This is our all time Favorite Hike, a little bit of everything! Waterfalls, rocks, lots of lizards…read moreand beautiful views

This was a mid/challenging hike depending if there is a lot of mud after the rain. When we came…read morethere were streams that we had to cross over via rock steps. If you're not careful you can easily fall in. Also there was a recent rock slide that occurred but you can easily navigate around. After the 1.75 miles journey up, the view was breathtaking and worth. You can enjoy the great view Santa Barbara and the ocean. Total 3.5-4 mile hike dependent on where you parked. Parking is right at the entrance on the side of street. Luckily it was empty because I went on a Monday but I assume it could be filled up on weekends so probably come early.

Amazing hike! It is one of the easier hikes to access to the relaxing hot springs…read more Watch out for poison ivy! Totally worth it! Thank you to the BW Staff for providing me helpful tips. 10/10 will return.

The right amount of challenging for a beginner hiker like me with an amazing reward at the end if…read moreyou choose to do this trail. My only downfall is the smell of sulfur that takes some getting used to, but overall, the mini pools was something I have never experienced before. Parking is limited, there are free areas where you have to drive over a curb, but my car did fine with parking. The pools are the hottest at the top and gets cooler on the bottom. If you are curious to see if there were more pools past the top, there isn't as I asked those who ventured a little further. I definitely recommend this hike if you're thinking about it and it's a cool day. There was some incline that I wouldn't find enjoyable if it was any hotter. I'm pretty beginner at hiking and this took me a little longer than anticipated to get to the springs, but if you're an avid hiker you can probably get to the trail within 35-45 minutes! The trail is my favorite activity I've done in Santa Barbara so far!

A fun quick stop to take a breather and take in nature…read more My husband said the bathroom was gross. The view was nice (but it's not a lot to see).

So we found this little gem while on a mini vacation to San Luis Obispo... gps took us through the…read moremountains and we came across this vista point. It was nature at its best. We just took a moment to enjoy the view and each other's company. Oh and to get my karate kid move on... lol

This was an easy short hike with some scrambling that was well tolerated by my 6 and 9 yo kids. Pay…read moreoff is a cool rock formation that looks like a lizards's open mouth (with what looks like an eye too!). You can climb to the top of the "roof of the mouth" as well as up to right under the mouth. There's not exact trail but if you keep scrambling past the initial rocky hill to the other side you will see the rock formation as your look back. Bonus is a nice view of the ocean.

I love this hike as it's great from beginner to moderate. The trails have a great balance of flat…read moreto steep and the views are well worth it. If you want to have a good bike ride this is also a great option. If you are a runner you can definitely have fun with this hike.

Nice trails and fresh mulch from preserve placed to help with recent rainfall. Not many butterflies…read moretoday, but quite a few folks walking around asking, 'Have you seen any butterflies?' We were releasing an injured monarch we found before the rains came. Kept her safe and dry for 4 nights, then released her to perch on eucalyptus branches in the sun. She can't fly, but crawls around using 2 good legs and a soft flutter. She may not live long, but at least she'll be in a lovely preserve with other wintering monarchs. Good parking lot off Hollister, but it also seemed like parking on the perimeter streets was fine also. Cheers, "CC"

I have seen some lovely engagement photos taken here. Since all the rain, there have been some…read moreEucalyptuses that have fallen so be aware of the signs. It offers a long and pleasant trail to the beach. And if you're feeling brave you can run and spin through the tall grass like a movie character. This trail is great for walking and getting all your steps in. I bring my dog and we both enjoy the sun, wind and vibes.

Hot Take: La Cumbre Peak is home to the best sunset I've seen on the west coast…read more The 7 Falls Hike is enjoyable, but you really have to take in the splendor of Santa Barbara, in all its glory, on the top of the Peak. There are some picnic tables and benches up there as well, and it's (fortunately) not very crowded at the moment. If you can get up there an hour before sundown, you'll have yourself a heck of a time. One tip: there's no gas within like 20 miles of here, so make sure you tank up before you roll up this mountain!

Seven Falls is located along Mission Creek, the same creek that once provided water to the nearby…read moreSanta Barbara mission. If you visit from Dec to May you will see 7 little distinct waterfalls, all flowing into small pools, directly one after another. The waterfalls have been attracting visitors since the 1800s. The trail to reach the falls is about 3-miles out-and-back. Navigating the different trails can be a little tricky and involves multiple trails and unsigned forks so you may want to use AllTrails app as your guide. The first mile you'll walk along an uphill paved road with some really nice ocean views. After you pass a bridge and then a trail kiosk you'll take a left at the fork. After passing Mission Creek you'll take another left up a steep and rocky incline. Eventually you'll reach the point where you'll need to take a sharp right and head downhill to the canyon floor. You can use the assistance of a rope that's attached to a tree. Climbing up the first waterfall is pretty easy but the next 6 should only be attempted with caution. It's best to visit from Dec to May, preferably after a good rain. It's a popular destination so it's best to visit early on a weekday. Parking is limited.

I stopped going because of all the car break ins. Your car and valuables are always at risk.read more

My husband and I decided to venture out for a hike here since we are looking for more hiking in…read moreSanta Maria area. First thing: the trails don't offer any shade. Full sun throughout so I suggest you wear sunblock/hats/bring water accordingly. There is a little check in station once you walk about 1/4 mi up from the parking lot. Locals enter for free and out of town visitors are expected to pay something like $3.75 for adult entry. I love nature hikes. We did the main Cuesta loop (at least I think that's what it was called) and it took us a couple hours at a leisurely pace. I wish there was more plant diversity ato observe but it was all oak trees and grass. We saw some mountain bikers; the park seems to have some well maintained biking trails suitable for beginners. My partner likes this area for running but as far as leisurely hikes go, I will probably skip for a while.

Love this hike, always a bit nervous of running into a mountain lion. Great hike. Start in the left…read moreside and loop around when you get to the peak. The views are beautiful going down, so worth it. 6.40 miles, know led it out in 2hours. Take water, wear pants and bring your 4x4 shoes lol.

I always enjoy a great trail and this fits for a great workout. The trails have a great mix of flat…read moreand steep and can accommodate from beginning to moderate. It's also great for a bike ride as well.

great place! we had a terrific experience and will definatly go back. maybe next year or the year…read moreafter

My two brothers and I spent the long Thanksgiving weekend in Solvang and decided to end our trip…read morewith an ATV tour in the Santa Barbara mountains before heading back to L.A. Best decision ever! Although getting to the meeting point was a bit scary as we drove 15 mph through winding roads next to steep cliffs, the views were nice and the ATV experience was totally worth it! We gave ourselves plenty of time to get lost and it took us about 1.5 hours to get to the checkpoint. Luckily Google Maps was on the entire time and we even had an hour to kill on top of the mountain before our 12:30pm appointment. (Also had screenshots of the directions in case we lost service). Upon arrival, we met with the two girls who were wearing face masks and face shields so we felt safe. They had all the sanitizing stuff. They checked us all in, gave us each a mesh covering for our head, pairs of gloves, goggles and helmets. They offered different insurance plans (just like a rental car company), each ranging in price. Then, they walked us over to the ATVs where Jorge was our tour guide. He asked us if we've ever rode before and taught us how to use the automatic ATVs and made us feel comfortable and safe. (Throttle was on the right handle bar and brakes on the left. Second brake was a foot pedal). We drove on wide and narrow trails, over some fun rocky areas, kicking up lots of dust, and he took photos of us the entire time. This was a great family bonding experience and we're all still talking about how fun it was and want to do it again. Know Before You Go: It gets dusty so wear clothes and closed toe shoes that you're ok getting dirty. Give yourself plenty of time to drive to the location because the last thing you want to do is rush through the scary mountain roads. 10/10 would definitely do this again!