Red Rock Trailhead

Red Rock is Beautiful!! Highly recommend!!! But BE SMART- do not dive into water!! Watch for rattlesnakes!!! I also Suggest water shoes!! But great place !! To float, cool off and enjoy nature!!

i’m writing this because i noticed that there aren’t many recent reviews for red rock, which made my partner and i apprehensive when we commuted into los padres forest last friday without much information. thankfully, everything turned out much better than we had expected!

it was above 90 degrees the day that we went, which was perfect temperature for the cold water of the red rock pools. the drive was fairly simple, with a few narrow roads and dirt paths that could make some uneasy, but there were many signs directing us to the correct locations as we delved deeper into the mountains. there was ample parking at the trailhead, as well as a small pool to the left of the lot for those who do not want to hike to the “official” pools! we only traveled to the first pool (we were told it was the biggest), which was a very easy 0.5 mile hike. the view that we were met with was breathtaking! i am still shocked that a place like this exists in santa barbara. the water was cool and a perfect level to swim, with some pretty deep areas. i highly recommend going on sb’s next hot day if you can!

the only negative is that it seemed like the park was devoid of all rangers; the pay station was deserted and we were quite confused on how to pay the $10 entrance fee. a local we spoke to informed us that the pay station has been this way for quite some time. so if you’re confused once you reach the entrance, we promise it’s not abandoned! there were many people hiking and enjoying the pools.

here are some pics of the sights :)

We have been here for about 10 years, the staff is always friendly and accommodating. I would suggest booking a spot at least a month before to get secure spot. They do have day passes to just visit the lake if you don't want to spend the night. The campsites have a water fountain, a fire pit and a grill. They also have bathrooms that are maintained well.

Good place for hiking. You have also the option to swim in the river. If you follow the river until you reach the Gibraltar reservoir and then walk back on the dirt road it will take you approximately 4 hours if you make stops in between.