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Join us on a leg-burning journey through the best hikes in Santa Barbara, you won’t want to miss a single one.
Can you really say you know a place unless you’ve traversed its trails? We don’t tend to think so. What also helps is knowing beforehand that the hike you’re embarking on will be the most stunning thing you’ve ever seen. And you know what they say about Santa Barbara—everything about this place is stunning. Its seductive location (tucked right between the mountains and the sea), its salty air, its red-tile roofs reflected in the water… the postcard’s practically created. So join us on a leg-burning journey through the best hikes in Santa Barbara, you won’t want to miss a single one.
Location: Douglas Family Preserve
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Parking: Arroyo Burro Beach Parking lot
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 1.3 miles
Time: 30 minutes
Route: Loop
Dogs allowed: Yes
If you're looking for an easy-breezy hike in Santa Barbara, then you should definitely opt for the 70-acre dog-friendly Douglas Family Preserve. Hiking here feels like you're enabling easy mode on leg burn but still managing to see all the spectacular views you've ever imagined. Striking sea cliffs, eucalyptus and cypress giants, wildflower beds, and for those who are extra-lucky, sightings of whales and dolphins offshore are some of the highlights along the way.
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Location: Carpinteria State Beach
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Parking: At the south end of Bailard Avenue
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 2.7 miles
Time: 45 minutes
Route: Out and back
Dogs allowed: On leash
This is another animal-filled Santa Barbara hike, but this time, harbor seals are the main event. The Tar Pits and Carpinteria Bluffs Loop Trail stretches along the edge of towering sea cliffs on one of the largest open spaces left on the south coast of the American Riviera. As you're walking, make sure to look down at the Carpinteria Seal Sanctuary; you can see adorable creatures frolicking in the surf and crawling up the beach like giant caterpillars.
Location: Stevens Park
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Parking: At the park entrance
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 1.6 miles
Time: 1 hour
Route: Out and back
Dogs allowed: On leash
Of all the hiking trails in Santa Barbara, the one that somehow gets overlooked is located in the heart of the county. Use this grave injustice to your benefit and traverse the trail in Stevens Park in near-solitude. Start your journey at the trailhead and walk past the typical parky things like the parking lot and the children's playground. Once you're past those, you'll suddenly find yourself strolling through a forest of ancient oaks and sycamores—a hideaway that's all flower-flecked meadows and no outside disturbance. And if there's any place that can bring all your picnic ideas to life, it's exactly this, just sayin’.
Location: Gould Park
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Parking: Not applicable
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 2.7 miles
Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Route: Loop
Dogs allowed: On leash
Considered one of Santa Barbara's best hiking trails, Cold Springs is one of those only-believed-when-seen types in SoCal. What starts out as a simple walk along the creek suddenly turns into a vista roller coaster filled with picturesque pools, several cascades, and a once-and-for-all confirmation that Mother Nature rules. What's great about this hike is that despite its moderate rating, you can adjust the length and difficulty in accordance with your skill and energy level. Options range from an easy jaunt to the first pools (your kids can hunt for frogs and salamanders here) to a leg-burning strenuous one-way trek to East Camino Cielo.
Location: Los Padres National Forest
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Parking: By Romero Fire Road
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 6 miles
Time: 3 hours
Route: Loop
Dogs allowed: On leash
For those who believe that Santa Barbara is best admired from atop, this trail is right up your alley. Hiking Romero Canyons means climbing mountains that rise close to the sea, passing several creeks and wildflowers, and gazing out over Montecito, the sea, and the incomparable Channel Islands. Romero Road was actually a popular route to the Santa Ynez Mountains back in the day, but now it's mostly used for mountain biking (wink wink).
Location: Los Padres National Forest
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Parking: Roadside parking at Tunnel Road
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 3.4 mile
Time: 2 hours
Route: Out and back
Dogs allowed: On leash
Staying true to its name, Inspiration Point is Santa Barbara's most illuminating hike. This trail culminates at a small summit with gorgeous 180-degree views of the city, the Santa Ynez Mountains, and the roaring Pacific. This hike is especially great for those who are visiting Santa Barbara for the first time because you basically get an overview of the entire area. The shortest version of the trail begins at Tunnel Road and stretches for a while until ascending about 800 feet to the summit.
Location: Los Padres National Forest
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Parking: At the trailhead
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 3.2 miles
Time: 2.5 hours
Route: Out and back
Dogs allowed: Yes
Ask any bouldering enthusiast and they'll tell you that the best thing after a strenuous workout is cooling off next to a cascading waterfall. Not a lot of people have this luxury though—except for those hiking the Seven Falls Trail in Santa Barbara. Begin by parking at the Tunnel Road trailhead and continue past the turn-offs to reach the mindblowing cascades.
Location: Rattlesnake Canyon Park
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Parking: Available at Skofield Park
Difficulty: Hard
Distance: 4.4 mile
Time: 4 hours and 30 minutes
Route: Out and back
Dogs allowed: On leash
Don't let the name scare you—chances of you seeing rattlesnakes on this trail are very, very slim. Instead, this out-and-back is the delightful alternative to the more crowded Inspiration Point; but they share an adjacent canyon. Basically, if you want all the nature and minus the crowds, Rattlesnake Canyon is for you. Start trekking at Skofield Park and put your mind at ease under the shade of chaparral, oaks, and sycamores.
Location: Los Padres National Forest
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Parking: No public parking
Difficulty: Hard
Distance: 8.6 miles
Time: 4 hours
Route: Out and back
Dogs allowed: On leash
Available from the upscale enclave of Montecito, the San Ysidro Trail is all about appreciating nature. And if you have the chance to visit after good long rains, you'll have the rush of water as a soothing soundtrack for when you're passing by creeks and waterfalls. For most of the way, this trail stretches along a canyon, which—if temperatures permit—is ideal for a refreshing dip.
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