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Interior Valleys & Mountains
C1 Tepusquet Canyon (map >>)
Seasons: Sp | Su | Wi
Directions: (Exit 169) U.S. 101 in Santa Maria exit at Betteravia Road and drive
east through the valley toward the foothills. Betteravia Road becomes Foxen Canyon
Road as it curves to the south. At approximately 6.5 miles veer left onto Santa Maria
Mesa Road before entering the small town of Garey. Continue east 4.5 miles to the
stop sign at Tepusquet Road. Turn left (north) and drive into the canyon. You can
follow this road over the summit all the way to Highway 166 to the north-
Specialty Birds: Band-
Birds of Note: Mountain Quail, Spotted Owl, Red-
Rewards: Pronounced "Tep-
C2 Foxen Canyon & Wine Country Routes (map >>)
Seasons: Sp | Su | Wi
Directions: (Exit 164) U.S. 101 take Clark Avenue near Orcutt and continue east to
Dominion Rd. Turn right (south) on Dominion to reach the intersection of Palmer Rd.
Turn left (north) on Palmer and continue to the small town of Sisquoc. Total distance
is about 5.7 miles from U.S. 101 in Orcutt to the town of Sisquoc and Foxen Canyon
Rd. north portion. (Exit 154) U.S. 101 near the town of Los Olivos and travel east
about 2.5 miles to reach the south end of Foxen Canyon Rd.
Specialty Birds: Lewis’s Woodpecker, Acorn Woodpecker, Yellow-
Rewards: These routes are best for finding Yellow-
C3 Los Alamos County Park (map >>) Hot Spot: (ebird >>)
Seasons: Sp | Su | Wi Hours: 8:00 AM to Dusk Restroom
Directions: (Exit 154) U.S. 101 at the town of Los Alamos take Highway 135 (Bell St.) west through town to Centennial St. Turn left (south) and drive a short distance past the elementary school to the park entrance on the left. Gate closes at dusk. Continuing beyond the park will take you up scenic Drum Canyon for a variety of woodland and chaparral birds.
Specialty Birds: Acorn Woodpecker, Yellow-
Rewards: This small county park provides a variety of common California specialties
such as nuthatches, wrens, woodpeckers, bluebirds, titmouse, and Wrentit. Yellow-
C4 Nojoqui Falls County Park (map >>) Hot Spot: (ebird >>)
Seasons: Sp | Su | Wi Hours: 8:00 AM to Dusk Restroom
Directions: Drive 4 miles south of Buellton (Exit 140A) on U.S. 101 to Old Coast
Road. Exit 101 here and drive 1 mile and turn left (east) onto Alisal Road. The park
entrance is to the right 0.8 miles. From the town of Solvang (Highway 246), follow
Alisal Road south about 6.5 miles to the park entrance. Gate closes at dusk.
Specialty Birds: Band-
Birds of Note: Canyon Wren, Pacific Wren, Varied Thrush, Northern Parula, Black-
Rewards: Nojoqui Park is known to local birders for its small breeding population
of Purple Martins in the county. A rare and local breeding bird in much of California.
Look for them in spring and summer around the sycamore trees near the entrance to
the park. A few of these birds may be seen circling overhead or flying into nest
holes in the sycamores. An easy hike up the trail into the cool, shaded canyon to
see the cascading falls at the end of the path (best in spring) is well worth the
effort. Looking for birds all along the way, you may see Black-
C5 Refugio Road -
Seasons: Sp | Su | Wi
Directions: (Exit 140A) U.S. 101 at Buellton, drive east on Highway 246 approximately 6 miles to Refugio Road. Turn right (south) and cross over the Santa Ynez River into Quiota Canyon. Birding can be done at several places along the road where you can safely pull out.
Specialty Birds: Black-
Birds of Note: Lewis's Woodpecker, Hooded Warbler, Black-
Rewards: This seven mile drive along Quiota Creek and into the canyon is excellent
in spring and early summer for resident and migrant birds. Check the riparian habitat
along the creek for warblers, flycatchers, vireos and orioles. The road crosses the
creek at a few places into canyon and often provides the most productive birding.
A few rarities have been recorded along the creek including five Hooded Warblers
in summer of 1992. The road along much of lower canyon is easy to traverse, but is
unpaved as you head up into the Santa Ynez Range. As you near the top of the Santa
Ynez Mountains look for nesting Chipping Sparrows, Blue-
C6 Solvang Area (map >>)
Directions: (Exit 140A) U.S. 101 at Buellton, drive east on Highway 246 (Mission Drive) approximately 3 miles to the picturesque town of Solvang. At Mission Drive and Atterdag Road turn left (north) and continue several blocks until you reach the park entrance on the left.
Specialty Birds: Acorn Woodpecker, Nuttall's Woodpecker, Pacific-
Birds of Note: Lewis's Woodpecker, Yellow-
Rewards: This scenic park in the bottom of a narrow canyon can be good for many western
specialties and migrants in spring. Look for nuthatches, woodpeckers, jays, bluebirds
and sparrows throughout the park. Walk the oak trees and willow-
C7 Figueroa Mountain & Ranger Peak (forest pass required)* (map >>) Hot Spots: (ebird >>) (ebird >>)
Seasons: Sp | Su | Wi Primitive Restrooms at Figueroa Campground and Pino Alto
Directions: (Exit 146) Highway 154 east at its junction with U.S. 101 and drive about
3 miles to the town of Los Olivos (map >>) Turn left (north) from 154 on Figueroa
Mountain Road (opposite Grand Ave.). Be sure to look for Yellow-
Specialty Birds: Mountain Quail, Northern Pygmy-
Birds of Note: Spotted Owl, Williamson's Sapsucker, White-
Rewards: Drive up Figueroa Mountain Road in spring (April and May) and you will be
treated to incredible displays of wildflowers and amazing views of much of the surrounding
Santa Ynez Valley below. Birding can be done all along this road as you ascend toward
the top. The habitat is a mixture of oak-
C8 Happy Canyon Road to Nira Camp (forest pass required)* (map >>)
Seasons: Sp | Su | Wi Primitive Restrooms at Davy Brown and Nira Campgrounds
Directions: (Exit 140A) Highway 154 east at its junction with U.S. 101 and drive
about 8 miles to Highway 246/Armour Ranch Road (map >>). Turn left (east) on to Armour
Ranch and drive about 1.5 miles to Baseline Road. Turn left on Baseline and drive
1.1 miles ahead to Happy Canyon Road on the right. *Note-
Specialty Birds: Mountain Quail, Golden Eagle, Black-
Rewards: This scenic drive through much of the ranch land in the Santa Ynez Valley
is good for oak-
C9 Cachuma Lake Recreation Area (fee) (map >>) Hot Spots: (ebird >>) (ebird >>)
Seasons: Sp | Su | Fa | Wi Hours: 7:00 AM to Dusk Camping by Reservation Restroom
Directions: (Exit 101B) From Santa Barbara, take Highway 154 (San Marcos Pass) from
U.S. 101 north about 20 miles to the lake entrance on the right. Coming from the
north, take Highway 154 east at its junction with U.S. 101 and drive about 20 miles
to the lake entrance on the left. Camping, Eagle Cruises and boat rentals are available.
Specialty Birds: Hooded Merganser, Common Loon, Clark's Grebe, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Hutton's Vireo, Oak Titmouse
Birds of Note: Tundra Swan, Barrow's Goldeneye, Tufted Duck, Long-
Rewards: Lake Cachuma County Park is the largest body of fresh water in the county. Each winter a multitude of waterfowl along with cormorants, grebes and loons can easily be spotted from various sites along the south shoreline. These include: geese, mergansers and scaup. Occasionally American White Pelican and Tundra Swan are present. Bald Eagles and Ospreys are regularly spotted on the lake’s Eagle Cruise and along the shoreline points and coves. Western and Clark’s Grebes are breeding birds on the lake. The oaks within the park and campground areas are good for several western species. Photo: Bradbury Dam, Cachuma Lake
BRADBURY DAM: Continue north of the Lake Cachuma County Park main entrance about 1.2 miles on Highway 154 to the Bradbury Dam Vista Point road on the right. Drive a short distance to the parking area.
Specialty Birds: Common Loon, Greater Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser
Rewards: This overlook of the Cachuma Lake dam and spillway will often be good for more waterfowl, grebes and loons that congregate at the lake’s west end. A spotting scope is helpful since many of the birds are some distance away. Oak woodland birds and sparrows are around the parking lot.
C10 Paradise Road -
Seasons: Sp | Su | Wi Camping Restroom
Directions: (Exit 101B) From Santa Barbara, drive north on Highway 154 (San Marcos
Pass) about 10 miles to the Paradise Road exit on the right. Drive east on Paradise
Road for approximately 10 miles into Los Padres National Forest and Paradise, Los
Prietos, Upper Oso and Santa Ynez camps. Continue to the end of the road at Live
Oak Picnic Area to reach the Red Rock Trailhead. *Note-
Specialty Birds: White-
Rewards: This narrow, interior stretch of the upper Santa Ynez River offers a mix of rocky canyon and riparian habitat. It is excellent in early summer for Swainson’s Thrush, flyactchers, warblers, Cassin's, Warbling, and the endangered “Least” Bells Vireo. "Southwestern" Willow Flycatcher is also a rare breeder in the area. The Upper Santa Ynez River is recognized as an Audubon Society Important Bird Area (link >>).
C11 Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park (map >>)
Seasons: Sp | Su | Wi Hours: 7:00 AM to Dusk
Directions: (Exit 101B) From Santa Barbara drive north on Highway 154 (San Marcos Pass) to Painted Cave Road. Drive north on the narrow Painted Cave Road about two miles to reach the park on the left. There is only a small pull out for parking, and RV's and trailers should not make the drive. A trail through the oak woodland takes you to the Painted Cave archeological site.
Specialty Birds: Nuttall's Woodpecker, Pacific-
Rewards: Much of the drive to Painted Cave Park is dominated by chaparral covered hills which is good habitat for a number of western bird species. The shaded oak canyon along the trail to the Painted Cave site is excellent for spring migrants such as warblers, tanagers, flycatchers and typical oak woodland species.
C12 Kinevan Road -
Seasons: Sp | Su | Wi
Directions: (Exit 101B) From Santa Barbara, drive north on Highway 154 (San Marcos
Pass) about 8 miles to the turn off at East Camino Cielo Road. Exiting left (west)
will take you to Kinevan Road-
Specialty Birds: Mountain Quail, Willow Flycatcher, Bell's Vireo, Yellow-
Birds of Note: Northern Saw-
Rewards: Kinevan Road is a short drive from Santa Barbara and can be quite good for
migrants. Warblers, vireos, flycatchers and thrushes are found along the creek here.
Birding along much of East Camino Cielo Road is good for resident chaparral species
such as Greater Roadrunner, Mountain Quail, Rufous-
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