Bobcatting Santa Barbara Canyon

Description: Bobcatting Santa Barbara Canyon
Round Trip Hiking Distance: 6.0+ miles
Round Trip Hiking Time: 4.0 hours total
Elevations: 8800'-9600'
Rating: Moderate
Pace: Mellow Plus

Please do not RSVP for this hike if you cannot go up and down Atalaya in under 3 hours. This helps us to stay together as a group, enhancing the hiking experience for everyone. It is not about competition, but cooperation. COVID vaccination and compliance with CDC rules on quarantine and isolation are required (i.e., don't attend if you have Covid!). is a group hike and participants are expected to stay with the group. No firearms or commercial solicitations.

Hike Description: This trail starts at the Santa Barbara campground, near Penasco, ~1.5 hours north of Santa Fe. We'll follow the West Fork trail for about 3.5 miles, staying in the canyon and crossing the Santa Barbara River a couple of times. The hike features gushing whitewater, nice views of rocky canyon walls and ridgelines, and wildflowers including loads of blue columbine, Jacob's ladder, fern leaf lousewort, thimbleberries, monkey flowers, blue bells, arnica and much more. We'll return more or less as we came.

CAUTION: It could be warm. We'll be fairly high up and the return leg of the hike is overwhelmingly downhill (and with the sun to our backs to boot), but the trail is not entirely shaded. So plan accordingly.

What to bring:
Sturdy hiking boots or shoes.
Appropriate layers and water resistant outer wear.
Lots of water--LOTS-- for a 4 hour hike
Snacks/lunch
Sunscreen

Meeting Place:
DEVARGAS. We'll meet at DeVargas behind Market Street (fka Albertsons) (i.e., toward St. Francis) but a little closer to the bowling alley. If your plans change at the last minute, please call Ken at 248-252-0708. I will leave right at 8:00, so be timely.

Dogs: Well-behaved dogs with no history of bad behavior on group hikes are allowed but must be on leash at all times.

Maximum one guest per person signing up. Please be considerate of people on the wait list and cancel promptly if after signing up you determine you won't attend.

Driving/Cost: Non-drivers are to contribute $10 to the driver for gas. Most of the route is paved, but the last few miles are well-graded gravel.

Release. By attending, the Participant releases the Event Leaders from liability arising from the Event and assumes all risks of the Event, including: 1) injuries from falls, living things, pre-existing health conditions, vehicles, and weather, and 2) injuries resulting from the Event Leaders not undertaking the least risky option available (e.g., hiking a steep slope instead of a gentle slope) or not treating an injury in the optimal way (e.g., due to insufficient training). The preceding sentence supplements any other exculpatory arrangement to which the Participant is subject.