Los Alamos, California
Top Spots in and near Los Alamos
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Santa Barbara, California
Hike to Knapp's Castle
4.20.8 miOne of the many hidden gems near Santa Barbara, Knapp's Castle is an abandoned home built in 1916 by George Knapp. Finding the trailhead can be difficult because it's not clearly marked and the road it's starts from is long, winding and narrow. Coming from the 154, turn right on East Camino Cielo...Read more -
Oceano, California
Camp at Pismo State Beach
4.7Hiking along nature trails, swimming, and surf fishing are all possible here, including wheelchair accessible fishing at Ocean Lagoon. Facilities consist of fire rings, restrooms, and showers. Restaurants are not far from the campground, as well. Make your reservation here.Read more -
Santa Barbara, California
Red Rock Pools
0.89 mi / 10 ft gainRed Rock Pools is a relatively popular swimming hole located along the Santa Ynez River about an hour outside of Santa Barbara, California. The trail to the swimming hole is relatively short, but more pools can be found if you follow the Gibraltar Trail down to the Gibraltar Dam (an additional ...Read more -
Pismo Beach, California
Surf Shell Beach
5.0Shell Beach is north of downtown Pismo Beach. This is a fun wave that works best during the fall and winter months. It's a beach break with both lefts and rights. The wave is rippable and is less popular than waves at the pier or at Morro Bay. However, the wave is much less consistent than the ot...Read more -
Santa Barbara, California
La Cumbre Peak via Tunnel Trail
9.96 mi / 3310 ft gainTunnel Trail is a great way to get to the top of La Cumbre Peak. You get to the trailhead by taking Tunnel Road until it dead ends at a large water tower, there you can park your car and start on foot. You take Spyglass Ridge Road up which is a paved fire road until it becomes dirt when you get o...Read more -
Santa Barbara, California
Inspiration Point
4.03.82 mi / 1109 ft gainHike up the 3.5 mile trail to an unbeatable vista that will leave you smiling! This hike has a steady uphill climb from the trailhead off of Tunnel Rd into Los Padres National Forest. Keep in mind this trail can get pretty crowded on weekends, so you're best to be at the trail early in the mornin...Read more -
Santa Barbara, California
Paraglide at Elings Park
Santa Barbara is known for its incredible terrain. Paragliding at Elings Park is an amazing way to take in the gorgeous local scenery from an entirely new perspective. You’ll get your blood and adrenaline pumping as you challenge yourself to try something new under the watchful, expert eyes of th...Read more -
Santa Margarita, California
Photograph Wildflowers at Carrizo Plain National Monument
5.0Driving in from Hwy 58 East, you will be passing through a grapevine, and through some hills. Once you hit the Seven Mile Road, you will start to see fields of yellow flowers all around you - this is where the adventure starts. Just continue to drive along the road until you find a great spot to ...Read more -
San Luis Obispo, California
Catch the Sunset at the Avila Sea Caves
4.0When I attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, I would come out to this place to watch the sunset. It was my favorite spot to sit on a rock and take in the beautiful scenery as the sun went down. You don't really have to hike to get a nice view, you can park the car and walk out to the rock cliffs and...Read more -
San Luis Obispo, California
Ontario Ridge to Shell Beach Bluff Trail Loop
4.02.79 mi / 679 ft gainOntario Ridge to Shell Beach Bluff Trail Loop is a loop trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Avila Beach, California.Read more -
Santa Margarita, California
Rinconada Mineral Mines
1.32 mi / 472 ft gainMy friends and I recently visited this abandoned mercury mine. The site was cleaned-up by the EPA many years ago, but much of the old equipment remains. Up the hill from the equipment are several deep cuts in the earth and a humongous hole in the ground. The sediment at edges of this hole are VER...Read more -
San Luis Obispo, California
Bike or Run the Bob Jones Trail
5 miThe Bob Jones Trail provides a variety of activities -- running, walking, biking, skateboarding/rollerblading, and some exploring by the creek. You can choose where you would like to start, across the street from the Central Coast Aquarium off Avila Beach Dr. or from the parking lot off Ontario R...Read more -
San Luis Obispo, California
Point San Luis Lighthouse via Pecho Coast Trail
3.4 mi / 879 ft gainThis guided roundtrip hike to Point San Luis Lighthouse has one of the best views of the central coast coastline. You will get a chance to see the Avila Beach, Avila Pier, Call Poly Pier, and Harford Pier from a high point. The trail crosses through a land owned by PG&E; therefore, the hike...Read more -
Montecito, California
Tangerine Falls
4.51.15 mi / 886 ft gainThis waterfall can be fairly dry during the year, so keep your eyes out for a recent rainstorm to get things going. When you start the hike on East Folk Trail, at 0.25 miles, cross over the creek and join West Fork Trail. A little over another half mile, West Fork starts to head uphill, but you c...Read more -
Montecito, California
West Fork of Cold Spring Trail
3.45 mi / 1135 ft gainIf you love the mountains above Santa Barbara but hate the crowds, stick to the canyon trails on the east side. The trails running up Cold Spring canyon offer a variety of experiences without all the noise. To find the West Fork of Cold Spring Trail, take the Olive Mill Rd. exit from the 101 fre...Read more -
Montecito, California
Cold Spring Trail Loop
5.02.67 mi / 883 ft gainCold Spring Trail Loop is a loop trail that takes you by a river located near Santa Barbara, California.Read more