Craving time in nature? Looking for your next adventure? Whether you love sweeping grasslands, oak woodlands, or ocean views, Santa Barbara County has it all. And you’re in the right place to find your next favorite place to explore (and maybe spot some wildlife, too)!
The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County has been working to preserve our local landscapes for more than 40 years, and we’ve compiled seven of our favorite protected areas for you to explore below.
At a Glance
Midland School Trails
in Santa Ynez
Oak Woodlands | Mountains | Rare Plants
With over 35 miles of trails to explore here, there’s a lot to take in!
Sat at the base of the Los Padres National Forest, the habitat surrounding these trails is home to some of California’s most charismatic mammals including black bears, mountain lions, bobcats and coyotes. While it’s unlikely, you’ll encounter any of them on your hike, you may well see signs of them. Bring along a guidebook and keep an eye out for pawprints and scat along the trail and observe the trunks of trees where black bears may have left behind some fur or claw marks.
As the name suggests, Midland School Trails are in fact part of school property. In 2008, Midland School worked with the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County to place a conservation easement on 95% of the land, protecting it from development and offering a place for recreation and education in nature.
The land supports a rich Valley oak woodland where teachers and students have an active reforestation program, in addition to 130 acres of pristine Blue oak woodland. One of North America’s rarest annuals – the Santa Barbara Jewelflower, which blooms between May and July – can also be found.
Rich in flora and fauna, the land is also steeped in culture and history and was formerly known as Soxtonokmu, the largest Chumash village in the Santa Ynez Valley.
Coronado Butterfly Preserve
in Goleta
Monarchs | Owls | Eucalyptus Groves
A 9.3 acre preserve home to native coastal sage scrub and eucalyptus groves, adjacent to numerous protected areas including Ellwood Shores coastal bluffs, North Campus Open Space and Ellwood Monarch Grove. Eucalyptus trees tower above the trails but down in the understory you’ll come across native plants such as sticky-monkeyflower, California bush sunflower and California fuchsia.
The preserve itself is part of one of the largest Monarch butterfly over-wintering groves in California. Numbers have fluctuated in recent years from less than ten, to tens of thousands, but with ongoing restoration efforts, there is hope that the vibrant monarch butterflies will thrive once more. While November through February is the peak monarch season, the preserve hosts no shortage of flora and fauna to see throughout the year. Great horned owls regularly nest in the area so listen out for their deep hoots at dusk and keep an eye out for juvenile owls “branching” as they learn how to fly throughout late spring and early summer.
It’s well worth exploring this preserve at any time of year!
Click here to learn more.
Arroyo Hondo Preserve
on the Gaviota Coast
Guided Tours | Chumash History | Wildlife
The Arroyo Hondo Preserve is a magnificent canyon located west of Santa Barbara between Refugio State Beach and Gaviota State Park on 910-acres. Purchased from the Hollister family in late 2001, Arroyo Hondo is protected forever and managed by the Land Trust as a natural and historic preserve. The preserve is rich in Chumash and early California history, and the canyon and meadows are thriving with wildlife.
The preserve was hit hard by storm damage this winter, but the land trust’s stewardship team have worked hard to repair the main road and trails, and you can sign up for a guided tour here.
As you stroll along Arroyo Hondo on your guided tour, listen out for birdsong and babbling water in the creek and look out for tracks in the sandy trails. If you’re lucky, you may spot the recognizable slots of deer hooves, or the tracks of something larger like a black bear or mountain lion! Check out some of the trail camera footage at the bottom of this webpage to see who calls this preserve home!
Point Sal
in Santa Maria
Coastal Dunes | Remote | Native Plants
If you’re looking for something a little more challenging, then this one is for you! An elevation gain of 1,200 feet and approximately 12 miles round trip. You’ll be rewarded with dramatic views of coastal dunes and steep oceanside bluffs reaching towards the deep blue Pacific Ocean.
The mingling of two major ocean currents offshore results in an ecologically rich interface of northern and southern marine seal species including Steller sea lion, northern fur seal, Guadalupe fur seal, and northern elephant seal. Keep your eyes peeled for them as well as common dolphins or the shadows of great white sharks under the surface on calm days.
On your way to and from the beach, you’re sure to run into plenty of birdlife too. Coastal sage scrub, grasslands, and wetlands support a variety of birdlife with plenty of vibrant blues and yellows on show thanks in part to the lazuli bunting who can be seen during spring and summer months, and the western meadowlark who can be viewed year-round.
The area is spectacular, but quite remote, so expect a more adventurous day with this one!
More Mesa
in Santa Barbara
Birdwatching | Ocean Views | Grasslands
Stroll along the cliffs for epic ocean views and keep an eye out for the previously endangered brown pelican with their impressive wingspans of up to 7.5 feet. They often ride the updrafts from the cliffs below and soar along at eye-level. Look down below to a stunning sandy beach and keep an eye out for seals bathing in the sun.
More mesa is a 325-acre open space that is predominantly grassland with pockets of oak woodland and riparian habitat, creating desirable habitat for a plethora of raptors. In winter, northern harriers are regular visitors, flying low to the ground searching for prey. Although they hunt throughout the day, the best times to spot them are early morning or late afternoon, they often become more active around sunset.
Year round, you can see American kestrels and if you’re lucky, white-tailed kites. Both of these birds of prey hover (or kite) above the grassland while hunting, so look up and look out for that behavior. As always, keep a respectful distance and view wildlife from designated paths.
Walks here are relatively flat and provide up to 10 miles of trails which zigzag across the grassland. A 2.8-mile loop will take you the whole way around the mesa, giving you opportunities to take in woodlands, wetlands, grasslands, and cliffs.
Burton Ranch Chaparral Preserve
in Lompoc
Native Plants | Wildlife | Open Meadows
This Land Trust preserve is sandwiched within the state-managed Burton Mesa Ecological Reserve to the north, south, and to the east, with trails connecting the two areas of land. Burton Mesa Chaparral is a unique form of maritime chaparral only found in the sandy soils north of Lompoc where over 300 native plant species flourish. Visit in March, April, or May to see native flowers in bloom and look out for rare and endangered plants year-round, including Lompoc ceanothus, Vandenberg Monkeyflower, and shagbark and Purisima manzanita.
Wildlife is also abundant in the preserve and surrounding areas. Early morning and evening walks may provide you with sightings of deer, coyotes, and even a bobcat if you’re especially lucky!
Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve
in Carpinteria
Island Views | Seals | Native Plants
A small gem in the south of Santa Barbara County, sat between Highway 101 and California’s Pacific Ocean. This 52-acre site offers flat trails with short hikes of 1.2 to 2 miles which will take you out to an overlook of one of four remaining harbor seal rookeries along the southern California coast. Bring your binoculars to get a good look from the bluffs from December to May, this is the best way to view them without causing any disturbance and be aware that the beach itself is closed to the public from 1st December to 31st May.
The trails also offer immersion into coastal sage scrub habitat. Stop and take in the scent of native plants such as California sagebrush, also known as cowboy cologne thanks to its sweet scent. Be sure to look out to the horizon as well and on clear days, you’ll be treated to spectacular views of Anacapa, Santa Cruz, and Santa Rosa Islands.
These are just 7 of many protected areas in Santa Barbara County which you can visit.
Head to this page to see where else you can explore. We hope to see you out on the trails soon!
