Santa Barbara Hikes

Common Hikes
These are the trails most people take when venturing on a local day hike because their trailheads are quickest to get to from the Santa Barbara area. The hiking distances are round trip.

= recommended

Arroyo Burro Trail
Cold Spring Trail - Loop 1.8 miles
Cold Spring Trail - Fire Road 2.8 miles
Cold Spring Trail - Montecito Peak 6.8 miles
Cold Spring Trail - Camino Cielo 8.36 miles
Cold Spring Trail - Water Tunnel
Cold Spring Trail - Tangerine Falls
Gaviota Peak and Hot Spring
Jesusita Trail - Inspiration Point 6.76 miles
McMenemy Trail
Rattlesnake Trail
Romero Canyon Trail
San Antonio Creek Trail
San Ysidro Trail - Waterfall
San Ysidro Trail - Buena Vista Trail
Steven's Park
Tunnel Trail - 7 Falls
Tunnel Trail - 3 Pools Beyond 7 Falls
Tunnel Trail - Cathedral Peak
Tunnel Trail - Fire Road
Tunnel Trail - Mission Falls
Tunnel Trail - Inspiration Point
Camino Cielo

Mountaintop Hikes
When you drive to the top of the mountains in Santa Barbara you reach Camino Cielo Road, which runs east-west along the ridge. Each of these trails starts from the road and continues along the ocean side or inland side of the mountain.

E. Camino Cielo - Blue Canyon
E. Camino Cielo - Forbush Flat
E. Camino Cielo - Gidney Ridge
E. Camino Cielo - Knapp's Castle
E. Camino Cielo - Little Caliente Hot Springs
E. Camino Cielo - Montecito Peak 2.18 miles
W. Camino Cielo - Lizard's Mouth 0.32 miles
W. Camino Cielo - Playgrounds

Beach Hikes
These hikes are along Santa Barbara's beautiful coast. Some are along the beach while others are on the top of beachside bluffs. Some of the beach trails can be inaccessible during high tide or your return trip can be cutoff during high tide.

Carpinteria Bluffs
Ellwood Butterfly Grove
Goleta Beach to Ellwood Beach
Hendry's Beach to Goleta Beach
Refugio Beach to El Capitan

Inland Hikes
Santa Barbara is nestled between the Santa Ynez mountains and the sea. These trail heads are on the inland side of the mountains in the Santa Ynez Valley.

Alder Creek Trail
Aliso Canyon Trail
Devil's Canyon Trail
Gibraltar Dam - Mercury Mine
Indian Creek Trail

Little Pine Mountain - 19 Oaks
Red Rock
Snyder, Freemont Trail and Knapp's Castle
Tequepis Trail