Aaron,
I've gotten pretty torn up in Santa Barbara walking thru chapparal to get to some rocky clearing in the distance. And then a hiker shows me where he saw one at stream edge, right smack where the trail almost starts and is easy and has multitudes of day hikers. Figures. I love it up there, I just don't get there frequently.

A bit further up the coast still in SB county I have visited some habitat that is basically untouched because it is mostly private. Lots of lizards and tunnels under sandstone rocks, and much less chaparal to impede you. I am always there at the wrong time, since I am not there to go herping, but it is beautiful nonetheless, and I do like to survey the area anyway.