This is a lovely hike in the lower parts of the mountains above Montecito. It's a very well-maintained trail, suitable for horses (hitching posts along the way.)
The hike is a loop, or more like a figure 9, that starts at the San Ysidro trailhead, branches off to the McMenemy trail, then forks over to the Saddlerock trail, the returns down the Girard trail back to McMenemy.
There are nice view spots along the way. You can choose to make your summit at the junction with the Girard trail for a 3 mile hike, or at Saddlerock for a 5.5 mile hike.
From the Mission, corner of Laguna and Los Olivos Street in Santa Barbara:
Get on US 101 going southbound by taking Laguna St. to Mission St. (toward the ocean).
Turn right on Mission St.
Follow Mission St. to the freeway and take US 101 south.
Take the San Ysidro exit. Turn left.
At East Valley Rd. (there is a shopping center), turn right.
Pay close attention as you drive, looking for Park Lane, which is not well marked. There's a tree in the way. You will turn left on Park Lane. It's just after you make a sharp left, then a sharp right in the road.
Turn left again at East Mountain Drive.
Park at the end of the road. The trailhead is at the end of the road and is marked by a sign.
(About 20 minute drive)
