BeatinG a Path to the
Frankl i n Trail B y Lea B oyd Ph otos By GLenn d u Bock
Until late 2013, decades had passed since Carpinterians had broken a sweat hiking a local trail. A wide swath of private property had made the foothills and mountains— topography of great pride to locals—accessible only to the eyes. But Carpinterians enjoy a challenge, particularly one that connects people with open space. In this spirit, a small group formed a few years ago to topple lingering land use hurdles and raise the funds needed to swing open the gates to Carpinteria’s backyard by restoring access to the historic Franklin Trail. Ultimately, Franklin Trail will climb over the Santa Ynez Mountains to connect with East Camino Cielo and drop down to Jameson Lake. The first phase, which opened Nov. 1, 2013, is a 2.25-mile one-way hike to a 650-foot elevation. Open to horses, cyclists, and hikers, the trail begins at Sterling Avenue and winds through private avocado orchards before heading up into chaparral-covered hillsides. As the path climbs out of the valley, views of Carpinteria once hidden are suddenly revealed—downtown buildings, the expansive salt marsh, sparkling Pacific, and several Channel Islands, depending on the weather. Public access to these spectacular vistas had come to a halt in the 1970s, when ranchers feared an aggressive root rot would be spread to their avocado trees by trail users. Friends of the Franklin Trail formed in 2010 after key property owners in the vicinity of the historic trail OPPOSITE PAGE, the newly opened Franklin Trail provides recreational activity with a view. THIS PAGE, TOP, the trail provides a variety of landscapes and hardscapes. THIS PAGE, BOTTOM, cactus punctuates the predominately chaparral vegetation. SUMMER2014 95
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