California – Lizard’s Mouth Sunrise Hike in Santa Barbara
“Disneyland rock formations with a bananas view” is exactly how my partner describes the Lizard’s Mouth hike in Santa Barbara. I have trouble even calling it a hike because it is such a short walk, but there is a trail to follow with uneven steps, so it still fits in with other hikes. You get a fantastic bang for your buck with such a short walk. Lizard’s Mouth is named after a large rock formation that looks like, you guessed it, a lizard’s mouth yawing open with ocean views beyond. In addition to Lizard’s Mouth, there are other fun-shaped boulders to crawl around with views of the ocean and the Santa Barbara/Goleta/Gaviota Coastline.
I wanted to go to Lizard’s Mouth for sunrise to mark the New Year. When the morning came, I wasn’t feeling too hot due to getting a booster shot of Moderna (I wish it were a hangover!). We stopped by later on the first day of the year, but I couldn’t shake the idea. So I made an effort to go on January 11 and had the entire place to myself to enjoy the sunrise – gorgeous!!
Whether you’re visiting for sunrise or any time of day, keep in mind that the drive is a good 30 minutes from downtown Santa Barbara!
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Lizard’s Mouth Sunrise “Hike”
There is a very short “hike” to get to Lizard’s Mouth rock. I’m not even sure I would consider this a hike, but there are uneven steps and a little bit of walking required. There is a sign at the trailhead where you’ll follow a dried stream bed for about five minutes. Then you’ll climb up over some rocks. The trail splits at various points, but every path will get you there. Eventually, you’ll reach an opening where you are on a super large slanted rock face. There are going to be boulders in front of you towards the view. At the top of the slant is where the lizard’s mouth is!
As soon as you can see the ocean, the views are simply fantastic. Goleta will be directly ahead, while Santa Barbara is a little to the left, and the Gaviota coast on the right. On a clear day, you can see Carpinteria and beyond. It’s essentially a 180° view of the coastline, which is just beautiful. I recommend spending some time poking around the boulders, rain/wind caves, and Lizard’s Mouth itself.
At a Glance:
- Rating: 4 (out of 4) stars, would definitely go again
- Intensity: Hiking or tennis shoes, clothes you can move freely in
- Location: In the front country mountains above Santa Barbara. You will need a car to reach this trailhead.
- Cost: Free!
- Restrooms: There were no restrooms available for public use
- Timing: 1 – 2 hours
- Distance: 0.3 miles
- Elevation Gain: 49 ft
Highlights:
- Super short “hike” that you can do any time of year and any time of day.
- Fantastic view over Goleta, Santa Barbara, and the Gaviota Coast.
- Unique rock formations to scramble on and around.
- A “must-do” when visiting Santa Barbara.
Lowlights:
- The trail can be busy because it’s so short and features a gorgeous view, it can be busy.
- There is graffiti on the rocks. Please leave no trace and take care of the beautiful viewpoint.
- There is a shooting range nearby, which you can hear while at Lizard’s Mouth.
Things to Look for at Lizard’s Mouth
The Lizard’s Mouth: Of course, you need to see Lizard’s Mouth! As I mentioned in the previous section, it’s at the top of the large slanted rocks. You likely will not be able to see the mouth as you approach it, but there are rocks around where you can get different angles. Please be careful as there is a drop-off!
By doing some light scrambling, you can get below the mouth. The wind has carved rounded pockets into the “roof” of the mouth, which makes it even more realistic! However, it was a little too realistic, and the pockets made me uncomfortable. Mild trypophobia? In any case, I didn’t include any photos in this post. For pictures of what the mouth looks like, check out this hikespeak post.
Fun Boulders from My Pictures: The fun boulders that you see in my photos are just down the slope from the Lizard’s Mouth. It’s the same set of boulders, but at different angles! A couple of these rocks were yarn-bombed in 2014 (skip down to the yarn-bomb section).
The Channel Islands: If it’s a clear day, you’ll be at a great vantage point to see the Channel Islands! From south to north, the visible islands are Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel. See if you can spot them! Anacapa and San Miguel blend into the horizon line, whereas Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa look like they run into each other. If you’re unfamiliar, it might be tough to spot them.
Planes Landing at SBA: Santa Barbara Airport is located in Goleta, and I noticed that you could watch the planes come in for a landing or take off at the airport from Lizard’s Mouth. It’s wild to see the planes look so tiny and dip below eye level.
Public Lands: Shooting Range and Graffiti
Unfortunately, this paradise viewpoint is not perfect. The Lizard’s Mouth hike is on public lands (Los Padres National Forest), and you’ll probably notice the graffiti. It’s a bummer to see graffiti on the rocks because there is almost no chance the weather will ever wear it away. I’m a firm believer that public lands belong to everyone, and it makes me so sad to see that people destroy their belongings and make it less enjoyable for others. If you visit, please remember to leave no trace!
In addition to the graffiti, the other bummer is the nearby shooting range. It’s a formal shooting range, which means you can almost guarantee that people will be shooting in the distance while you hike to Lizard’s Mouth. Even during my sunrise hike, people were shooting nearby (I looked it up later, and that timeframe was not during the Winchester Canyon Gun Club’s open hours). Overall, I’m not a fan of guns and especially not when I’m trying to have a peaceful morning enjoying the sunrise.
2014 Yarn Bombed Boulders at Lizard’s Mouth
The only graffiti I’ll tolerate is of the temporary, non-marking variety! My first time visiting Lizard’s Mouth was back in 2014 when I (or my partner) heard about a unique art project where an artist gained permission to cover a handful of the large boulders with yarn temporarily. We made a point to visit during the run and got to see the brightly colored shapes and colors hugging each boulder. We had a great time finding all 18 of the boulders and seeing the various patterns that were patch-worked together. Check out more information about the installation here and enjoy my photos from 2014 (probably taken on an iPhone 4 – haha).
The Return Trip
After exploring boulders and Lizard’s Mouth, I always get a little turned around to find the path out. The good news is that as long as you are headed in the general direction of the trailhead, the trails will combine and lead you out. Keep an eye out for uneven or slippery surfaces. Or, if you want to retrace your steps, take a look at the AllTrails Map. The trail is undeniable, so if it seems small or complicated, you’re probably going the wrong way.
Lizard’s Mouth – What to Bring with You
Although Lizard’s Mouth is super short and not too difficult, I still recommend bringing water and other essentials in a small backpack, such as:
- Download the Alltrails Map
- Day Pack – I used a small 16L backpack from Amazon. Consider the Gregory May 16 or small Osprey pack.
- Water bottle – You cannot go wrong with a handy dandy Nalgene
- Light layers depending on the season, it was chilly before the sun rose
- Sunscreen – I use this sunscreen for my face, and this one for my body
- Snack to keep you going!
- Small tripod for photos
Getting to the Trailhead
The trailhead is on GoogleMaps, and I would buffer 30 minutes to get there from downtown Santa Barbara. It takes a while to get there because you have to go up the 154 (which we call the San Ynez Pass) to West Camino Cielo. From the turnoff at West Camino Cielo, it is still another 10 – 15 minute drive as it is curvy and passes through an area with houses, then climbs a bit more. The views along this road are delightful, but the area is a little sketchy with people who are illegally camping out overnight (I kind of don’t blame them with these views). There is a sign that shows where the Lizard’s Mouth trail begins.
Overall Thoughts: Lizard’s Mouth Sunrise “Hike”
Honestly, the Lizard’s Mouth hike is one of my favorites in Santa Barbara. Sometimes I forget about it because it’s so short, but the views are so insanely fantastic that I need to get up there more often to see the changing conditions. Since Lizard’s Mouth is at the top of the mountains, you’ll want to avoid any day when you cannot see the mountain tops from Santa Barbara/Goleta. But other than that, it’s a great hike to do at any time of year and any time of day.
I moved to Santa Barbara in 2012 but have barely covered it on Moderately Adventurous – how sad! But with this post, I am slowly changing that. What other activities would you like me to cover in Santa Barbara? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Travels,
Hanna
