Social Hiking At a Relaxed Pace (S.H.A.R.P.)

When
  Sunday, December 2, 2018, 9:00 AM
Where
  Parma Park

Parma Park, the largest undeveloped space in Santa Barbara (200 acres), is located in the foothills below Sycamore Canyon in the northeast corner of the city.  The Park includes grassy knolls, broad expanses of chaparral, canyons forested with ancient oaks and beautiful views of the Santa Ynez Mountains, the Ocean and the Channel Islands. 

We will start at the Stanwood Drive entrance to the Park.  From there, we will walk west over a relatively flat trail through trees and over dry streams, up a hill with some elevation to the Parma Fire Road, a wide packed dirt trail, again with some elevation, to a knoll overlooking the Park.  There are wonderful, expansive mountain and ocean views along this portion of the trail. From the top, we will descend along the Fire Road, completing the 2.5 mile loop at the Park entrance.

Our walk will include an elevation change of approximately 775 feet.  The entire walk is along dirt trails, some of them rutted by runoff and horse hooves; hiking or gym shoes are recommended.  Dogs on leash are welcome.

No need to register.  Just show up.  We will go ahead in light rain, but the hike is canceled if there is heavy rain on the the day of or either of the two days preceding the hike. (If that happens, the trails will be impassable.) Bring water and sunblock.

Directions: From Santa Barbara, take Sycamore Canyon Road north to Stanwood Drive.  Turn left and drive 0.7 miles on Stanwood to a sharp turn in the road where you will see the Parma Park sign.  Park on either side of Stanwood.  [From 101, go north on Olive Mill Road.  After approximately 0.5 miles, Olive Mill Road becomes Hot Springs Road; continue another 0.5 miles to East Valley Road (Route 192).  Turn left on East Valley Road, which becomes Sycamore Canyon Road.  At the next junction, stay to the right onto Stanwood Drive.  (Sycamore Canyon Road turns south at that point and becomes Route 144.)   The entrance to Parma Park will be 0.7 miles down on the right.]  NOTE:  Parma Park also has entrances on El Cielito Road and on West Mountain Drive; we will meet at the Stanwood Drive entrance.

Questions? Contact sharp@sbnewcomers.org