8 Best Hikes in Santa Barbara for Stunning Views and Adventure
Hiking in Santa Barbara is fantastic because all of the trails are pretty close and none of them are too arduous. And at a certain elevation, you’re guaranteed to get views of the ocean, which never gets old.
I know when I moved to Santa Barbara back in 2021, I was curious about the local hiking trails. I found them to be really nice, and the best part was how close the trailheads were to you. I definitely took that for granted and wish I had gotten out more.
The one thing that won’t affect tourists as much is that I found a lot of the views looked the same after a while. But if you’re just visiting for a weekend, you will fall in love with the best hikes in Santa Barbara.
Most are half-day hikes, giving you plenty of time to hang out at the lovely Santa Barbara beaches, go wine tasting, or stroll around downtown.
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These are what I consider the best hikes in Santa Barbara
Who is ready to hike? Let’s dive into my favorite hikes in Santa Barbara.
1. Santa Barbara Hot Springs
A classic of Santa Barbara hikes! The hot springs, known by a few names (Monecito Hot Springs or Hot Springs Canyon Trail), are naturally flowing, but locals have built them up into pools. The top pools are the hottest, with them getting cooler as you go down.
It’s paramount that you help keep this area clean by packing out all trash, not being stupid, and keeping pets away.
Pro tip: Last time I checked, parking here was a nightmare mid-day. If you want the easiest parking and the least amount of people, go for sunrise or sunset. When Jaimie and I did it, we went late afternoon and headed down as the sun was fading over the horizon.
2. Inspiration Point
One of the best hikes in Santa Barbara. I did this one a handful of times, and it is a great one to take out-of-town guests. This is also a classic for locals, providing you with a nice workout. The one thing to keep in mind is the parking. It’s limited and along the road.
There’s a good chance you’ll have to park further down, so the hike will be longer than advertised.
Pro tip: This is a great one for sunset. You can usually get down before it’s completely dark, and the crowds will be pretty thin.
Pro tip 2: If you want a longer trail with almost no crowds to Inspiration Point, head up the Jesuita Trail. It’s 6.4 miles and 1,500 feet of gain. It’s a beautiful trail with more greenery.
- Distance: 3.5 miles
- Elevation Gain: 950 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
3. Lizard’s Mouth
I only did this one once, but it’s a fantastic view of the ocean and coastline from high up in the mountains of the Los Padres National Forest. I had slight trouble finding the route, but if you keep your maps open, you should be golden.
Parking is alongside the road. If you see cars, you’re probably in the right place. But if you hit the gun club, you’ve gone too far. Please treat this area with respect and clean up after yourself. And do not bring glass bottles. There’s enough glass on the trail already.
Pro tip: Download hiking trail/maps offline, as cell service up here is spotty.
- Distance: 0.5
- Elevation Gain: Not a ton, but there are some boulders to go over/around.
- Difficulty: Depends on how you handle rocks/boulders. Mostly easy but requires some nimbleness.
4 Cold Springs Loop
This was our go-to hike in Santa Barbara. It’s mellow enough that you can do it quickly in the late afternoon, but it’s a decent workout that will leave you sweating. You hike along a creek for a bit before branching off and completing the loop.
This one’s perfect for families or those needing a quick hike.
- Distance: 2 miles
- Elevation Gain: 700 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
5. Rattlesnake Canyon
I remember doing this trail with my parents right when we moved here in June. I was underwhelmed, and looking at other trail reports, it’s a shared thought.
Be prepared for a dry, dusty, and warm trail. Still, it’s a nice one that gets you up into the mountains and away from civilization.
Depending on how high you make it, you should get ocean views!
- Distance: 5 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1600 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate-Hard
6. Montecito Peak
The only summit hike I did while living in Santa Barbara was fantastic! This one also starts from the Cold Springs/Tangerine Falls trailhead.
You can do this in a plethora of ways. The shortest route is to go counterclockwise up the Cold Springs trail and then head right up to Montecito Peak. To keep mileage down, come down the way you came. A longer route is to go clockwise up.
From the top, the views of the ocean and the Santa Barbara city limits are phenomenal. We saw hardly anyone on the trail, making it a great way to beat the crowds.
- Distance: 7 miles
- Elevation Gain: 2400 feet
- Difficulty: Hard
Tangerine Falls
From the same trailhead at Cold Springs above, Tangerine Falls is an out-and-back route that has a steady incline throughout, with a bit more near the end. To maximize the waterfall, you’ll want to time this during the wetter season or after a rain.
Unfortunately, we never made it here, as every time we thought about it, the waterfall was lackluster.
- Distance: 2.2 miles
- Elevation Gain: 880 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
7. Seven Falls Trail
This is the same trailhead as Inspiration Point above or Arlington Peak if you’re looking for a harder summit. At the mile mark, keep hiking up the trail/road, and you’ll start to encounter water and pools. Again, this one we never did because it was pretty dry with low water flow and unexciting. (I’d suggest just doing Inspiration Point or Bubb’s Peak.)
- Distance: 3.5 miles
- Elevation Gain: 850 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
8. San Ysidro Trail
We did this one with Jaimie’s parents one afternoon, and it’s a lovely hike along the San Ysidro Creek. It’s a steady incline for the entire trail, though the trail doesn’t technically have an endpoint. You can keep hiking it all the way up to where it meets the El Camino Road.
I bet we only hiked 2.5 miles round trip. While this isn’t the top tier of best hikes in Santa Barbara, it’s a perfect family-friendly one along a creek.
Pro tip: You start in a neighborhood, so parking may be tight. I remember there being enough room for us midday, but maybe avoid a massive SUV and use something that can fit into smaller parking spaces.
- Distance: 3-4 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1,000 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate – Easy-Hard
What to know before hiking around Santa Barbara
Even though you’re within eyeshot of the ocean, the hikes in Santa Barbara are surprisingly dry. Yes, you have waterfalls and creeks, but the Santa Ynez Mountains are quite literally a tinderbox ready to explode for most of the year.
Because of that, don’t expect uber-lush terrain and anticipate dry, dusty hikes.
Furthermore, once you get away from the ocean, the temperatures rise quickly. So, bring plenty of water and wear sun protection.
Where to Stay in Santa Barbara
Lodging in Santa Barbara is not cheap. Even the lower-end hotels will likely start in the $200s. But that’s life in paradise, baby! The main area you’ll likely want to key in on is the wharf area. This is right on the water, near Main Street, and is idyllic.
If you want slightly cheaper options, look at some in Goleta and or 15 minutes down the 101 in Carpinteria. However you do it, you’re in a great place to tackle the best hikes in Santa Barbara.
🏨Budget Stay – Motel 6 Carpenteria; Casa Del Sol Carpenteria; Rose Garden Inn Santa Barbara
🏨Mid-level Stay – Inn by the Harbor; Brisas Del Mar; Hotel Santa Barbara
🏨Luxury Stay – Rosewood Miramar Beach; El Encanto; Ritz-Carlton Santa Barbara
Other Fun Things to do in Santa Barbara
After living there for a year, I’ve found that there are many fun activities and things to do in Santa Barbara. Check out my article for 18 great ideas. Here are some good tours you can book!
- Wine Tasting Tour from SB to Santa Ynez
- Santa Barbara Taco Tour
- Sunset Kayak Tour
- Wildlife Yacht Cruise
- Browse all options here
Good post-hike places to grab a beer
Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone is a beer and wine haven. Now, most people don’t really want wine after hiking, so we’ll focus on some beer spots.
- Rincon Brewing
- Topa Tp and Llama Dog (neighbors)
- Figueroa Mountain Brewing
- Night Lizard (State Street)
- M Special (State Street)
- Third Window (sorta on its own)
- Brass Bear
Go Whale Watching
You can go whale watching year-round in the Santa Barbara Channel, and it’s one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. I highly recommend it.
Final Thoughts on the Best Hikes in Santa Barbara
Living and visiting Santa Barbara is a dream and one of he most picturesque and magical places in America. Now that I’ve left, whenever I write articles about exploring or hiking in Santa Barbara, I get a little sad. I miss this place so much!
I hope this list of the best hikes in Santa Barbara helps give you a few good ones to do. And make sure to check out all of the other epic things to do in the area.
Until next time, adventurers, stay safe.
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