FULL MOON HIKE AND PICNIC
Sunday, September 23
Join us for the magical experience of watching the moon rise over Ventura from from the UFO landing spot on Saddle Rock trail in Montecito!
Note: We are adjusting the trail and departure time based on a test of the prior route in August. The Jesusita route is likely to be too long and hard for many if not most, the view was partially blocked, the sitting area can’t easily fit 30+ people, and we didn’t want to risk a negative first experience. A test of the new route shows it to be shorter and easier, with a clear view of the moonrise location and large flat area for as many people as would care to join us.
We’ll start out at the Hot Springs Trailhead at the intersection of E Mountain Drive and Riven Rock Road in Montecito (https://www.google.com/maps/place/1202+E+Mountain+Dr,+Montecito,+CA+93108/.) There is more parking along Riven Rock Road which intersects E Mountain Drive at this location. But, given the level of interest, carpools are encouraged. Please meet at the Trailhead between 5:15 and 5:30; we will leave at 5:30 SHARP. The hike takes about 50 minutes each way. It’s about 1 mile in, 800 ft elevation gain. Complete schedule below.
Please bring a backpack, your choice of beverage and food for a picnic once we reach the top, and most important: A flashlight or headlight. We will hike up in full daylight, arriving around sunset. But, on the way down, it can be very dark, and unsafe to hike without a light. We recommend you have your cell phone fully charged so you can use it’s flashlight function as a backup light.
Sunday, September 23: Sunset 6:53pm (270°), Moonrise: 6:33pm (99°)
- Meet at Hot Springs Trailhead: 5:15pm
- Depart Trailhead: 5:30pm
- Arrive Saddle Rock / McMenemy Fork: 6:00pm
- Arrive Saddle Rock: +6:05pm
- Arrive UFO Landing Spot: 6:20pm
- Moonrise: 6:33pm
- Sunset: 6:53pm
- Depart UFO Landing Spot: 7:35 (people can leave when they want, earlier or later, but should hike in pairs or larger groups)
- Arrive Saddle Rock: +7:50pm
- Arrive Saddle Rock / McMenemy Fork: 7:55pm
- Arrive Trailhead: 8:25pm
Additional note: We only realized long after scheduling this while testing the trail and timing, that by doing this hike 1 day before the actual full moon, the moon will rise before the sun fully sets. The experience should still be a good one, but in the future we will only schedule these for the day of the full moon or the day after, now that we know.
We are planning on scheduling another full moon event for Wed October 24, next time a picnic on the beach instead of a hike!
SORRY, NO DOGS ALLOWED.
