Manzana Narrows

**MuseJr** · 05-03-2011, 22:13

Looks like a nice trip. I like the setup you have next to the river too. Nothing like sleeping with the sounds of the river close by.

The "pirate" needed to be taught that eye piercings are not always the best things to have. Lip piercings are better...

**body942** · 05-03-2011, 23:27

Yeah, it's funny... I could tell hiking in that the water should be holding fish. Talked to two guys camped about a mile downstream (passed em on my way in) who said that the fishing was crap and they'd "looked everywhere"; they were nice guys and let me check their maps to confirm my orientation. I was a little stunned but as soon as I found that spot, I could tell that the water RIGHT THERE looked "fishy". Not two minutes later I saw a trout take a bug off the surface. Solidified two things: A) I was in the right spot

and B) those guys, nice as they were, were NOT fishermen.

**StumpJumper** · 05-04-2011, 14:20

Hey Bill - You're right in my backyard! Do you live in Santa Barbara?

Manzana Narrows is a great overnighter, esp right now with the rainfall we had this past winter. Come June/July it gets SUPER hot and dry back there though so you absolutely nailed the timing.

The only downside of the San Rafael is the limited "hangin spots". The Zaca Fire didn't help either. Deeper in there's even more to see (Chumash drawings, natural amphitheaters, condor sanctuaries). I went out to South Fork 2-months ago (where the SAR group got stranded)... that's a really special place. ~30miles roundtrip.

Here's a few pics from my last solo Manzana Narrows trip. Probably looks pretty familiar?

**body942** · 05-05-2011, 15:17

Very familiar! I'm up in South SLO county, haven't done a lot of exploring in your county, but that's about to change. Maybe we'll run into each other sometime, let me know if you have a "trail day" comin up.