Santa Barbara County, California
Santa Barbara, California is a top spot for outdoor adventures. With its stunning landscapes, pristine beaches, and exhilarating attractions, it is a must-visit destination. The best trails and outdoor activities in and near the area include hiking the Santa Ynez Mountains, exploring the Channel Islands National Park, kayaking in the Santa Barbara Harbor, and surfing at Leadbetter Beach. Other popular attractions in the area include the Santa Barbara Zoo, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, and the Santa Barbara Mission. With so many outdoor activities and attractions to explore, Santa Barbara is the perfect destination for your next outdoor journey.
Top Spots in and near Santa Barbara County
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Ventura, California
Cycle Santa Ana Road
6.5 mi / 500 ft gainThe Santa Ana to Lake Casitas via Foster Park segment of Santa Ana Road is a gorgeous, 6.5 mile road that cuts through the heart of Ventura Canyon. Santa Ana Road eventually ends at Casitas Road and the Lake Casitas Recreation Area. From there you can go west over over the pass and down to the Ri...Read more -
Ventura, California
Bike the Sulphur Mountain Loop
28.6 mi / 2884 ft gainThe Sulphur Mountain Loop is a 28 mile cycling and mountain biking loop that begins in Ventura Canyon at the Sulphur Mountain Trailhead and loops through Ojai Valley. Beginning at the Sulphur Mountain Road trailhead off Highway 33, follow the road up and over Sulphur Mountain and down until it co...Read more -
Ventura, California
Bike the Ventura River and Ojai Bike Trails
32.6 mi / 1030 ft gainThe Ventura River and Ojai Valley Trail, effectively the same trail, is a gorgeous 32 mile trail that runs from Seaside Park in Ventura to downtown Ojai. It runs along and across the Ventura River and through the Ventura Canyon, with views up and down numerous side canyons and ravines. The trail ...Read more -
Ventura, California
Kiteboard Surfer's Point
Surfer's Point aka Ventura Point is a well-known kite boarding/surfing (and surfing) spot due to its (when conditions are right) great wave quality, favorable wind direction (sideshore with occasional side-off), friendly locals, rider capacity, and a nearby point break with. When conditions are e...Read more -
Ventura, California
Bike the Lake Casitas Loop
1.048.9 mi / 3635 ft gainThe Lake Casitas Loop s a fantastic cycling trail leading from Ventura, California through Ventura Canyon, around Lake Casitas and up over Casitas Pass, down through Rincon Canyon to the ocean and south on Rincon Trail back to Ventura. It covers almost all of the ecological zones and topographica...Read more -
Ojai, California
Climb at Wheeler Gorge
Grab a dozen quick draws, your 60m rope, and head up Highway 33 out of Ojai for 7 miles (One of the routes here describes the crag perfectly, a Riparian Daydream). Drive through one tunnel, and continue on for another mile or two until you reach two tunnels in quick succession. The crag is in bet...Read more -
Ventura, California
Bike the Rincon Trail
5.028.4 mi / 720 ft gainThe Rincon Trail between Ventura and Santa Barbara is part of the wonderful Pacific Coast Bike Route, and features two-wave paved cycling lanes with beautiful views up and down the central coast. There are numerous places to stop along the way for food and relaxing, including the great seaside to...Read more -
Ventura, California
Bike the Ventura, Santa Paula, and Ojai Loop
48.8 mi / 2081 ft gainThe Ventura - Ojai - Santa Paul loop is a classic half-century loop throughs some of the most beautiful cycling roads on the Central Coast. Beginning in Ventura and heading on the off-road (but paved) Ventura / Ojai trails, this loop then heads into downtown Ojai before following Ojai Valley Road...Read more -
Ventura, California
Surf Ventura Point
4.0Surfer’s Point, off Figueroa Street, includes one of California’s premier surfing and windsurfing spots. A landscaped promenade and the Omer Rains Bike Trail connect this sandy beach to the Ventura Pier. Promenade Park, next to the beach commemorates the site of an ancient Chumash village. Beach ...Read more -
Ventura, California
Bike the Ventura Promenade
0.5 mi / 0 ft gainThe Ventura Promenade is a .5 mile long biking and walking trail that runs from the Ventura Pier to Sufer's Point, eventually connecting to the Ventura River & Ojai Bike Trail. It is also part of the the larger "Omer Rains Trail" which runs some 3.5 miles to the south through Buenaventura Sta...Read more -
Ojai, California
Rock Climb at Foothill Crag
2 miFrom downtown Ojai, head north on N Signal Street. Head up the hill and turn left onto a gravel road next to a chainlink fence once you get to the top.(There should be a sign that points to "Pratt/Foothill Trailhead.") Continue past a water tank on the right to a trailhead parking area. I've gon...Read more -
Maricopa, California
Camp and Boulder at Pine Mountain
Pine Mountain is closed intermittently for the winter season due to snowfall, usually from November through February. Outside of those months, take the Highway 33 north out of Ojai, heading north for about an hour and a half. You’ll see a large turnout as well as a sign reading “Pine Mt Road” on ...Read more -
Ventura, California
Kayak Santa Cruz Island
4.5As the largest of the Channel Islands, Santa Cruz Island in the Channel Island National Park is an ecological treasure, and to kayak it is to get to experience it in a manner unlike any other. Getting to the island is easiest through Island Packers where you can also reserve a kayak (so pack effi...Read more -
Ventura, California
Cavern Point & Potato Harbor Loop
4.99 mi / 545 ft gainTucked away in the Pacific Ocean just 25 miles from the coast, the Channel Islands are one of Southern California’s hidden gems. With towering cliffs and isolated beaches that hug the coast, this place makes you feel worlds away from home. Channel Islands National Park is comprised of five island...Read more -
Ventura, California
Scorpion Ranch Campground
4.00.72 mi / 43 ft gainAccessible only by Ferry, this little-known national park is a backpacker's dream. You can catch the ferry out of Ventura or Santa Barbara, only a short distance from LA. The ride to the island is around 1 hour. We chose to take Island Packers Ferry out of Ventura to Santa Cruz Island. The ferry...Read more -
Ventura, California
Potato Harbor via North Bluff Trail
4.49 mi / 463 ft gainThe 4.5-mile North Bluff Trail traverses the colossal cliffs of Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Park from Scorpion Anchorage to Potato Harbor. Arrive via an Island Packers boat to Scorpion Anchorage and, upon disembarking, walk straight ahead. Just past the restrooms (one of only tw...Read more
