A popular Front Country trail used by bikers, hikers, and equestrians. The Santa Barbara Mountain Bike Trail Volunteers has placed boxes at the upper and lower trailheads stocked with bells. Please take and wear one on your downhill return as it alerts other trail users of your presence and prevents surprises and conflicts.
Romero is a fire road with singletrack options. The most popular route is to ride the approximately 6 mile fire road up to Camino Cielo, return that route and about halfway down finish your descent on the Romero Canyon singletrack. The fire road climb is a sustained climb with some decent grunts along the way. The Romero Canyon singletrack is classic Santa Barbara with good size drops, technical rock gardens, and stream crossings. It is do-able on a hardtail but not recommended.
The climb up Romero is fairly straightforward. About halfway up you'll notice the turnoff for Romero Canyon on your left. If time is an issue you can opt not to climb all the way up, choosing instead to begin your descent at this point. From the very top, though, you can access other Front and Backcountry trails off Camino Cielo. There is a water tank at the top that makes for a great resting spot.
Please be courteous and yield to all other trail users and ride under control. It is a great challenge to keep Santa Barbara's Front Country trails open to mountain bikes. Many trails are already closed and just few remain. Therefore, the loss of just one would be huge. Be cool, be friendly, and have fun!
From Santa Barbara take the 101 fwy south towards Montecito. Exit Sheffield Drive (note: the exit is on the left side of the freeway). At bottom of ramp, go left. At stop sign turn right onto Jameson Ln. Follow as it curves left, stay left as it turns into Sheffield Dr.. Follow to intersection with E. Valley Rd./Rte.192, go left. Take immediate right onto Romero Canyon Rd. At "Y" intersection stay right staying on Romero Canyon. Twist uphill to intersection with Bella Vista. Go right staying on Romero. In about 1/4 mile there will be dirt pullouts on right. Park here for trailhead. Ride a couple hundred feet, crossing a seasonal stream across the road, trailhead on left.
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