8 1 Day Treks to Explore in Santa Barbara County

The 70-acre Douglas Family Preserve is located near the intersection of Cliff Drive and Las Positas Road in the Mesa neighborhood. The property spans 70 acres of undeveloped ocean-front land, and represents the largest area of coastal open space within the city limits of Santa Barbara. A walking trail loops the park perimeter, with many smaller trails across and along the interior. There are several bluffs overlooking the beach, popular for watching whales, dolphins, and birds.

La Cumbre Peak is a 3997-foot peak in the Santa Ynez Mountains north of Santa Barbara. It is a popular destination for those looking to have a grand view of the South Coast and surrounding area. It serves as a great training hike and affords nice views of the Santa Barbara area coastline and the Santa Ynez valley.

Lake Los Carneros is a living ecosystem that requires freshwater inputs from winter rains to ensure a healthy aquatic environment for birds, fish, and plants. A network of trails meander across the park through rolling meadows and a forest of eucalyptus, oak, and pine trees. A wooden bridge crosses the northern end of the lake.

Montecito Peak is a mountain in the Santa Ynez Mountains. This is a very popular area for hiking and trail running. This is especially a great place to watch the sunset. The main trail to Montecito Peaks is the Cold Springs Trail. Cold Springs Trail is a favorite downhill route for local mountain bikers so beware of fast riders.

This is a small urban forest with a year round creek. Filled with an abundance of rocks and sandstone boulders deposited there by an ancient landslide, and roofed by oak trees, the park affords a diversity of topography. The towering trees are lush and the park offers shaded picnic areas, short trails, and the area is strewn with large sandstone boulders.

Romero Canyon is a popular destination for hikers and mountain bikers. The trail is shady and along a creek bed for the first half. The features of this hike most people will appreciate are that the trail and creek environment are very wooded and pretty, and also the fact that most of the trail is shaded.

The San Marcos Foothills is a County of Santa Barbara open space located in the foothills between Santa Barbara and Goleta. Encompassing 200 acres the San Marcos Foothills offers extraordinary views of the Santa Ynez Mountains, Pacific Ocean, and the Channel Islands. The Foothills is the feeding ground for hawks, kestrels, kites, roadrunners, coyotes, bobcats, and hundreds of other animal species. It offers nesting locations for dozens of native bird species.

This is a popular Multi Use Trail, which begins at the main Cold Spring Trail After a gentle uphill for 1/4 of a mile you reach a bench by the creek where you can sit and clear your mind with the gentle sounds of small waterfalls. it is one of the iconic attraction which is a mix of adventure and nature.