Santa Ynez River Loop follows alongside the river in and out of tree cover and through chaparral. At under a mile the trail passes several popular swimming holes known as Red Rocks, before it continues to follow the river into a more remote setting. It crosses the river several times before reaching and following the forest road through grasslands back to the trailhead. Crossing the river may be difficult or impassible during periods of high runoff. The trails are a combination of single track paths and dirt roads. Restroom facilities can be found at the trailhead.