In a cave near the city of Santa Barbara are a series of mysterious ancient cave paintings whose meanings are lost to time. Open from dawn to dusk, the Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park can be found 3 miles south of the San Marcos Pass.
![chumash state park sign](https://roadtripandtravel.com/wp-content/uploads/chumash-state-park-sign-1024x576.webp)
![chumash painted cave map](https://roadtripandtravel.com/wp-content/uploads/chumash-painted-cave-map-1024x684.webp)
Drive cautiously on the way to the cave. The road to the painted cave is narrow and curvy. It’s also prone to low clouds blanketing the mountainside in a thick fog.
![road to chumash painted caves](https://roadtripandtravel.com/wp-content/uploads/road-chumash-1024x575.webp)
A steep rocky dirt path leads up to the cave entrance. Although the cave is protected by a heavy iron fencing to prevent further vandalism, it is still possible to get a good look at the historic art. There are other trails around the area, but mind your step and watch out for poisonous plants.
![chumash painted caves trail](https://roadtripandtravel.com/wp-content/uploads/chumash-painted-caves-trail-1024x1497.webp)
Within this 7 acre park are hiking trails…somewhere. We had a hard time delineating the trails from the forest. It doesn’t look like they are used very often.
![chumash painted cave erie trees](https://roadtripandtravel.com/wp-content/uploads/chumash-painted-cave-erie-trees-1024x576.webp)
Driving through the foggy winding road, the lack of noise from traffic, people, or forest animals all left an eerie feeling. Walking through dewed spiderweb filled trees with their branches reaching down as if trying to grab us added to that creepiness. This was exciting!
![chumash painted cave sign](https://roadtripandtravel.com/wp-content/uploads/chumash-painted-cave-sign-1024x1389.webp)
Carved from a massive sandstone cliff, this tiny cave houses some of the finest remaining cave art painted by Chumash Native Americans.
![chumash painted caves inside](https://roadtripandtravel.com/wp-content/uploads/chumash-painted-caves-inside-1024x576.webp)
Anthropologists estimate the paintings could be several hundred or even thousands of years old. Even with the help of the remaining Chumash Indians, the meaning of this art is lost to the ages.
![chumash painted caves](https://roadtripandtravel.com/wp-content/uploads/chumash-painted-caves-cyark-1024x560.webp)
![chumash painted cave drawings](https://roadtripandtravel.com/wp-content/uploads/chumash-painted-cave-drawings-1024x733.webp)
![chumash painted caves state park](https://roadtripandtravel.com/wp-content/uploads/chumash-painted-caves-state-park-1024x576.webp)
![chumash painted caves poison oak](https://roadtripandtravel.com/wp-content/uploads/chumash-painted-caves-poison-oak-1024x785.webp)
Stopping at this historic landmark of the Chumash American Indians was a nice addition to our adventure-filled day in Santa Barbara. Sometimes park rangers are available to share historic facts with visitors, but we didn’t see anyone while we were there. Our visit only lasted about 20-minutes.
Tips:
- BEWARE of poison oak!
- Bring a flashlight for better lighting.
- Trailers and RV’s should not attempt driving these roads.
- Be careful driving. Parts of the road narrows to a shared lane.
- check out the CYARK conservation project for cool 3D models of the cave paintings.