope to see you there!