Refugio Road is a stunning climb into the coast mountains west of Santa Barbara. A very narrow, twisty and variable grade road takes you up the hill, often under a tunnel of trees near the bottom. A steep switchback to the left...several miles in will get your attention as the trees begin to thin. Continuing over a variable grade, at mile 5.2 you reach a junction. From here (turn right...) the road is a true single lane and hugs the cliffside in places. Continuing over a narrow road and a variable grade, the route is exposed for the majority of the 2nd half of the ascent.
The steepest climbing is at the very end as there is a double digit grade ramp just before the road dead ends at a cell tower facility.