Conserved for
RESERVE YOUR FREE VISIT
Join a free, decent-led guided tour at 10 a.m. on the first and third full weekends of every month! Reservations are free but required, spaces are limited.
Quick Facts
- Reservations open one month in advance
- Tours last approximately 2 hours and are roughly 1.5 miles over mostly flat terrain
- Free parking, restrooms, and drinking water are available
- Dogs are not permitted
- The preserve is still recovering from the January 2026 storms. See updates at the bottom of the page for more information
Once booked, you will receive a confirmation email with visit details and directions. If your preferred tour date is full, please join the waitlist and we will contact you if space is available.
Community Group Visits & School Programs
Community Groups
Guided tours for groups of 10 or more may be available on weekdays and weekends on a limited basis. To learn more about how to schedule, please contact Leslie Chan at [email protected].
School Field Trips
Free environmental education field trips are available for schools. To learn about future opportunities, contact Education Coordinator Sally Isaacson at [email protected].
How to Get to Arroyo Hondo Preserve
Traveling northbound on the U.S. Highway 101: The Preserve is about a 30-minute drive from downtown Santa Barbara. Approximately 4 miles past Refugio State Beach, you will see a blue “Rest Area in 7 miles” sign followed closely by a yellow warning sign with an icon of falling rocks. The entrance to Arroyo Hondo is in 1/2 mile and will be visible on the right at the bottom of the hill. Make a right-hand turn into the driveway. Come down the driveway, cross the bridge on the right and park near the barn.
Traveling southbound on the U.S. Highway 101: Approximately 4.8 miles past Gaviota State Park and 1/2 mile after the Vista Point Rest Area, move to the left lane. Using the left-hand turn lane, make a U-turn onto the northbound lanes of the U.S. Highway 101. In 1/4 mile, you will see a blue “Rest Area in 7 miles” sign followed closely by a yellow warning sign with an icon of falling rocks. The entrance to Arroyo Hondo is in 1/2 mile and will be visible on the right at the bottom of the hill. Make a right-hand turn into the driveway. Come down the driveway, cross the bridge on the right and park near the barn.
NOTE: If you miss the U-turn, exit at Refugio State Beach in approximately 4 miles. Continue on the road to cross under the bridge and take the U.S. Highway 101 northbound on-ramp on the left. From there, follow the northbound directions.
2026 Storm Recovery
Storms in early 2026 caused extensive damage at Arroyo Hondo Preserve, including flooding, landslides, and impacts to trails, roads, parking areas, and infrastructure. While the preserve is resilient and we are excited to welcome visitors back to Arroyo Hondo Preserve, please note that visits will look a little different. The effects of this storm are significant and we are still in need of fundraising support.
SUPPORT ARROYO HONDO PRESERVE
Our stewardship team has worked hard to repair main road and trails, so we can invite back our beloved visitors. We continue to assess damage and plan recovery efforts to repair additional trails for safe use. Recovery will take time and meaningful resources to support cleanup, stabilization, and long-term care of the preserve.
For safety reasons, all visitors will be invited to join guided tours on a limited trail system. Weather and changing conditions may impact tour availability.
The preserve is sensitive—Please no pets, swimming, mountain bikes, hunting, fishing, or campfires, and please drive slowly.
Updates on the status of the preserve can be found at: https://www.sblandtrust.org/ahp-storm-recovery-updates/
