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Santa Barbara, California

Santa Barbara, California is a popular outdoor location for adventure seekers. With its scenic trails, beautiful beaches, and exciting 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 activities and attractions to explore, Santa Barbara is the perfect destination for your next getaway.

Top Spots in and near Santa Barbara

  • 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...
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  • Santa Barbara, California

    Inspiration Point

    4.0
    3.82 mi / 1109 ft gain
    Hike 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...
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  • Santa Barbara, California

    La Cumbre Peak via Tunnel Trail

    9.96 mi / 3310 ft gain
    Tunnel 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...
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  • Montecito, California

    Cold Spring Trail Loop

    5.0
    2.67 mi / 883 ft gain
    Cold Spring Trail Loop is a loop trail that takes you by a river located near Santa Barbara, California.
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  • Montecito, California

    Tangerine Falls

    4.5
    1.15 mi / 886 ft gain
    This 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...
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  • Montecito, California

    West Fork of Cold Spring Trail

    3.45 mi / 1135 ft gain
    If 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...
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  • Montecito, California

    Saddle Rock Loop

    4.0
    3.37 mi / 984 ft gain
    Begin at the trailhead in the parking area on E. Valley Road. You'll gain some elevation (don't forget your water). You'll know when you arrive at Saddle Rock--you can't miss this conspicuous rock formation. Enjoy the sights from here. If you plan carefully and hike up on a clear day, you may eve...
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  • Santa Barbara, California

    Hike to Knapp's Castle

    4.2
    0.8 mi
    One 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...
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  • Carpinteria, California

    Camp at Carpinteria State Beach

    3.7
    There are 2 campgrounds close to Rincón, but Carpinteria State Beach is a little bigger and easier to find a spot. There are 4 campgrounds: Santa Cruz, Anacapa, San Miguel and Santa Rosa. Most of them are RV sites, but if you stay at Santa Cruz Campground you can set your tent right at the beach,...
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  • Rincon Point, California

    Surf Rincon Point

    5.0
    A cobblestone rocks cover a crescent shaped bay and a creek mouth spreads sand perfectly along the bay after a winter rain. Not to mention the indicator that refracts waves into the inside cove. It's no wonder famous surfers, such as Kelly Slater, Bobby Martinez, Tom Curren, Connor and Parker Cof...
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  • Santa Barbara, California

    Camp at Lake Cachuma

    The campground here is extremely well developed and tightly run (for better or worse). The sites afford very little privacy: I recommend looking for the "Prime" campsites along the bluff, or choosing a weekday. If you can afford to spend a little extra, the park offers yurt rentals, which have th...
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  • Goleta, California

    Camp at El Capitan Canyon

    5.0
    El Capitan Canyon is a gorgeous collection of permanent tents, yurts and cabins located across the highway from El Capitan State Beach and its campground. It's also the perfect place to ease your friends or loved ones into the world of camping. We all have that special person in our life who we'...
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  • Ojai, California

    Matilija Falls

    5.0
    8.6 mi / 0 ft gain
    Note: This trail is temporarily closed. For more updates, please visit the Forest Service website for more updates.  ...If you've read most of my blogs, you'll probably notice I have a fascination for waterfalls! I've done this hike multiple times, but it wasn't until this day where I saw these ...
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  • Ojai, California

    Camp at Rose Valley

    5.0
    Close to Ventura and Ojai, California, this spot is an easy weekend getaway from the hectic coast of Ventura. Follow Highway 33 east toward Ojai. This road will lead into the Los Padres National Forest and become very curved and sleep as it gets closer to Rose Valley. The sign for the Park with b...
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  • Emma Wood State Beach, California

    Surf Emma Wood State Beach

    3.0
    Park your car along the famous Pacific Coast Highway and watch the waves roll in. Go out surfing, kiteboarding, swimming, or kayaking. Emma Wood State Beach is a fairly exposed beach and reef break that has reliable surf. Summer offers the most-favored conditions for surfing.  Both breaks get cro...
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  • Ventura, California

    Bike the Sulphur Mountain Loop

    28.6 mi / 2884 ft gain
    The 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...
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Camping and Lodging in Santa Barbara

Sage Hill
Snyder Trail

Sage Hill

Los Prietos
Santa Barbara, California

Los Prietos

Paradise Campground
Santa Barbara, California

Paradise Campground

Fremont Campground
Santa Barbara, California

Fremont Campground

Holiday Group Campground
Ojai, California

Holiday Group Campground

Wheeler Gorge
Ojai, California

Wheeler Gorge

Guides, Insights and Stories from Santa Barbara

By Land & Sea: 72 Hours in Ventura, California

By Land & Sea: 72 Hours in Ventura, California

Josiah Roe

Velo Ventura: The 5 Best Cycling and Mountain Biking Trails in the Heart of the Central Coast

Velo Ventura: The 5 Best Cycling and Mountain Biking Trails in the Heart of the Central Coast

Josiah Roe

The Galapagos of California

The Galapagos of California

Kyle Frost

Boats, Backpacks and Booze: Why You Should Try Island Backpacking

Boats, Backpacks and Booze: Why You Should Try Island Backpacking

Kristen Fuller

11 Photos That Will Make You Want to Hike Channel Islands National Park

11 Photos That Will Make You Want to Hike Channel Islands National Park

Katie Y

One Ideal Day on Santa Cruz Island

One Ideal Day on Santa Cruz Island

Leigh Maneri