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Santa Barbara Day Hikes

The best Day Hiking Trails in Santa Barbara


The best Day Hiking Trails in Santa Barbara

A total of 24 Santa Barbara Day Hiking Trails are currently available. ×
Arroyo Burro Trail North - 2.6 Miles
27W13 • Non Wilderness Area • Santa Barbara Ranger District • Santa Barbara County
This trail is a popular mountain biking trail. The trail leaves Arroyo Burro road east of Rancho Oso and travels up a north facing slope for 3.5 miles. Madrone trees are quite common in this area.
Arroyo Burro Trail South - 4.42 Miles
27W13 • Non Wilderness Area • Santa Barbara Ranger District • Santa Barbara County
The trail begins slightly more than a half mile after you begin your hike up the Jesusita Trail. The trail sign is under a large oak and is situated right before you would head up onto a long plateau if you were continuing on the Jesusita. I noticed…
Blue Canyon Connector Trail - 1.44 Miles
26W13 • Non Wilderness Area • Santa Barbara Ranger District • Santa Barbara County
Blue Canyon gets its name from the blue-green serpentine formations found along its 5 mile length. The canyon runs directly along the Santa Ynez Fault. This is a relatively narrow canyon with several overnight camps along it and a stream that flows year round. Beyond Cottam Camp a number of options…
Blue Canyon Trail - 5.36 Miles
26W12 • Non Wilderness Area • Santa Barbara Ranger District • Santa Barbara County
Blue Canyon gets its name from the blue-green serpentine formations found along its 5 mile length. The canyon runs directly along the Santa Ynez Fault. This is a relatively narrow canyon with several overnight camps along it and a stream that flows year round. Beyond Cottam Camp a number of options…
Buena Vista Trail - 0.53 Miles
• Non Wilderness Area • Santa Barbara Ranger District • Santa Barbara County
A short trail that starts at Park Lane above Montecito next to the Buena Vista Reservoir. This trail climbs from Park Lane up to Edison Catway. Once you get to the top of the ridge you will have amazing views of Santa Barbara, Goleta and the Channel Islands. You can access this trail from the park…
Cathedral Peak Trail - 2.18 Miles
• Non Wilderness Area • Santa Barbara Ranger District • Santa Barbara County
A very steep trail that splits of from Jesusita Trail 27W17 in Mission Canyon. This trail climbs up from Mission Canyon to Cathedral Peak and then up to La Cumbre Peak and West Camino Cielo Road. Once you get to the top of the ridge you will have amazing views of Santa Barbara, Goleta and the Channel…
Cold Spring Trail - East Fork - 4.43 Miles
26W10 • Non Wilderness Area • Santa Barbara Ranger District • Santa Barbara County
The East Fork Cold Spring Trail (often called Cold Springs) is a popular hike that leads from Montecito over the mountain and into the backcountry.  The trail is broken into two sections: the southern or frontcountry side and the northern of backcountry side.  The southern portioin of the…
Cold Spring Trail - Middle Fork - 2.4 Miles
26W10 • Non Wilderness Area • Santa Barbara Ranger District • Santa Barbara County
The middle fork of the Cold Spring Trail does not get as much use as the East and West Forks, this trail starts from split off from the trail to Tangerine Falls. The trail then climbs steeply above Tangerine Falls and proceeds up the creek until the trail heads along a ridge line towards East Camino…
Cold Spring Trail - North - 5.4 Miles
26W10 • Non Wilderness Area • Santa Barbara Ranger District • Santa Barbara County
The northern trail is more of a backpackers route used to access the assortment of backcountry camps on the northern Santa Ynez Mountains or Upper Santa Ynez drainage.  The majority of backpackers start from the Cold Spring Saddle Trailhead along East Camino Cielo.  The trail drops steeply to Forbush…
Cold Spring Trail - West Fork - 1.50 Miles
27W16 • Non Wilderness Area • Santa Barbara Ranger District • Santa Barbara County
The trail follows a creek through a narrow canyon, and enters a large semicircular valley (with a view of Tangerine Falls). The trail then diverges from the creek and climbs up to Gibraltar Road. 200 foot high Tangerine Falls is in a canyon to the north of the trail. Directions: Take Cold Springs…
Devils Canyon Trail - 3.39 Miles
27W14 • Non Wilderness Area • Santa Barbara Ranger District • Santa Barbara County
The Devil’s Canyon loop allows you to experience the enchanting canyon to be found beyond Red Rock while at the same time escaping the crowds that sometimes end up there. This is possible because the swimmers and sunbathers don’t usually begin to show up until the early afternoon. Starting at 9am…
Fremont Trail - 3.81 Miles
N/A • Non Wilderness Area • Santa Barbara Ranger District • Santa Barbara County
The Fremont Trail connects East Camino Cielo Road with Fremont Campground on Paradise Road. The Fremont trail has beautiful view of the Santa Ynez River Valley. The Fremont camp was constructed by the CCC in 1935. It is named for John C. Fremont who in 1846, led an armed…
Gibraltar Trail - 5.18 Miles
28W06 • Non Wilderness Area • Santa Barbara Ranger District • Santa Barbara County
A short 0.1 miles connector trail between the Gibraltar Resivour and the Cold Spring Trail. This trail makes for a great mountain bike ride or day hike. A very large rock formation of Temblor Sandstone was called The Rock of Gibraltar. When Santa Barbara needed more drinking water, they constructed…
Girard Trail - 0.63 Miles
• Non Wilderness Area • Santa Barbara Ranger District • Santa Barbara County
A short trail that splits of from Mcmenemey Trail 26W19 above Montecito. This trail climbs from Mcmenemey Trail 26W19 up to Edison Catway. Once you get to the top of the ridge you will have amazing views of Santa Barbara, Goleta and the Channel Islands. You can access this trail from the Mcmenemey…
Mcmenemey Trail - 1.61 Miles
26W19 • Non Wilderness Area • Santa Barbara Ranger District • Santa Barbara County
The hike up to the McMenemy Bench for the morning or evening views is one of the great short hikes in the Santa Barbara area, but what I like most about this trail is the variety of 2-3 hour long loops you can do by combining it with other sections of trail. Now that the Girard Trail is almost complete…
Monte Arido Trail - 1.1 Miles
• Non Wilderness Area • Santa Barbara Ranger District • Santa Barbara County
A short connector trail at the top of Murieta Divide. This trail climbs from Murieta Road 5N13.3 up to Divide Peak OHV Route also known as East Camino 5N12.1. Once you get to the top of the ridge you will have amazing views of Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, Ventura and the Channel Islands. You can access…
Rattlesnake Trail - 2.17 Miles
27W15 • Non Wilderness Area • Santa Barbara Ranger District • Santa Barbara County
The trail begins just before the entrance to Skofield Park near a delicately-shaped stone bridge. From there, cross the creek and follow a short connector trail to a wider dirt road. For many decades this was a buggy road, running alongside the creek to a point about three-quarters of a mile upstream…
Romero Trail North - 1.78 Miles
26W14 • Non Wilderness Area • Santa Barbara Ranger District • Santa Barbara County
The trail heads down from the top of the Romero Trail into Blue Canyon and eventually connects with the Blue Canyon Trail (26W12).
Romero Trail South - 2.9 Miles
26W14 • Non Wilderness Area • Santa Barbara Ranger District • Santa Barbara County
A beautiful hike that leads you up Romero Canyon, the trail starts 1/4 mile up Romero Canyon Road past a locked gate. Follow the fire road and after the second creek crossing you will see the trail sign. Portions of the trail follow the stream and provide many spots to enjoy the tranquility of the…
San Ysidro Trail - 4.09 Miles
26W15 • Non Wilderness Area • Santa Barbara Ranger District • Santa Barbara County
The trail begins just before the locked gate crossing on San Ysidro Creek. A small sign marked with the San Ysidro Ranch brand is fastened to a nearby oak tree. The path continues along the driveway for a hundred yards, then winds around the rear of a house and up onto a paved road. Follow this up…
Snyder Trail - 2.82 Miles
28W02 • Non Wilderness Area • Santa Barbara Ranger District • Santa Barbara County
The first half mile of the Snyder Trail actually follows a dirt road which leads to a water tank—the Forest Service water supply. Beyond this it rises up through chamise chaparral to a shaded oak section which is quite unexpected. Switchbacks up through this allow you to enjoy an extended section…
Tequepis Trail - 3.91 Miles
29W06 • Non Wilderness Area • Santa Barbara Ranger District • Santa Barbara County
Tequepis is the name of an Indian village located at the north of the canyon and the Santa Ynez River. The site of the village is now covered by Lake Cachuma. The canyon descends from the Santa Ynez Mountains to the south shore of Lake Cachuma. In the early days, the Step family filed several homesteads…
Tunnel Trail - 3.30 Miles
27W14 • Non Wilderness Area • Santa Barbara Ranger District • Santa Barbara County
Chaparral, pools, and scenic views. Although there is no water and very little shade because it does not follow a prominent canyon or creek, it does afford spectacular views as it rises to the east of La Cumbre Peak. La Cumbre Peak is one mile from the trail head on East Camino Cielo. The East Camino…
Tunnel/Rattlesnake Connector Trail - 0.66 Miles
27W18 • Non Wilderness Area • Santa Barbara Ranger District • Santa Barbara County
The Santa Barbara Day Hikes is a 0.1 mile connector trail in the foothills above Santa Barbara. The trail connects the Tunnel Trail to the Rattlesnake Canyon Trail.
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