RECREATION
aliso canyon park
Hiking, picnic, camping, and horseback riding
(661) 245-3731
Aliso Canyon Road (FS 10N04) off State Highway 166.
New Cuyama, CA 93254
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Description: Oak shaded campground. Recreational Vehicles up to 28 feet. Camping, hiking and horseback riding on trails in the area. Recreation Pass required for camping and parking. 10 campsites, reservations not required - first come first served basis. No water available. Pit toilet.
Contact: Los Padres National Forest
Quiet Hours: Daily | 10pm - 6am
Ballinger Canyon
Off-highway vehicle recreation
(805) 968-6640
Ballanger Canyon Rd, Highway 33
Ventucopa, CA 93252
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Description: 11 4WD roads, 12 ATV trails, and 14 motorcycle trails. Access to 4WD roads is available to both ATVs and motorcycles, and access to ATV trails is available to motorcycles. Heavy use ares. Facilities at Ballinger Campground includes: restrooms; campsites with tables and fire rings, and trails to accommodate all levels of riders. There is no garbage service, so you must pack out what you pack in.
Contact: Los Padres National Forest
Information: Trail access through campground. Day use fee $10.00. No reservations required. Concession-managed area. Campground is $20/night. Day use parking is $10/day. Facilities at Ballinger Campground include: restrooms; campsites campsites with tables and fire rings, and trails to accommodate all levels of riders. There is no garbage service, so you must pack out what you pack in.
Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge
Condor Viewing Tent
(661) 766-2761
Hudson Ranch Road east of Cuyama along Highway 166
Maricopa, CA 93252
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Description: Volunteers with expertise in condors pitch their tent where condors can frequently be seen. They can provide information, answer questions about the condor recovery program.
Contact: Friends of California Condors Wild and Free
Hours: Kiosk on 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the summer
Carrizo Plain National Monument
Hiking, camping, and bird watching
(661) 391-6000
From the north: Soda Lake Road off of State Route 58.
From the south: Soda Lake Road off of Highway 166.
New Cuyama, CA 93254
blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/california/carrizo-plain-national-monument
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Description: White alkali flats of Soda Lake, the Painted Rock, vast open grasslands, and a broad plain rimmed by mountains. Soda Lake is the largest remaining natural alkali wetland in southern California and the only closed basin within the coastal mountains. When conditions are right, numerous wildflowers can carpet the valley floor in the spring; although short lived it can be breathtaking. The Monument is traversed by the San Andreas Fault.
Hours & Information: Visitor's Center 17495 Soda Lake Road, California Valley, CA 93453. Phone: 805-475-2131; Information Line: 805-475-2035.
Open seasonally from the beginning of December to the end of May. Normal days and hours of operation during those months are Thursday - Sunday, 9:00am to 4:00pm.
Many roads within the Monument have an unimproved dirt surface and become impassable during periods of rain. The main road, Soda Lake Road, is open year round. Other roads can be especially dangerous when wet and may be closed. Summers are hot 90-100 F, and winters are cool with rain/snow. Most rain falls between November and April with occasional snow. THERE IS NO CELL PHONE COVERAGE. Prepare for your trip: bring water especially in summer. Pets must be controlled at all times. In addition, pets must be leashed or caged at all developed sites including the Visitor Center, interpretive overlooks, trail heads, and camping areas. No pets are allowed in the Painted Rock exclusion zone. Campsites and picnic areas are available.
Contact: Bureau of Land Management
Chimineas Ranch Foundation
Ecological reserve
(818) 371-5659
Mile marker 45 on Highway 166
Cuyama, CA 93254
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Description: The Chimineas Ranch was originally part of the Spanish land grant known as Cuyama #2. The ranch is open to human recreation that is compatible with the primary mission of protecting and enhancing the many endangered and threatened species that live there.
Email: chimineasranch@aol.com
Contact: Manager
Hours & Information: Visitors must self-register at the kiosk. Motor vehicles of any type are generally excluded from the reserve. There is no overnight camping. Visitors may encounter livestock that are part of a ecologically managed grazing program. Limited hunting is allowed subject to special dates and conditions. Please take note of the information posted at the kiosk and the California Dept. of Fish & Wildlife web site.
Condor's Hope Ranch
Wine tasting, farm tours, special retreats
Cottonwood Canyon Road
New Cuyama, CA 93254
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Description: Wine tasting, farm tours, special retreats (yoga, writing, art); Community harvesting (olives, grapes
Email: condor@condorshope.com
Contact: Robbie Jaffe, Farmer & Co-owner
Hours: By Appointment
Hidden Creek Ranch
Horse riding lessons, horse training, private retreats
(661) 319-2644
343 Lockwood Valley Road
Maricopa, CA 93252
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Description: Horse sales, riding clinics, private and group lessons on horsemanship for all levels of riders and horses
Email: heather@hcrgaitedhorses.com
Contact: Heather Lomax, Owner
Hours: Call or email requests
Santa Barbara County Aquatics Center
County public pool
(805) 729-7508
290 Wasioja Street
New Cuyama, CA 93254
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Description: Each summer season, County Parks looks forward to providing the Cuyama Valley community with a way to cool off, exercise and play! The Centeno Aquatics Complex in New Cuyama boasts a four-lane by 25-yard pool along with an 18-inch deep wading pool and spray structure. The pools are staffed with American Red Cross-Certified lifeguards and are free five days a week.
Email: jmenzies@sbparks.org
Contact: Jon Menzies, Aquatics Coordinator
Hours & Schedule: Pools are open June 5 through August 18 five days per week (Wednesday – Sunday). Pools are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays with the exception of Memorial Day and Labor Day.
- Open Swim | 12:00pm – 5:00pm
- Lap swimming lanes available upon request
Sleepy Creek Ranch
Historical interest / tours
(805) 680-7220
2255 Cottonwood Canyon Road
New Cuyama, CA 93254
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Description: The Sleepy Creek Ranch encompasses 700 acres of hiking/mountain biking trails through oak woodlands, riparian and juniper-sage ecosystems. It is the last known home of Nancy Kelsey, the first American woman to enter California by wagon - 1841, Bidwell-Bartleson Wagon Train. The ranch was also home to Native American Indians for thousands of years, as they followed their seasonal round of hunting and gathering. Host /owner, Bonnie Goller, a retired Chumash Indian archaeologist and historian, offers guided historic/ prehistoric cultural tours of the ranch. Topics of these walking lectures range from Native American uses of local flora and fauna, to California/Cuyama Valley pioneer-era cemeteries, homesteads and wagon roads.
Email: bonnie@sleepycreekranch.com
Contact: Bonnie Goller, Owner
Hours: By Appointment
Wind Wolves Preserve (The Wildlands Conservancy)
Camping, hiking, picnicking, weekend family programs, and outdoor education opportunities
(661) 858-1115
16019 Highway 166
Bakersfield, CA 93311
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Description: The Wildlands Conservancy is a nonprofit organization that owns and operates several preserves in California. Its mission is to preserve the beauty and biodiversity of the earth, and to provide programs to children so they may know the wonder and joy of nature. Many preserves are open to the public for recreation, and all preserves protect California's rich habitat and outdoor spaces.
Email: windwolvespreserve@twc-ca.org
Contact: Melissa Dabulamanzi, Preserve Manager
Hours:
- Spring / Summer
- 8am – 6pm
- Fall / Winter
- 8am – 5pm