Camino Cielo Road
Encyclopedia
Camino Cielo Road is a road which traverses the ridge-line of the Santa Ynez Mountains
of Southern California. Geographically, it is divided into eastern and western sections, and is an important passage for adjacent inholdings in the area, for fire prevention and firefighting purposes, access to communications facilities, and to various recreational areas. The majority of the road is within the boundaries of the Los Padres National Forest
. It was built during the First World War.
on California State Route 154 and proceeds west, following the ridgeline of the Santa Ynez Mountains and eventually terminating at Refugio Road, which leads either to the Gaviota coast by a single-lane paved road, or to the Santa Ynez Valley
by a single-lane dirt road. Local residences in the area are mostly concentrated in a strip parallel to California State Route 154, though others dot the road heading west. The road provides access to locations such as the popular climbing area Lizard's Mouth, the Winchester Gun Club, and most notably Ronald Reagan's Rancho del Cielo
. On a less pleasant note, the body of Nicholas Markowitz was buried in a shallow grave near Lizard's Mouth after his abduction and murder in August, 2000.
, the highest mountain as viewed from Santa Barbara
. It passes the terminus of Painted Cave Road, and serves as a back route to the substantial inholding around Laurel Springs Ranch
. Gibraltar Road descends the front side of the mountain range, ending behind the Riviera
section of Santa Barbara. East Camino Cielo continues east along the ridgeline above Montecito and Carpinteria, becoming a dirt road just past Romero Saddle, and providing access to the upper Santa Ynez Valley and the back country.
brushfires, fire breaks are often the only practical solution, and the road crucially serves to keep fires from jumping the ridge-line and moving down the canyons into Goleta
and/or Santa Barbara
. To this end, the local inholdings govern themselves through a Wildlands Resident's Association, which meets periodically to coordinate preparedness efforts. The local volunteer fire department, centered around the community of Painted Cave, has won local recognition for its rapid response time. During both the Tea Fire and the Gap Fire, the Painted Cave Volunteer Fire Department were first responders, using the road to rapidly move men and material through otherwise inaccessible backcountry.
Santa Ynez Mountains
The Santa Ynez Mountains are a portion of the Transverse Ranges, part of the Pacific Coast Ranges of the west coast of North America, and are one of the northernmost mountain ranges in Southern California.-Geography:...
of Southern California. Geographically, it is divided into eastern and western sections, and is an important passage for adjacent inholdings in the area, for fire prevention and firefighting purposes, access to communications facilities, and to various recreational areas. The majority of the road is within the boundaries of the Los Padres National Forest
Los Padres National Forest
Los Padres National Forest is a forest located in southern and central California, which includes most of the mountainous land along the California coast from Ventura to Monterey, extending inland...
. It was built during the First World War.
West Camino Cielo
West Camino Cielo (U.S. Forest Service Route 5N19) originates near the summit of San Marcos PassSan Marcos Pass
San Marcos Pass is a mountain pass in the Santa Ynez Mountains in California.It is traversed by State Route 154. The pass connects Los Olivos and the Santa Ynez Valley with Santa Barbara, California...
on California State Route 154 and proceeds west, following the ridgeline of the Santa Ynez Mountains and eventually terminating at Refugio Road, which leads either to the Gaviota coast by a single-lane paved road, or to the Santa Ynez Valley
Santa Ynez Valley
The Santa Ynez Valley is located in Santa Barbara County, California, between the Santa Ynez Mountains to the south and the San Rafael Mountains to the north. The Santa Ynez River flows through the valley from east to west. The Santa Ynez Valley is separated from the Los Alamos Valley, to the...
by a single-lane dirt road. Local residences in the area are mostly concentrated in a strip parallel to California State Route 154, though others dot the road heading west. The road provides access to locations such as the popular climbing area Lizard's Mouth, the Winchester Gun Club, and most notably Ronald Reagan's Rancho del Cielo
Rancho del Cielo
Rancho del Cielo, or "Sky's or Heaven's Ranch," is a ranch located on the top of the Santa Ynez Mountain range northwest of Santa Barbara, California...
. On a less pleasant note, the body of Nicholas Markowitz was buried in a shallow grave near Lizard's Mouth after his abduction and murder in August, 2000.
East Camino Cielo
East Camino Cielo (U.S. Forest Service Route 5N12) climbs steeply after departing east from California State Route 154, proceeding to La Cumbre PeakLa Cumbre Peak
La Cumbre Peak is a 3,995 foot peak in the Santa Ynez Mountains north of Santa Barbara, California. Made up of boulders and slabs of the Matilija Sandstone amid groves of pine trees, it is the highest summit near to the city...
, the highest mountain as viewed from Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
. It passes the terminus of Painted Cave Road, and serves as a back route to the substantial inholding around Laurel Springs Ranch
Laurel Springs Ranch
Laurel Springs Ranch is a ranch located on a ridgetop in the Santa Ynez Mountain range northwest of Santa Barbara, California, between the Painted Cave community and the intersection of Painted Cave road with East Camino Cielo Road in the Los Padres National Forest.-History:Homer Snyder developed...
. Gibraltar Road descends the front side of the mountain range, ending behind the Riviera
Riviera
Riviera is an Italian term originally from the Middle Ages for the coast of Liguria. The term is now more generally applied to any coastal area popular with tourists, particularly in warm areas...
section of Santa Barbara. East Camino Cielo continues east along the ridgeline above Montecito and Carpinteria, becoming a dirt road just past Romero Saddle, and providing access to the upper Santa Ynez Valley and the back country.
Role in Fire Containment in the Area
Both East and West Camino Cielo are keystones of the wildfire prevention effort in Santa Barbara County. Due to the nature of chaparralChaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
brushfires, fire breaks are often the only practical solution, and the road crucially serves to keep fires from jumping the ridge-line and moving down the canyons into Goleta
Goleta, California
Goleta is a city in southern Santa Barbara County, California, USA. It was incorporated as a city in 2002, after a long period as the largest unincorporated, populated area in the county. As of the 2000 census, the Census-designated place had a total population of 55,204, however, a significant...
and/or Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
. To this end, the local inholdings govern themselves through a Wildlands Resident's Association, which meets periodically to coordinate preparedness efforts. The local volunteer fire department, centered around the community of Painted Cave, has won local recognition for its rapid response time. During both the Tea Fire and the Gap Fire, the Painted Cave Volunteer Fire Department were first responders, using the road to rapidly move men and material through otherwise inaccessible backcountry.