[SCPA.info] [Sites] [SB] [Marco Polo]
Marco Polo
Updated 1/13/2026
Google Earth [KMZ] / Most Current Pilot Info Version dated 7/31/2024 (could use updating)
Marco Polo Launch is located in a clearing (Marco Polo Meadow) along a ridge line above (1 mile NE of) the Polo Fields. The ridge is not named on local maps but is most frequently referred to as Toro Ridge. Other less utilized names include Polo Ridge and or Toro Canyon Ridge.
Marco Polo Meadow straddles two 40 acre parcels owned by the USA government and within the jurisdiction of the Los Padres National Forest (LPNF).
Access to Marco Polo Meadow is via a Santa Barbara County Park Department hiking trail (Toro Ridge Trail). From Toro Canyon Road, go east on Toro Canyon Park Road for 3/4 of a mile. The trailhead for the utilized portion of the trail is unmarked and starts from the high point of Toro Canyon Park Road about 70 yards uphill (east of) the gated drive way to 3 private estates. The "unmarked" trailhead does have a sign that says "No Parking After Dusk" and a steel pipe vehicle barrier. There is currently unimproved roadside parking for 4 or 5 vehicles (depending on the weather and vegetation). The Toro Canyon Park entrance is 1/4 mile past (east and downhill of) the unmarked trailhead. When driving in, you will pass the official Toro Ridge Trailhead (marked with signage) 750 yards lower in the canyon before the road crest, but that section of trail is rarely utilized and currently overgrown (2025). The county trail is maintained by the Montecito Trails Foundation (MTF).
The lower 1000 yard (0.56 mile) section of trail from the unmarked trailhead up to the ridgeline is across 3 private property parcels. There is a stone bench (build by boy scouts in 2002) atop the ridgeline that resides on the western of the 2 USA government owned (LPNF) property parcels. The trail up to the bench is marked with Santa Barbara County Park Department trail markers. The remaining 400 yard (0.22 mile) section of the trail along the ridgeline from the bench to Marco Polo Meadow is currently unmarked and routes across LPNF property. The trail is steep near the bottom but eases after the initial couple hundred yards. The initial 25 yard section of trail from the road is often rutted (from rain runoff) and can be more difficult to navigate. Elevation gain is about 250 feet vertical (from the road to the high point), but travel is mostly lateral with some up and down sections. Total distance from the trailhead to the meadow is about 1400 yards (just over 3/4 of a mile). The lower section of the hike (from the road up to the ridgeline) is mostly under oak canopy. The ridgeline section of trail is along a firebreak and only has a few sunshade spots. The trail continues east from Marco Polo Meadow across the eastern of the 2 LPNF property parcels but the section east of the meadow is less utilized and often overgrown. The trail continues east across private property down to the Arroyo Pardon Creek. Pilots have used the overgrown eastern section of trail to hike both up and down between Marco Polo Meadow and the Arroyo Pardon Creek. Do not know if there is an easement to use the eastern section of trail across private property from the ridgeline down to Arroyo Pardon Creek? but county planning info indicates the ridgeline is a "trail corridor". The county does have an easement to use the western section of trail from the road up to the ridgeline. Please respect the privacy of the residential private property and strive to be discrete.
Marco Polo Meadow and Marco Polo Launch are about 1,075 feet MSL.
The Trailhead off Toro Canyon Park Road is about 880 feet MSL
The high zone along the trial (about 150 yards west of the meadow) is about 1130 feet
MSL.
1130 - 880 ~ 250 feet of vertical elevation difference.
The site can have ridge lift, but it is more of a thermic soaring site and tends to work better when the base wind is light. The ridge face is tall and steep near the crest and will chimney it's own draw when heated if the base wind isn't too strong. Too much wind will overpower weak thermals and result in cross and punchy conditions. The site tends to work better with low cloudbase. When cloudbase rises on good lapse rate days, the higher mountains behind draw stronger so the lower front points will be in the feed path toward the main trigger line (behind Toro Ridge). Works all year but is often our go to in May Gray and June Gloom when the Marine Layer cloudbase is above takeoff altitude. When the mid-summer marine layer is squashed down below takeoff, launch can often be up in the inversion zone of the airmass profile, which is not good for thermals. Elings (Training Hill) is lower and can work when the marine layer is below MP launch. On weak days when the bottom of an inversion is above Toro Ridge, MP often has an advantage over Elings because it is a taller face and a better solar collector, especially during the winter when the sun is low on the horizon, but almost perpendicular to the MP ridge face. During our prime South Coast winter soaring season, it tends to work better early in the day when cloudbase is low. After cloudbase has risen the taller mountains behind often work better. Works well in early day SE and though the switch to afternoon SW but if the SW is robust it is more advanced and better to get what you can and run downwind for Snowball.
Most days have a time "window". Marco Polo will often be launchable and soarable when it is OTB (Over The Back) in the mountains. Even on fairly stiff north days we can often get off and on course when the mountains are not launching from the south side, but if the west builds (which it often does on stiff wind days) conditions are considered more advanced.
LZ info Pending, but in short, we don't have "permission" to land anywhere.
Most pilots not going XC or intending to "top land" will leave high enough to
reach Padaro Beach. It is easier to reach the beach in light SE and more
problematic as the west wind builds, so earlier in the day is typically better
but often ok in the afternoon if the SW isn't too stout.
There are some variable Do Not Land (DNL) LZs. Some LZs will "tolerate" occasional landings and others are strictly prohibited either always, seasonally (Polo Fields when horses are present or during polo season), or when in session or being utilized by activities (school yards). Generally, we aren't welcome at horse fields and the risk of a negative incident is heightened when horses are present.