Mission Canyon is directly north — on the mountain side — of the city of Santa Barbara, and derives its name from the Mission Santa Barbara which is built between Mission Canyon and the center of the city. The canyon itself is one of the most dramatic in the Santa Ynez Mountains with the locally highest peak, La Cumbre Peak at the top of the watershed, flanked by Cathedral Peak and Arlington Peak to the west, "Pine Lookout" and "Rock Garden" to the east, and rugged sandstone formations partially covered with chaparral on both sides of the creek.