Franklin Trail Extended 3.3 Miles

For the past two years, Carpinterians have flocked by the hundreds every week to enjoy the views from the power lines above the valley. This week Santa Barbara County Parks announced that an interim agreement with Rancho Monte Alegre has been approved to allow the public access to the middle or Phase 2 section of the Franklin Trail.

With this addition the trail now includes an additional 3.3 miles of jeep road that provides access to a section of the front country that cannot be seen from any other place, including the upper stretches of Sutton Creek and the Santa Ynez Mountains.

With the addition of the Phase 2 section, the public now has access to 5.2 miles of trail. Equestrians will love this trail because of the added distance, especially the many miles of wide-open jeep road. Hikers will as well but making it to the end of Phase 2 is quite a challenge given its length and the number of ups in both directions. You’ll definitely want to pace yourself and to spare some energy for the trip back. Mountain bikers will also find the trail quite nice. The main challenge for bikers is the half-mile or so of single track on the lower section. You’ll most likely need to walk your bike up a good part of the lower trail but once past the power lines, the effort is within most riders’ capabilities.