Sunday Drive:  Castle Like Rock Formations of Pine Mountain Ridge

Get up close and personal with the sculptural rock formations in the Los Padres Forest on this week's Sunday Drive, taking you through extravagant flower fields along a pine laced ridge.  The Pine Mountain recreational area makes a perfect day, or camping trip, for hikers, bikers, or horse lovers, with a nearby opportunity exclusively for 4x4 enthusiasts.  The night sky on this ridge is a stargazer's delight.

Take hwy 33 N through and past Ojai.  This scenic drive snakes along and over a sycamore lined river through three tunnels.  As the road climbs, the terrain gets drier and steeper. Look for the year round waterfall on the side of the road ahead and to your left near mile marker 22.  Catch a glimpse of the islands on your ascent. Continue past Rose Valley and the Piedras Blancas.  The rock formations really start to erupt through the landscape to your right, the river all the while on your left.  Turn right onto Pine Mountain Road.  This six mile road is rough and unpaved in parts.  You do not need a 4x4, but if your car is very low, it could be problematic.  Take it slow, the scenery is beautiful.  The Road lines Pine Mountain Ridge, look both north towards the badlands, and south southward for distant views of Santa Cruz Island floating like a ghost in the fog.  White tailed rabbits dart in front of the truck, a young deer eats peacefully along the side of the road.  The campgrounds up here are stellar, some right next to giant castle like rock formations, others on the ridge with distant ocean views.  We camped at Pine Mt. Campground, a meadow carpeted with yellow wild flowers busy with huge butterflies.  There's plenty of shade in this grove of moss covered pines.

 We love camping in our Chevy Avalanche with our truck bed tent.  This optional tent is easier to erect than a ground strapped tent and has over 10 feet of interior length.  The mid gate allows us access to the cabin from the tent, which is great for xm radio and light.  We also love the built in ice chests on each side of the truck bed.  They drain to the street as the ice melts, so our gear stays dry, and they don't roll around in the back of the truck.  

The stargazing is magnificent along the ridge. Bright Venus is low in the sky at dusk and a telescope reveals that it is half lit right now.  Saturn is smaller and yellowish at Venus's upper left.  These two planets are getting closer and closer to each other each night until the night of June 30, where they almost meet.  Jupiter rises in the east around dusk and can be easily observed by around ten or eleven pm.  If you don't have a telescope, try binoculars.  You'll be surprised at what they reveal. 

Because this drive is only about an hour from Ojai, it makes either a great day trip or an overnight trip.  In the winter the road can get snowed in, and therefore closes, but makes a perfect place to walk in the snow on the road.  The fall offers crisp ocean views, in spring wildflowers abound making it an area suited for all seasons. 

This time of year it's hot.  We enjoy stopping at one of the many roadside swimming holes along 33.  They are tricky to find, but a clue is to look for other cars parked along the river.  Often times there are hidden swimming holes below.  After a nice drive or camping trip, these fresh water spots offer well deserved relief from the heat and dust. The soothing water is a great cap to your day before heading home. Sunday Drive and Jason Scott thank you for driving friendly. 

Strictly 4x4 By Permit Only: Potrero Seco

This week's 4x4 is a special treat exclusive to only ten cars per day by permit only. Call 646-4348 to secure your permit between 3-14 days in advance.  Reservations are required well in advance during hunting season, but this time of year your chances of getting a permit are good.  The rules are strict and specific.  Any abuse will lead to closure, so please be respectful.  The Los Padres Forest website gives all of the details in the OHV section. These restrictions create light auto traffic, which allows the wildlife to come right out of the woodwork.  We saw deer, and even encountered a mama bear and her cub last spring.  The springtime here becomes a wild flower safari with swarms of butterflies fluttering around your truck.  The road is a double track in parts, with tall grasses and wildflowers slapping the front bumper.  This time of year the flowers have passed their peak, but we still saw plenty.  The tall grasses are golden in the light, and hundreds of dandelions were ready for wish making.  You'll pass a ranch on your left (keep out) with shaded picnic tables and a camp ground on your right, a nice cool place to stop.  The road continues on a wide ridge offering views in all directions.  The majestic Three Sisters mark the halfway point of the drive.  Explore these three giant rock formations with little cave like holes all around.  The road weaves right through them.  Beyond, the road becomes much less traveled and reveals distant ocean views.  It's very secluded, chances are you won't see anyone else.  Shade is hard to come by out here and temperatures can be extreme, so be prepared with sun block and plenty of water.  Strictly 4x4 and Jason Scott thank you for treading lightly.