Trail Descriptions & Status Reports

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Time for a little sunshine and vitamin D

Front Country Trails
Summerland, Carpinteria and Montecito
Front Country Trails have been heavily impacted by 2023 Storms.
Note closures and expect erosion, landslides and downed trees.

Franklin Trailhead

Franklin Trail: Franklin is a beautiful and well-traveled trail in Carpinteria. Recently, the third phase, which begins at 5.2mi, and has been restored by the Santa Barbara Trails Council, Los Padres Forest Association and Ray Ford. Franklin is one of the most popular front country trails, it begins at sea level and tops out at Divide Peak (OHV).

Romero Canyon Trailhead ~ CLOSED

Romero Canyon Trail: Romero Canyon Trail is a singletrack trail that leads up Romero Canyon through a mostly riparian zone. This trail offers a shadier route than it's counterpart Romero Jeepway. After approximately 2 miles the trail meets the Romero Jeepway at a four-way intersection where users can choose to travel the Jeepway or continue on the singletrack just 1.7 miles to Camino Cielo.

Romero Canyon Jeepway: This 7-mile route that connects the trailhead to East Camino Cielo was restored after the Thomas Fire and 1/9 Debris Flow in May 2017. The Jeepway allows for a longer, more gradual climb to the top.

Buena Vista Trailhead

Buena Vista Trail: A favorite single-track trail that connects San Ysidro and Romero Canyons, Buena Vista Trail was restored in August 2017. The project was overseen by Montecito Trails Foundation, financed by Montecito Community Foundation and The Odell Family. The project saw work from Ray Ford, Los Padres Forest Association and volunteers. The Buena Vista trail is lovingly overseen by trail steward Paul Cronshaw.

Fearing Trail: Just east of Buena Vista Trailhead, on Bella Vista Drive you will find a little hidden trail that is well shaded and feels miles away.

San Ysidro Trailhead

Wiman Trail: This short connector trail that starts from East Mountain Drive, to the east of the San Ysidro Trailhead. The trail continues 0.25 mile up a small canyon, before joining Old Pueblo Trail.

Old Pueblo Trail: This mile-long trail connects San Ysidro Trail over to Buena Vista Trail, and can feel like a journey through hidden Montecito. This can be linked to the road for an easy stroll, or can be part of a larger Front Country adventure.

San Ysidro Trail: CLOSED Another popular front country trail is San Ysidro Trail. The trail leads through the San Ysidro Canyon for the first two-miles arriving at San Ysidro Falls, and then climbs out of the canyon and continues to East Camino Cielo Road. The climb above the falls can be very exposed and warm in the summer months.

Girard Trail: Named for longtime trail activist Bud Girard, this 0.5 mile long trail runs north-south connecting Mcmenemy Trail with the Edison Catway and traces the western edge of San Ysidro Canyon. About midway along the trail, a short side trail leads down to a bench and commemorative plaque.

McMenemy Trail: This 1.5 mile long trail runs east-west, connecting Hot Springs and San Ysidro Canyons. The trail can be accessed by either Hot Springs or San Ysidro Canyons. The trail winds its way through sandstone and chaparral and provides nice views of the ocean and community below.

Hot Springs Trailhead

Saddlerock Trail: Considered one of the more difficult routes in our trail system, Saddlerock trail climbs a mostly sandstone route of rock steps to a beautiful lookout. Most users choose to use Saddlerock as an uphill route in a larger trail loop of Hot Springs Canyon using the Edison Catways.

Hot Springs Creek Trail: This gentle climb follows the Hot Springs Creek to the historic Hot Springs Hotel. It can be combined with the Edison Catways to lead to Cold Spring Canyon or San Ysidro Canyon.

Hot Springs Connector: A steep climb out of the Hot Springs Canyon along this trail will really get your heart pumping. If you reach the top and are still looking for more climbing, you can combine this with Upper Cold Spring Trail to reach Montecito Peak or East Camino Cielo.

Cold Spring Trailhead

East Fork Trail: Starting from the east side of the trailhead, this trail is equal parts difficult and beautiful. Fully restored after the Thomas Fire and Debris Flow, the East Fork of Cold Springs travels 1.3 miles to the Edison Catway, offering a shady trip through creek-crossings and waterfalls that reach a beautiful lookout over Santa Barbara.

West Fork Trail: The West Fork Trail starts on the west side of Cold Spring Canyon and is an out-and-back route that climbs two miles to Gibraltar Road. Fully restored in 2018, the West Fork Trail passes a historic water tunnel and climbs steeply out of the canyon without much shade. When adventuring up West Fork, be sure to bring plenty of water and sunscreen.

Upper Cold Spring Trail: Upper Cold Spring Trail starts from the Edison Catway at the top of East Fork Trail. Upper Cold Spring Trail climbs through beautiful sandstone and chaparral to East Camino Cielo Road. The trail, which does not offer much shade, is a popular route to Montecito Peak. The trip makes a wonderful day-long adventure.

Tangerine Falls: Tangerine Falls has long been a draw for its spectaular waterfall just after the rain. However, the area is not located in a recognized trail corridor and is unmaintained. Since the Thomas Fire and Debris Flow the trail has all but disappeared, leaving users in a dangerous situation. Most recently there have been weekly rescues at the falls, and travel is not recommended.

Community Trails

Summerland, Carpinteria and Montecito

Peter Bakewell Trailhead

Trail: Adjacent to Casa Dorinda on Hot Springs Road, this flat, wood chipped open space provides a beautiful space for an afternoon stroll. Various loops can be created in the 22-acre space. Notice should be taken to the older residents that like to frequent the open space, and dogs should be leashed.

Ennisbrook Trailhead

Trail: Located on San Leandro Road, behind a white picket fence, this open space has seen extensive restoration efforts since the 1/9 Debris Flow. The Bucket Brigade, MTF and community partners have restored these 44-acres to a place of beauty and serenity. The main trail loop is 1.8 miles of gentle path; along, over and through San Ysidro Creek.

Ortega Hill/Ortega Ridge Rd Trailheads

Coffin Family Trail: Also known as Coffin Family Loop, this trail starts along Ortega Hill Road, near the three-way intersection of North Jameson Lane, Sheffield Drive, and Ortega Ridge Road. The west half of the trail follows the stretch of Romero Creek, while the eastern half of the trail follows the ridge overlooking the creek, providing views out across Montecito Valley.

Valley Club Trail: This 0.5-mile long trail connects Coffin Family Trail and Cynthia Wood Trail and offers views out across Valley Club Golf Club and Birnham Wood Golf Club.

Cynthia Wood Trail: This 0.75-mile trail starts along East Valley Road and follows Romero Creek briefly before then following Picay Creek and arriving at the intersection of the Valley Club Trail.

QAD Trail: Named for local software company QAD, this mile-long trail makes a loop around the open space surrounding the company's corporate headquarters.

Ortega Hill Trail: This trail parallels Ortega Hill Road to Ortega Ridge Road, and then follows Ortega Ridge Road to Greenwell Avenue. From this trail, one can access four separate trails that connect to Summerland.

Greenwell Avenue Trail Access

Reservoir Trail: This trail starts behind the Greenwell Preserve, to the right of the Edison Catway and continues up a small canyon before connecting with Hunt Road.

Perkins Trail: This 1.5 mile long trail connects from Greenwell Avenue over to Toro Canyon Road, the trail goes beyond Toro Canyon to Garrapata. The trail follows a number of trail easements between residential properties and is named for Suzanne Perkins, former MTF President and Perry Perkins.

Ed Clark Trail: This trail starts at the end of Perkins Trail, it follows Garrapata Creek south for a short distance before it crosses to the west and joins a private driveway ending at Serena Avenue.

Bella Vista Ranch Trail: This trail starts from the Perkins Trail just east of Greenwell Avenue and makes a loop around an open space that offers views towards the ocean. Connector trails from Bella Vista Ranch Trail lead down to Via Real and Ocean View Park, as well as towards Pacifica Graduate Insitute and Lambert Road. The trail was opened in 2009.

Toro Canyon Creek Connector: This 0.5 mile long trail connects from Via Real to Perkins Trail along the lower stretch of Garrapata Creek.

Toro Canyon Park Trailheads

Toro Ridge Trail: This 0.5 mile long trail begins along Toro Canyon Park Road, just before the road descends down into Toro Canyon Park. Toro Ridge Trails follows the backside of the ridge offering views of Toro Canyon Park, before continuing along the top of the ridge. At the end of the trail is a stone bench where one can enjoy views out over Carpenteria and the ocean towards the Channel Islands.

Lower Toro Ridge Trail: This 0.5 mile long trail starts from Toro Canyon Park Road and follows Garrapata Canyon before rejoining Toro Canyon Park Road near the beginning of Toro Ridge Trail.

*For more detailed descriptions and a map, follow this link to our store.