San Rafael Mountains

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San Rafael Mountains

The San Rafael Mountains are a mountain range in Santa Barbara County in the U.S. state of California. They are part of the Transverse Ranges, which in turn are part of the Pacific Coast Ranges.

The highest mountain in the chain is the Big Pine Mountain with an altitude of 2,079 meters, followed by the San Rafael Mountain 2,010 meters and the McKinley Mountain with 1,896 meters.

The largest part of the mountain range is located in the Los Padres National Forest, the northern slopes belonging to the secluded nature reserve San Rafael National Wilderness Area. The mountains are steep and rugged. The lower slopes are covered with impenetrable Chaparall. In the higher areas conifers grow. On the mountain tops is above 1,800 meters in the winter can be expected snowfall, otherwise prevails in the San Rafael Mountains a Mediterranean climate with warm dry summers and mild, rainy winters.

In the southwest of the mountain range lies the Zaca Lake, the only natural lake in Santa Barbara County.

The San Rafael Mountains were first inhabited by Indians of the tribe of the Chumash. From their customs, the rock art testifies in remote areas of the mountain range. In previous centuries, mercury was mined in the southern part of the mountain range. Due to the now well-known health risks of toxic heavy metal environmentalists currently trying to fathom whether remediation is necessary and feasible.