Santa Barbara, CA: Gibraltar Road 33 | Bicycling in California

Santa Barbara, CA: Gibraltar Road 33

Climb to the top of the Santa Ynez Mountains on "America's Alpe d'Huez." This 33-miler combines a 3,000-foot climb with a pleasant roll through Montecito and a cruise past Santa Barbara's Pacific beach.

Author:	Bicycling Magazine
Date:	12 Oct 2009 9:58:45 PM
Activity:	Bicycling ActivitySearchBicycling
State:	California (CA)
Distance:	32.79 mi (Change units)
Elevation:	Total Gain: 4542 ft Total Loss: 4534 ft Net Change: 8 ft
Difficulty:	8 / 10
Tags:	Santa Barbara, California, Santa Ynez Mountains, Santa Barbara Rides, Los Padres National Forest
Rating:	1 rating(s) Rate it

This 33-mile mountain-to-beach loop starts at Santa Barbara Coffee Roasting Company on State Street and spins past the landmark Mission, a 190-year-old Spanish chapel, to Mountain Drive. After a climb up Mission Ridge Road, turn left onto Gibraltar Road at mile 4.2 to begin a grueling climb: the next 8 miles average a 7-percent grade over 30-plus switchbacks to 3,985-foot La Cumbre. The road is steep, twisted, and dusted with a layer of sand and rocks. It's also completely exposed to the sun, making it a brutal scorcher on sunny summer days.

At the top of the climb, cyclists are rewarded with top-shelf views of the Pacific Ocean and Channel Islands before a zippy, 3,000-foot descent back to Mountain Drive. Relax on the mellow eastbound ride on Mountain Drive and for the final stretch dropping through celebrity-studded Montecito, and tracing East Beach back towards Santa Barbara's Stearns Wharf.

-Mapped with assistance from Rapha Continental and the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition

TO TRAILHEAD: This ride begins at the Santa Barbara Coffee Roasting Company (RoCo) at 321 Motor Way, less than one block south of State Street and 1 block north of US 101 in downtown Santa Barbara.

Position Format:	Datum:

Tracks

Gibraltar Road 33

Dist: 32.79 mi	Points: 1112	Calories: none
Time: none	Speed: 0.0 mph	Pace: 0:00 / mi

Distance	Instruction		Distance to next
0.00 mi	Start	Santa Barbara Coffee Roasting Company	Then go 1.49 mi
1.49 mi	Turn Right	Turn right at E Pedregosa St	Then go 0.39 mi
1.88 mi	Turn Left	Turn left at Laguna St	Then go 0.30 mi
2.19 mi	Turn Right	Turn right at E Los Olivos St	Then go 0.12 mi
2.31 mi	Bear Left	Slight left to stay on E Los Olivos St	Then go 0.10 mi
2.41 mi	Bear Right	Slight right at Mountain Dr	Then go 1.25 mi
3.66 mi		Take the 2nd left onto Mountain Dr	Then go 0.24 mi
3.90 mi		Take the 2nd right to stay on Mountain Dr	Then go 0.02 mi
3.92 mi	Bear Left	Slight left at Gibraltar Rd	Then go 7.30 mi
11.22 mi		Continue on E Camino Cielo/Forest Route 5N12	Then go 1.14 mi
12.35 mi		Sharp left	Then go 0.02 mi
12.37 mi	U-Turn		Then go 0.02 mi
12.39 mi		Sharp right at E Camino Cielo/Forest Route 5N12 Continue to follow E Camino Cielo	Then go 1.82 mi
14.21 mi		Continue on Gibraltar Rd	Then go 6.26 mi
20.47 mi		Take the 1st left onto El Cielito Rd	Then go 0.19 mi
20.66 mi		Take the 1st left to stay on El Cielito Rd	Then go 0.07 mi
20.73 mi	Bear Left	Slight left at W Mountain Dr	Then go 1.00 mi
21.73 mi		Take the 1st left to stay on W Mountain Dr	Then go 1.53 mi
23.26 mi		Take the 2nd right to stay on W Mountain Dr	Then go 0.42 mi
23.68 mi	Turn Right	Turn right at E Mountain Dr	Then go 2.39 mi
26.07 mi	Turn Left	Turn left at Picacho Ln	Then go 0.02 mi
26.09 mi		Take the 1st right onto E Mountain Dr	Then go 0.47 mi
26.56 mi		Take the 1st right onto San Ysidro Rd	Then go 0.20 mi
26.76 mi	Turn Right	Turn right to stay on San Ysidro Rd	Then go 1.57 mi
28.33 mi		Continue on Eucalyptus Ln/S Jameson Ln	Then go 0.02 mi
28.35 mi		Take the 1st right onto S Jameson Ln	Then go 0.31 mi
28.66 mi	Bear Left	S Jameson Ln turns slightly left and becomes Danielson Rd	Then go 0.33 mi
28.99 mi	Turn Left	Turn left at Olive Mill Rd	Then go 0.16 mi
29.15 mi		Continue on Channel Dr	Then go 0.53 mi
29.69 mi		Take the 1st left to stay on Channel Dr	Then go 0.75 mi
30.44 mi	Straight	Continue straight onto E Cabrillo Blvd	Then go 2.35 mi
32.79 mi	Stop	Santa Barbara Coffee Roasting Company

Points of Interest

GIB001

Location: 34.415407°, -119.694414°
Start with a wake-up call at the Santa Barbara Coffee Roasting Company at 321 Motor Way and head north on State Street.

GIB002

Location: 34.438354°, -119.712642°
You'll pass directly beneath the impressive (and nearly 200-year old) facade of the Old Santa Barbara Mission before turning right to begin the climb up Mountain Drive.

GIB003

Location: 34.451723°, -119.689264°
You'll have climbed about 1,000 feet in the first 4.2 miles of this ride, but this left turn onto Gibraltar Road is where the real climbing begins. The road ahead is rough, steep, and winds through dozens of sharp corners as it climbs another 3,000 feet.

GIB004

Location: 34.491101°, -119.690080°
This route continues left on the rugged surface of Camino Cielo at this junction near mile 10.5. If you're a glutton for punishment, you could add more than 13 miles to this ride by turning right for an out-and-back adventure to the eastern terminus of "Sky Road."

GIB005

Location: 34.495343°, -119.714112°
The 3,985-foot La Cumbre Peak is the highest nearby spot in the Santa Ynes Mountains and offers 360-degree views of Santa Barbara's backcountry, the Pacific Ocean, and the Southern California coastline. Expect to spend some time relaxing at the top before turning back toward Mountain Drive.

GIB006

Location: 34.456005°, -119.679780°
This winding, 4-mile stretch of Mountain Drive rolls along the foothills above Santa Barbara and Montecito. Though traffic is light, there are no shoulders and the line-of-sight is limited by the winding corners, so use caution and stay on the right side of the road.

GIB007

Location: 34.436806°, -119.632112°
Watch for famous residents as you cruise downhill on San Ysidro Road. Oprah Winfrey (whose $50-million house is just a few blocks east on Foothill Road), Tom Cruise, Kirk Douglas, and a handful of other celebrities own property in this upscale neighborhood east of Santa Barbara. As you approach and cross above US 101, traffic is likely to increase; be alert.

GIB008

Location: 34.416513°, -119.641537°
After cruising past the Four Seasons Biltmore Hotel, the signed, designated bike route turns to official bike path heading west along Channel Drive. The beach-side cruise from here to loop-end is a lazy, pleasant ride, but watch for pedestrians and other path users crossing for beach access.

GIB009

Location: 34.412185°, -119.689232°
If you're not rushed (or exhausted) consider the 0.8-mile out-and-back to the end of Stearns Wharf, one of Santa Barbara's most notable attractions. You'll have to stick to the roadway and avoid riding on the footpath, but a breezy ride is a great way to cool down. There are also a handful of restaurants on the wharf for a post-ride refuel.

RoCo

Location: 34.415420°, -119.694334°
This ride starts at the cyclist-friendly coffee shop, the Santa Barbara Coffee Roasting Company (RoCo for short). © Brolin Russell

Blanketed Hillsides

Location: 34.489995°, -119.688460°
The approach to Gibraltar's apex becomes increasingly windier as you climb. © The Rapha Continental

Climbing Gibraltar Road

Location: 34.463082°, -119.679952°
Leaving Santa Barbara's lush neighborhoods, green parks, and Spanish churches in your wake, churn up the mostly-exposed, sun-beat Gibraltar Road. Temper formidable views of the mountains to the north with idyllic panoramas of Santa Barbara and the coastline to the south. © The Rapha Continental

Mean Ascent

Location: 34.469796°, -119.677774°
Continue your 10.7-mile, 3,669-foot climb to the highest point of Gibraltar Road. This lesser-maintained thoroughfare is choppy and potholed, covered with loose gravel, sand, and small rocks. © The Rapha Continental

Mission Ridge Road

Location: 34.444548°, -119.699897°
After pedaling through the rolling surface streets of Santa Barbara, head north on Foothill Road/Mission Ridge Road toward Rattlesnake Canyon Park. © The Rapha Continental