La Cumbre Peak, Mountain summit in Santa Ynez Mountains, California, US
La Cumbre Peak is a 3,997-foot (1,218 m) summit in the Santa Ynez Mountains north of Santa Barbara, within Los Padres National Forest. It is composed of boulders and slabs of Matilija Sandstone amid groves of pine trees. Adjacent are Arlington Peak (3,258 ft) and Cathedral Peak (3,336 ft).
The peak received a fire lookout station in 1923, replaced by a new structure in 1946. These buildings were built to monitor forest fires across the region.
The name La Cumbre means "the summit" in Spanish, and East Camino Cielo, the ridge road built in 1930–31 to reach it, is now a training route for runners and cyclists because of its sustained elevation gain and light car traffic. The 1946 lookout, with its high walls and sloped glass, was the only one of its design ever built.
East Camino Cielo, built in 1930–31 as a single-lane ridge road, runs 18 miles from San Marcos Pass to the summit, with frequent turnouts and a 15 mph limit. Runners and cyclists train on it for the sustained elevation gain, and car traffic is relatively light.
The peak holds several communication antennas and an abandoned lookout tower that remains visible. This historic tower is registered in the National Historic Lookout Register.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,156 contributors worldwide.
