I brought my mother and little siblings on this hike. They all enjoyed it, and even though we didn't make it all the way up to the top we loved crossing the creeks. My youngest sibling is 4 years old and he kept up! We brought my 13 year old little dog on the hike, she ran up the trail. I'd definitely recommend this hike during early morning or afternoon. There are many gorgeous sights, sounds and smells to savor. There were so many kind people and lovely flowers along the trail. read more

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The hike starts off pretty mellow and shaded as it follows rattlesnake creek. It then climbs steeply into the mountains affording some stunning views of the area. Finally it drops back down into a shaded valley and if it's the right time of year (and we've had enough rain) there are some swimming holes to cool off in. read more

My wife and I enjoyed this hike although we did not fully complete the hike. We got started later than we like, therefore, the heat became uncomfortable. Rather than fully exhaust ourselves we hiked about an 1.5 hours up and turned around. Nonetheless, we enjoyed the challenge, view and terrain. The hike is not flat and you cross many rocky streams and uneven pavement which forces you to stay on your toes. The next time, we will start earlier so we can make it to the top. read more

Since I tend to hike a fair amount of long and challenging hikes I tend to forget this 4+ mile out and back trail can be a little challenging too however it's definitely doable. The trail starts near Skofield Park, sometimes you can actually park in the Skofiled lot or right along the road leading to the trail. The trail is fairly easy to follow with some decent elevation gains along the way. While the views might now be as nice as inspiration point there are a few spots where you can get a nice view of the ocean and the surrounding mountains that you're in. The actual trail itself is only about 2.2 miles with 1,600 of elevation gains, where the trail ends you find a sign point in the direction of other trails and roads so you can add on to make your hike in the area around 6-8 plus miles round trip incase you feel the 4.4 miles isn't enough for you. *side not to get to the top of the trail, one you get to the meadow there will be a fork toward the right. Stay left to go up the trail to reach the end of rattlesnake trail. read more

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Great hike with great views! Best part of it all is that it's dog friendly! Parking is terrible. You definitely want to be parked inside the white line to avoid a ticket. If you're ON the line, you're at risk for a ticket. The roads can be a little narrow so I understand the strictness around this. You get a little everything: streaming water, great views of the mountains, lots of shade, tons of picture opportunities, and a meadow of flowers! We didn't quite make it up to the meadows because we were short on time. Great place and easy to find. There's no signal up here so plan accordingly. read more

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As a non-avid hiker, this was a pretty challenging hike. I've only done inspiration point in town, so I was excited to try a new trail. Parking wasn't too bad on a Saturday late afternoon in the winter. Most of the parking is parallel on the street along a drop off with no curb so be prepared for that. The trail was pretty easy to find and most of it runs along the creek and under the tree cover so the shade was nice. I appreciated the peaceful sounds of the creek along the way. The incline itself was substantially steep. Lots of rocks and uneven footing. I would recommend this hike for someone with at least an average level of physical fitness. It took about an hour to get to the meadow with the fork, and then you can choose to turn back, go left for Tunnel Trail, or right for Gibraltar. Since we heard of the stunning views at the top, we decided to go right. This took about another hour to get to the top and it was much steeper than the first part of the hike. Not to mention the end of this trail connects to an actual road so you COULD drive up if you just wanted the view (we considered taking a Lyft back down since the sun was setting). The view at the top is gorgeous, so worth it for sure, and heading down was much faster. Be careful if you're heading down around sunset. Once it gets dark, it's easy to get lost off the trail under the tree cover. I might do this hike again once I've tried some other local ones. read more

Rattlesnake Canyon - Hiking Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Rattlesnake Canyon was my favorite hike during my trip to Santa Barbara. From the trailhead, the hike is around 3 miles one way for a total of 6 miles round trip. On the way up, you get gorgeous views of the mountains and the ocean below. The incline is pretty mild the majority of the way, but it does get a little steeper as you are approaching the end. There were a few calm creeks to cross over and a few boulders to climb up, but nothing that was too scary or dangerous. When you finally reach the top of Rattlesnake Canyon, you are surrounded by beautiful views everywhere. Despite its name, I saw no rattlesnakes for the course of the entire hike. The hike is pretty family friendly with dogs being allowed on the trail. read more

Rattlesnake Canyon - Gorgeous views close to the top - Hiking Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Scenic and beautiful trail! I was able to take advantage of today's random sunny weather sandwiched between two rainstorms. As such, I knew I was in for a wet trail. Wet, check. Muddy, check. Slippery, double check! The trailhead is maybe 100 feet away from the front of Skofield Park in Mission Canyon. It's a peaceful and hidden part on the outskirts of town. While there's no private parking, I was able to find a parallel street spot close by. The trail is mostly shaded and meanders through four separate creek beds. On a typical Santa Barbara day, this would be a non-issue as our city is notoriously dry. However, all beds today were teeming with rushing water. I must admit that it was kind of exciting balancing from stone to stone in an effort to make it across. One of the creeks didn't have equally spaced stepping stones and one of my shoes had to step in the water. The sun dried it out during my trek so I didn't mind all that much. One mistake I made was bringing my AirPods. I was afraid they'd fall out of my ears not only when crossing the creeks, but also during instances where I'd accidentally slide in the muddy terrain. Not only that, but there was pretty much zero Verizon cell reception. The sound of rushing water was peaceful and provided a wonderful natural soundtrack during my trek. The trail itself is wide and mostly clear. As you get past the first half, it gets exponentially steeper and rockier. I didn't make it up to the very top but am pretty sure I made it the majority of the way. My Strava app clocked 5.5 miles round trip. This hike was not strenuous and while there were a good amount of others out there, still felt very secluded and peaceful. I'm no expert hiker and will say that this trail was not intimidating. The only iffy part was the muddy terrain but I don't imagine that this would be the case the majority of the year. Definitely worth checking out if you're looking for a nice way to spend a few hours. read more

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Beautiful hike! The creek was still flowing in August! Great views and beautiful scenery

The only way to describe this hike is: magical! I loved every minute of trekking through this trail full of trees, a stream, boulders, and the fresh mountain air. My friends and I stopped by here after being in Santa Barbara for a work event. Since it's such a long drive back to SD, we decided to get in some exercise first. I'm sooo glad we did. Hiking in SD is very much sub-par when you grew up in the PNW. I didn't think Santa Barbara would be much better, but it totally was. Felt like I was in another state lol. I could describe it more, but I'll let you see for yourself in the pics. PS- it's roughly 4 miles round trip, and dog friendly :) read more

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I did a nice 6.8 mile loop going up the shaded side of the canyon in the morning and coming down the partially shaded canyon in the afternoon. October weather was fine, but still a little warm for this walk, so bring at least a liter of water. This walk is unique for the desert plants you will see on the way. Coming from Northern California where there is lots more water, the trail has an interesting collection of plants and variations of the Northern oaks that have adapted to the dry environment. The leaves are smaller and the acorns are also tiny. I met another hiker on my way who hikes the canyon 6 days a week with his three standard poodles. He pointed out a known rattlesnake den that is on the trail. "I often see them out sunning or with their heads peeking out the den when we go by.", he said. So, be alert and you may see one of those reptiles for which the canyon gets its name. My trail friend also showed me how high the water can get during the rainy season in the canyon - VERY high and swift - so if there are rains much of the trail is impassible and dangerous. The trails are well enough marked, but you can use your phone to see exactly where you are using various maps. Reception was outstanding for me! ( Project Fi ). My Runkeeper app kept me updated as to where I was on the trail and how slow I was going. The trail is quite steep at the 5 mile point of my loop. I was glad I took my cane! read more

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Rattlesnake canyon has always been one of my favorite places to visit to observe all kinds of reptiles/amphibians and other wildlife. Newts mate heavily in the larger pools during the spring and it's always a treat to see them at work. The only thing that bothers me is that I often saw people letting their dogs run around in the pools. These pools are essential to the survival of this species, so I hope by seeing this review hikers will keep their dogs on leashes and keep them on the path so that the wildlife will continue to be able to breed without disturbance. read more

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Loved it. Its a gradual moderate steep short hike. Water and Trail shoes as must, loose rock, so good shoe support helps. Wear pants or leggings, some paths are more narrow than others and I noticed there is a lot of Poison Ivy or Oak, not sure which but I do know they are either one. We hiked it when the weather temps were about 80, nice cool breezes throughout the hike. Vegetation and rock formations gorgeous. There are some very nice streams. We only walked to the Meadows due to the limited time we had. We will be back next time to go to the top and spend more time and have a picnic. read more

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Clocking in at just over 2 and 1/2 hours (around 5.5 miles round trip), the hiking in Rattlesnake Canyon was a decent workout, with quite a bit of climbing starting out; the last part of the ascent was the steepest. Tip: All told there's an elevation gain from the bottom to the top of around 1500 feet. We took the trail all the way to Gibraltar Road, and were rewarded with some truly stunning views of the ocean and the islands. As you ascend, you'll encounter a number of nice shaded areas along the trail, along with several good stretches with no shade at all. After a while you'll come to a creek, which is quite lovely after the generous spring rains. The return-portion of the hike is almost all downhill, so you'll make better time on the way back than on the way out. There's also a park near the trailhead that looked like a great place to have a post-hike picnic. read more

All it takes to witness the natural wonders of Santa Barbara is this one hike. Walk along butterflies who glide past you through the air. Follow the sound of crystal water creeks all while meandering up the mountains. Chew on some sour grass like the local kids do. Hop in a refreshing 'poza' or pool to cool yourself down. Observe paragliders dive from peaks and mountain climbers escalate cliffs. Welcome to Rattlesnake Canyon! Get Here: Drive up Mission Canyon Road and turn onto Las Canoas near the botanical gardens. Follow it until you reach Skofield Park and a stone bridge built by a mason in 1919. You can't miss the sign for Rattlesnake Canyon & Skofield Park that looks like this (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/rattlesnake-canyon-mission-canyon?select=UdZte62iVm6ih1c4KNOEhg). Find Your Route: The trail is pretty well paved by humans. When in doubt, follow the creek. The GPS on my phone's Google Maps app was helpful too since the entire trail is mapped out from beginning to end; service is decent (with T-Mobile) but can be sketchy in spots. (See here: https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/rattlesnake-canyon-mission-canyon?select=8T8_Vwyfa1Hs6-U4gKsLdw) Look for these key points: Remain creekside initially. If you're observant, you may find pieces of the old dam and aqueduct built in the early 1800s by the Chumash along the creek that once brought water to the Mission. Cross over the creek twice. You'll eventually find yourself in a beautiful grassy meadow known as Tin Can Meadow (image here: https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/rattlesnake-canyon-mission-canyon?select=sHNBj-8JY6EvzZAVE11fVw)--named after squatter William O'Connor who once called this plot of land home until it burned down in the 1925 wildfire. You'll eventually reach a split in the trail with a sign leading to either Tunnel Trail to East Camino Cielo (more difficult) and Gibraltar (less difficult yet still steep). The half mile hike with multiple switchbacks to Gibraltar has a pay off of spectacular downtown Santa Barbara and ocean views, in addition to paragliders and rock climbers. Take some tips: -This is one of the few trails not impacted by the Thomas fire and also very shaded, so get here early to avoid crowds. Thankfully parking is plentiful. -Even though the trail is very shaded, you will still need plenty of cold water to drink along the way. -Be aware of Poison Oak along the route--stay on the trail! -Take your antihistamine allergy pills before starting the trek. Pollen blows every which way. -There is a lot of walking on wet, uneven stones and rocks so wear steady hiking shoes with decent tread. Thanks to the Santa Barbara Independent news for the history tips and lesson! read more

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I came here to hike because I heard that there was a creek that ran by the trail. At this time, it's mostly a dry hike. Nothing too special. Some nice scenery, but there are hikes with better scenery. Also, parts of the hike have a lot of brush against the legs, so it's better to wear leggings. It's an okay hike, but I would Not recommend going out of your way to come here. read more

Undoubtedly owing to it's name, this trail is relatively unknown and pristine. The trail splits at times but follows the course of the creek. There are huge boulder sized rocks along the creek side and plenty of trees which help provide near continuous shade throughout your hike. The trail is about 3.5 miles round trip with a difficulty level almost anyone will find easy. When you reach the end you are greeted by a large open field of wild flowers with several boulders around the circumference. From here you have an unadulterated view of the city far below, mountains, and the channel islands. IT IS SIMPLY THE MOST BREATHE TAKING VIEW IN THE ENTIRE COUNTY. And unlike 7 Falls, there is ample spaces for parking because there are much fewer patrons to this hidden park. Did I mention it's only 15 minutes from downtown? Near Skofield Park. read more

We hiked to the meadow, and then continued to make our way up to the Gibraltar Road. First, the trail to the meadow consisted of large rocks and crossing of the creek at least three times. To me, this is great, because I love rocks and creeks. However, some parts of the creek were dried up, so it was not as lovely as it's supposed to be. I expected the meadow to be a widespread of green grass where I can just run for hours without reaching the end, but it was yellow and smaller than expected. Maybe it's due to the drought. We continued up to Gibraltar road for about another mile. This was a steep climb similar to the Gaviota trail up to the top, but it's relatively short. Within the first 2 minutes or so past the meadow, you'll reach a nice shady spot with trees and nice rocks you can sit on. It's the perfect spot for a picnic! The rest is uphill with little shade. The last ten minutes up has no shade. Once you reach the top, you will get a nice view of S.B. county. Overall, from the beginning to the Gibraltar Trail, it took us 4 hours and maybe 5 miles roundtrip. But we took plenty of breaks. It should only take 3 hours. read more

WATER WATER WATER! Thank god for the rain it has blessed our mountains with beautiful waterfalls and wells that u can hear all throughout this trail! It was amazing did a little bit of bouldering here as well. And I saw families taking a swim in the deeper areas. Definitely bringing my son here for an adventure next time! read more

Rattlesnake Canyon - Cookie Monster rock art. Artist: unknown - Hiking Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Rattlesnake is especially beautiful right now after the rain. The drive alone is stunning. Every afternoon I get off, my dogs and I are hitting this trail. We usually hike for about 1 and a half and turn around and head back so you can go as far as your want. I love hearing the stream trickle as we walk and it's shady right now so we don't overheat and get sunburnt. I recommend wearing hiking boots right now because it's been muddy and you will be crossing streams. I would categorize this hike as moderate since you are walking uphill half the time. Btw, we typically park in Skofield Park. You can use that address to put in your GPS to get there. read more

Absolutely a let-down. My kids and I are quite athletic and avid hikers. Compared to trails like the ones at the Pinnacles in Northern Cal, this place is just plain pathetic. Pretty much all uphill with no rudimentary signs whatsoever to show you which direction to go. Scenery is mediocre at best unless you go all the way to the top. I see nothing spectacular with this trail especially if you are coming from out of town. Don't waste your time here. I would recommend driving up Gibraltar Rd instead and stopping at certain spots to go off those trails instead for much better views of the Santa Barbara area. read more

Had a really great "herb walk" with Emily Sanders yesterday. Gorgeous hiking spot - so nice to see it after almost enough rain... water in the creek again read more

Love it here!! Beautiful hike w/ gorgeous views of SB. The drive to get here is an adventure / beautiful in itself! read more

beautiful hike and many nice people along the trail. There was water along the trail for the dog to drink and cool off. We only made about a mile down the trail as we were carrying 9 month old twins in packs. So that extra weight slowed us down. Looking forward to going back when the twins can walk or when we can get a baby sitter! read more