When you think about the city of Santa Barbara, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the beach and wine. After all, this area of California is primarily known for its coastal beauty and its vast wine region.
But there’s far more to Santa Barbara than surfing, sunbathing, and sipping. In fact, Santa Barbara is a prime location for hikers. This county is home to some of the most picturesque (albeit physically demanding) Santa Barbara hiking trails.
» Try one of the 9 Best Joshua Tree Hikes or these 15 Best Hikes in Southern California.
If you’re looking for some hiking recommendations in the Santa Barbara area, we’ve got them here. We’ve chosen our personal top 10 hiking trails in Santa Barbara to help you find your next adventure!
» Find the perfect hiking clothes. I love these weather resistant, breathable shorts by Arcteryx (for women | for men) paired with a light performance shirt (for women | for men).
Hiking Etiquette
It is essential always to be aware of hiking etiquette, so it is recommended to look up the laws of the land before diving into exploration. Some of which include:
- Do not climb on or hang hammocks from trees.
- Never touch, feed, or approach wild animals you see on the trail.
- Do not drive or park off of established roads.
- Only create campfires in designated areas.
- Don’t trample or otherwise damage plant, animal, or marine life.
- Never leave trash behind.
Our Recommended Santa Barbara Hotel
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Hotel Santa Barbara
✔️ 8.6/10 Excellent
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» Looking for more info to build your Santa Barbara itinerary? Check out our full Santa Barbara travel guide, the best times to visit, and see the top 25 Things to Do in Santa Barbara. Get active with these SB hikes.
The Top 10 Santa Barbara Hiking Trails
1. Inspiration Point
Inspiration Point truly lives up to its name. Anyone who takes on this hike can’t fail to be inspired by the gorgeous views and beautiful wildflowers that grow around the trail.
This trail makes for a moderate hike, so beginner hikers with a reasonable fitness level should be able to complete the walk without any issues. For experienced hikers, this route won’t be overly challenging.
You should leave yourself roughly 2 hours to complete the Inspiration Point hike since the average completion time is 1 hour and 57 minutes.
Dogs are allowed on the trail as long as they are kept on a leash. Bear in mind that this is one of the most popular hiking spots in Santa Barbara, so the path may be busy, especially during the warmer months.
2. Hot Springs Canyon Trail
Many people consider the Hot Springs Canyon Trail to be the best hiking spot in the whole of Santa Barbara, and there are several good reasons for this.
Like the Inspiration Point trail, the Hot Springs Canyon trail is rated as a moderate hike, so it strikes a good balance between being a challenge for beginners and a more relaxed experience for those who hike regularly.
For most people who are interested in hiking, Hot Springs Canyon is the perfect difficulty level.
This trail forms a 6 kilometer loop which the average person is able to complete in roughly 2 hours and 20 minutes.
No matter what time of the year you like to hike, Hot Springs Canyon is a good option because it’s open throughout the year.
It’s also dog-friendly and family-friendly, so nobody is excluded from this beautiful hiking experience.
3. Romero Canyon Trail
Located in Los Padres National Forest, the Romero Canyon Trail is a great choice if you enjoy long walks that combine trees and wildflowers with coastal views.
Rated as moderately difficult, this trail is 9.7 kilometers long. Most people take over 3 hours to complete this hike, but the good news is that it’s a loop trail.
So you can easily make your way back to where you started without additional hiking. Alternatively, you can complete the trail faster on a mountain bike.
Feel free to bring your dog with you on this hike as long as you keep them on a leash.
However, make sure to bring plenty of water for both yourself and your dog since there is very little shade on the Romero Canyon Trail.
It’s also wise to keep an eye out for rattlesnakes, which are fairly common in this area.
4. Jesusita Trail
Another great trail for a longer, moderately challenging hike is the Jesusita Trail. Like the Romero Canyon Trail, this one is also in the vicinity of Los Padres National Forest, but it’s a little longer, at almost 11 kilometers.
The average time taken to complete this hike on foot (although mountain biking is allowed) is just under 3 hours and 40 minutes, so make sure you have a decent amount of time on your hands before you head off!
Because this trail is so popular and is open all year round, it might not be the best choice if you enjoy a completely solitary hike.
However, if you’re looking for somewhere to bring your dog, it’s an excellent option since some areas of the trail even allow dogs to be let off the leash.
In our opinion, the Jesusita Trail is well worth the long walk over rocky terrain for the breathtaking views overlooking Santa Barbara.
5. Rattlesnake Canyon
If you head to Rattlesnake Canyon Park, you can take on the challenge of the Rattlesnake Canyon trail.
Those who are averse to steep inclines might want to give this hike a miss since it’s rated hard in terms of difficulty.
However, don’t be put off this trail by a fear of snakes – the canyon gets its name from its winding paths, not because of any snake populations.
If you can handle steep, rocky paths, though, Rattlesnake Canyon trail makes for a great 3 hours of hiking. It’s also suitable for horseback riding, and dogs are permitted on a leash.
6. Seven Falls Trail
The Seven Falls Trail is perfect for those who prefer to keep their hikes under 2 hours. On average, it takes an hour and 45 minutes to complete the trail.
Despite being one of the shorter trails on our list, this hike does present its fair share of challenges. Its difficulty is only moderate, but you’ll need to be prepared to scramble over some rockier areas.
Rest assured that the rocky climb will feel worth it when you take in the view of the river and notice all the wildflowers springing up around you.
You might even be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of some of the wildlife in this area, including mule deer and birds of prey.
7. Saddle Rock Trail
Saddle Rock is yet another trail you can access from Los Padres National Forest.
This is a tough hike because it begins with a steep incline and involves a lot of rocky terrain, which can be challenging when combined with the lack of shade.
Despite being rated as a difficult trail, Saddle Rock is a popular Santa Barbara hiking spot.
It’s also worth noting that the start of the trail is the most intense part and the whole hike takes approximately 2 hours to complete, so if you’re used to moderate hikes, this will be a feasible challenge for you.
8. Arroyo Burro Beach Loop
If you’ve not accustomed to hiking but still want to enjoy an outdoor adventure in Santa Barbara, we recommend the Arroyo Burro Beach Loop.
This is an easy, 2.1-kilometer hike, and even if you’ve never hiked before, you should be able to make it to the end of the trail in under 30 minutes. You can enjoy this trail any time you want since it’s open all year round.
You can also bring your kids and/or dogs, and while most of the trail requires dogs to be kept on leashes, certain parts of the trail are safe for off-leash walking.
The Arroyo Burro Beach Loop provides a beautiful view of the beach, and it’s an easy enough hike that you can walk at a leisurely pace and stop to admire the wildflowers and wildlife along the way.
9. Tangerine Falls Trail
In contrast to the ease of the Arroyo Burro Beach Loop, the Tangerine Falls Trail is a real challenge.
While it only takes about an hour and a half to complete, the hike is rocky and requires a fair amount of scrambling.
There comes a point where it feels like the trail has become too difficult to continue on, but if you can push through, you’ll finally arrive at the Tangerine Falls themselves.
This is a trail best suited to experienced hikers with a good level of rock climbing ability.
Even if you’re very confident in your climbing abilities, please follow the creek when attempting this hike because the smaller trails that branch off the creek can be dangerous.
10. Cold Spring Trail
Our final recommendation for Santa Barbara-based hikers is the Cold Spring Trail.
Cold Spring Trail is a moderate-difficulty loop trail that can be completed in under 2 hours.
During the hike, not only will you be able to enjoy a view of the ocean, but you’ll also be able to see several waterfalls.
While the path is rocky, there’s still plenty of greenery, including wildflowers, making this a scenic and enjoyable route. It can get very hot, but there’s plenty of shade to counteract this.
Cold Spring Trail allows dogs on leashes, and it’s a popular trail, so you’ll probably see a lot of other people walking their dogs here in the summer.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SANTA BARBARA
Is parking a problem in Santa Barbara?
Parking isn’t terrible in downtown Santa Barbara, except on busy weekends. You can find street parking, if you look for it. There are also a ton of beach parking lots. On the street, you’ll pay from to 9am to 6pm every day, but it’s free after that.
Some spots are metered with limited time, some are free with limited time during the day. Most hotels will charge anywhere from $25 to $45 a night for parking.
What are some good wineries in Santa Barbara?
There are a ton of great winery tasting rooms in downtown Santa Barbara in the Funk Zone and Paseo Nuevo shopping center. Our favorites are Riverbench and Pali Wine Co in the Funk Zone; Happy Canyon and Jamie Slone in Paseo Nuevo.
Outside of Santa Barbara, we like to visit Solvang, Los Olivos, and the Foxen Canyon Wine trail for wine tasting, especially at E11even, Bien Nacito Winery, and SamSara in Los Olivos, and Zaca Mesa and Riverbench up in Foxen Canyon.
Is Santa Barbara worth the money?
Yes, Santa Barbara is a very expensive city, especially if you want to stay in 4- to 5-star hotels or right on the beach. Whether that expense is worth it to you is very subjective. I feel that Santa Barbara is definitely worth a visit, though you don’t necessarily need to stay in the expensive downtown hotels.
The town has a lovely setting along the California Coast with beautiful surrounding mountains. The architecture is California Spanish Revival and there is year-round foliage of natural plants, flowers, and cactus to enjoy. If you like wine tasting, some of the best central coast wineries are located nearby.
Travel Planning Guide
🚙💨 Where should I book my rental car?
Renting a car is one of the best ways to get around in California, no matter where you’re visiting. Public transportation can only get your so far, even in big cities. I always rent with Discover Cars, which checks the prices of all major rental car companies, so you get the best rates.
🛌 What’s the best way to book my accommodations?
For hotels and vacation rentals, Booking.com or Expedia.com are the best sites, but you can also book through TripAdvisor. If you’re considering renting a house instead, don’t forget to also check VRBO, which is often cheaper than Airbnb.
🧳 What do I pack for California?
Head to the our California Packing List or Disneyland Packing List to get all the info on packing.
✈️ What’s the best site to buy flights to California?
For finding cheap California flights from around the world, I recommend Skyscanner. I’ve also had pretty good luck with Kayak.com.
Final Thoughts
Now that you’ve read this guide to the best hiking trails in Santa Barbara, you have plenty of inspiration for staying active and connecting with nature on the West Coast.
Remember to verify the difficulty rating, distance, and (if relevant) dog-friendliness of your chosen trail before you attempt it.
Always bring water and stay aware of your surroundings. Challenging yourself is great, but staying safe and respecting others is a must.
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Laura is a travel fanatic who loves seeing and doing new things. She lives in Ventura, CA, and spends a lot of time exploring California’s cities, beaches, and national parks.