If you’re looking for a trail that few people seem to know about and offers incredible views of the Santa Ynez Valley than the hike to Ranger Peak may be the answer. Ranger Peak is part of the San Rafael Mountains in the Los Padres National Forest along with neighboring Figueroa Peak and Cachuma Mountain. The peak itself can be reached from Figueroa Mountain Road for a short hike of less than a mile or from Happy Canyon Road for a longer hike of about 9 miles round trip.
To get to the trailhead for the longer hike take State Route 154 past Cachuma Lake to Armour Ranch Road. Turn right onto Armour Ranch route and follow it to the intersection with Happy Canyon Road, turn right and continue on Happy Canyon Road as it meanders through ranch country and vineyards before climbing out of the valley towards Cachuma Saddle. This, along with Figueroa Mountain Road, is one of the more scenic drives into the backcountry. Near the top of Ranger Peak
From here the hike continues past the gate along the dirt road; a little ways in you’ll want to start looking for what looks like an improvised road or set of tire tracks that climb up the ridge on your right, just before the dirt road rounds the corner. You’ll know you missed it if you started seeing views of the valley open up before you as the route you want heads north along the dividing contour between these two valleys. 
The trail or double track follows the ridge most of the way and leads through open grassy hills dotted with chaparral plants such as ceanothus, manzanita and scrub oak, mixed with pines. This area is also a cattle allotment within the National Forest and there are various well established cattle trails along the way that can look like hiking trails, but for the most part you’ll want to follow the improvised road or double track. 
At about the 2 mile mark a barb wire fence crosses the trail, shortly after this the trail branches with the trail to the right heading down towards a cattle trough and the trail to the left climbing back towards the ridgeline. It’s through here the trail becomes less distinct but does lead back over to and follow the ridgeline and often resuming its familiar double track appearance.
At about the 2.5 mile mark the trail passes that large rock formation and shortly afterwards crests a small rise at which point Ranger Peak becomes visible in the distance. A short side trip to the formation offers some nice views of the valley below. The trail from this point on follows the contour of the ridgeline all the way to Ranger Peak and seems to alternate between cattle trail, fuel break and double track but is open and followable, as well as steep in places. In fact the hardest part of the hike for me was seeing cattle tracks and imaging the cattle hiking up these steep sections without a complaint. Bobcat hunting and relaxing near Ranger Peak
One also can reached Ranger Peak from Figueroa Mountain Road, by parking in the large pullout found along the road and hiking in a short way to the small saddle just described. From Los Olivos the pullout for the trailhead is about 2 miles past Figueroa Campground and about a half mile before the turnoff for East Pinery Road. 
This article originally appeared in section A of the December 9th, 2011 edition of the Santa Barbara News-Press.
Songs of the Wilderness 
Hi James. Are your articles posted anywhere on the SB Newspress website or are they exclusively in the printed edition?
By: Jasper on December 9, 2011
at 5:02 pm
[…] can each be visited in a day and include Zaca Peak (4341′), Figueroa Mountain (4528′), Ranger Peak (4633′) and Cachuma Mountain (4696′). This week’s article features these four […]
By: Trail Quest: Little Four « Songs of the Wilderness on September 30, 2012
at 8:50 pm
[…] highlight for the year, however was my bobcat encounter at Ranger Peak. While hiking up from Happy Canyon Road, I had just crested the small saddle near Ranger Peak […]
By: 2011: Year of the Bobcat | Songs of the Wilderness on December 23, 2013
at 8:39 am