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Jeep Outing in the Santa Ynez Mountains

calemasters

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We begin at Hwy 154 and W. Camino Cielo road just north of Santa Barbara, Ca. on Forest Rte. 5N12. We ended in Santa Ynez, Ca. Here are some photos from my wife's phone.

Jeep Wrangler JL Jeep Outing in the Santa Ynez Mountains 176130473_906849150112458_4217082555946056860_n
Jeep Wrangler JL Jeep Outing in the Santa Ynez Mountains 176207125_906849290112444_4739983858668416087_n
Jeep Wrangler JL Jeep Outing in the Santa Ynez Mountains 175831261_906849103445796_4006012727607729186_n
Jeep Wrangler JL Jeep Outing in the Santa Ynez Mountains 175652677_906849616779078_152742973737770384_n
Jeep Wrangler JL Jeep Outing in the Santa Ynez Mountains 175506021_906849170112456_283851298798786800_n
Jeep Wrangler JL Jeep Outing in the Santa Ynez Mountains 175853098_906849216779118_2914304197388027826_n
Jeep Wrangler JL Jeep Outing in the Santa Ynez Mountains 175974156_906849343445772_3662911697256927310_n
Jeep Wrangler JL Jeep Outing in the Santa Ynez Mountains 175628058_906849446779095_3659371579623795596_n
Jeep Wrangler JL Jeep Outing in the Santa Ynez Mountains 176133296_906848933445813_1153276016076673444_n
Jeep Wrangler JL Jeep Outing in the Santa Ynez Mountains 175560000_906849643445742_3288187591276924857_n
Jeep Wrangler JL Jeep Outing in the Santa Ynez Mountains 175892167_906849550112418_3884182836829264635_n
Jeep Wrangler JL Jeep Outing in the Santa Ynez Mountains 176491054_906849693445737_4442190514615583421_n
Jeep Wrangler JL Jeep Outing in the Santa Ynez Mountains 175730372_906849036779136_2649209219807150937_n
Jeep Wrangler JL Jeep Outing in the Santa Ynez Mountains 175432333_906848980112475_2351937771037882495_n
Jeep Wrangler JL Jeep Outing in the Santa Ynez Mountains 176712256_906849413445765_5103771923842092653_n
Jeep Wrangler JL Jeep Outing in the Santa Ynez Mountains 176168409_906849466779093_4731966016255434156_n
Jeep Wrangler JL Jeep Outing in the Santa Ynez Mountains 176112712_906848923445814_2874283408801991365_n
Jeep Wrangler JL Jeep Outing in the Santa Ynez Mountains 175974161_906849050112468_8409908212478945410_n
Jeep Wrangler JL Jeep Outing in the Santa Ynez Mountains 173978914_906849233445783_8079021738265767942_n
Jeep Wrangler JL Jeep Outing in the Santa Ynez Mountains 176130473_906849150112458_4217082555946056860_n (1)
Jeep Wrangler JL Jeep Outing in the Santa Ynez Mountains 175652677_906849616779078_152742973737770384_n (1)
Jeep Wrangler JL Jeep Outing in the Santa Ynez Mountains 175506021_906849170112456_283851298798786800_n (1)
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Rangemaster

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Where is the pictures of your jeep on the trails?
 

Fonzilla85

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Heading up to this area for training next week, I may have to check this trail out. Thanks for the post.
 
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calemasters

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Where is the pictures of your jeep on the trails?
My wife took the photos from inside the Jeep with her cell phone. In 5 days we will be in Sedona. I promise I will do better with my Nikon D850 and get outside the Jeep and take photos including the Jeep. 😁
 

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calemasters

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Beautiful vistas from F.S. 5N12, nice photos. I'm curious how you got to the town of Santa Ynez ?
San Marcos Pass Road (Hwy 154) going N.W. from Santa Barbara, turn left on W. Camino Cielo / Kinevan Road, West on Forest Rt. 5N12, turn right (going North) on Refugio Rd. which is still Rt. 5N12 to Santa Ynez.
 
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calemasters

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Heading up to this area for training next week, I may have to check this trail out. Thanks for the post.
Use to be easy. Now it is moderate.
 

sourdough

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San Marcos Pass Road (Hwy 154) going N.W. from Santa Barbara, turn left on W. Camino Cielo / Kinevan Road, West on Forest Rt. 5N12, turn right (going North) on Refugio Rd. which is still Rt. 5N12 to Santa Ynez.
Haha, No pictures of road closed signs? 5N12 tee's into Refugio Rd. and a right turn down to Santa Ynez on Refugio Rf. has been closed to all but local traffic for a decade. If you drove Refugio, you drove around the road closed barricade and past the county sign saying road closed to thru traffic. I would not suggest following your lead to others.
 
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calemasters

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Haha, No pictures of road closed signs? 5N12 tee's into Refugio Rd. and a right turn down to Santa Ynez on Refugio Rf. has been closed to all but local traffic for a decade. If you drove Refugio, you drove around the road closed barricade and past the county sign saying road closed to thru traffic. I would not suggest following your lead to others.
There were no road closed signs for registered road legal vehicles.
 

Frezski

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Ill have to check it out. Last time I was out there was probably 3 years ago. Nice drive on a beautiful day. Refugio was closed then at the the split, and Proceeded to the 154 on the same route you took. Granted I was coming from the 101 to the 154. Too bad this year's wet season sucked.
 

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Ill have to check it out. Last time I was out there was probably 3 years ago. Nice drive on a beautiful day. Refugio was closed then at the the split, and Proceeded to the 154 on the same route you took. Granted I was coming from the 101 to the 154. Too bad this year's wet season sucked.
You are correct Sir. The closed signs have been up for many years. The route you took has been the only way, from 101 to 154 or 154 to 101. I haven't made the loop thru Refugio Pass in several months, time for a run. I hope the signs are gone and see none, if there I'll get pictures.
Looking at the Western US fire season predictions sound bad. Locally the low moisture contend readings are historically low, beyond extreme should be the en fire danger level.
 

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You are correct Sir. The closed signs have been up for many years. The route you took has been the only way, from 101 to 154 or 154 to 101. I haven't made the loop thru Refugio Pass in several months, time for a run. I hope the signs are gone and see none, if there I'll get pictures.
Looking at the Western US fire season predictions sound bad. Locally the low moisture contend readings are historically low, beyond extreme should be the en fire danger level.
The fires are no joke. It bums me out that there are so many places to see within the state, but with the wildfires in the past 5 years I often wonder if there are any places of beauty left that's worth going to that isn't a giant burn scar. I know it's been years, but I remember the fire off the 154 just on the east side of that ridge where the outdoor school burned down and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's vehicle torched while evacuating out there.

I wouldn't mind exploring deeper into E. Camino Cielo, but no vehicles allowed at the back gate. I have only explored some of it on dirt bikes. Unfortunately, growing up and living in the area, more and more of it get shut down for a billion reasons. Things are drier than it ever has been in recent times. It's sad looking back remembering as a kid the creeks that would run most of the year if not all year and catching turtles in them. That's not happening anymore.

It's been 15 years since I've been to Red Rock off Paradise Rd. I would hate to go there now and see everything so dry on top of all the human traffic that leaves it a dump.
 

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Your experiences have been mine also and it extends pretty much thur out the West now.
 

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There were no road closed signs for registered road legal vehicles.
first photo is from Refugio Rd coming from Hwy 101 ,facing north at the intersection of F.S. Rd. 5N12 on right. Straight ahead is your "no road closed sign".
Jeep Wrangler JL Jeep Outing in the Santa Ynez Mountains Refugio Pass 3

2nd photo is from 5N12 looking West to the Refugio Pass intersection. Left turn is south to Hwy 101 and right is north to Santa Ynez. Staigh ahead is private property and gate. Road closed sign is on right facing South.
Jeep Wrangler JL Jeep Outing in the Santa Ynez Mountains Refugio Pass 2
 
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I see your point. However, Refugio Pass to Santa Ynez was open. One could argue the bottom yellow sign, below the Road Closed sign, seems to contradict the top sign. No one could "encounter loss or injury suffered by its use" if the road was actually closed. Entering the 5N12 near the Winchester Canyon Gun Club, the gate was fully open, there were fresh tire tracks and the sign at the open gate read, "Registered licensed vehicles only. Refugio Pass, going to Santa Ynez, is simply a continuation the our route from our starting point at the Gun Club to Santa Ynez. The road was physically open and I agreed to be responsible for loss and injury.

You are correct about the road closed sign. I have learned that not all signs are correct.
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