Call Tony. Look for his number among the listings below.
Ratings are based on the abilities of someone who hikes frequently. Your results may vary. Also, how one mile actually feels is relative to the weather, the condition of the trail, the steepness, having enough water, and how much you partied the night before, among other things.
Strenuous=2 liters of water or more, lots of uphill, double-digit distance and/or maybe even some difficult boulders. Likely to come home in the late afternoon.
Moderate=1 liter of water, uphill, possibly also strenuous climbs, but not double-digit mileage. Likely to come home in early-mid afternoon and feel like you really worked out.
Easy=1 liter of water, like a walk in the city, but not guaranteed to be easy if you never hike.
Mixture=hikes with more than one color are a combo of difficulty levels. You decide based on a self-assessment of your abilities, and the weather.
Sat January 21 - LOST VALLEY TO OAK TREE: Hike from Nira camp to the Lost Valley Trail. Hike for 4 miles to a lunch spot under a great oak. Great views of San Rafael Wilderness. Moderately Strenuous 8 mrt. Bring lunch and plenty of water. Plan for an all day trip. Meet behind Bank of America on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 8am. NOTE EARLY START TIME! DIANE 455-4212
Sun. January 22 - COLD SPRING TRAIL TO EUCALYPTUS TREES VIA STEEP PRIMITIVE TRAIL: Challenging climb on primitive trail from Cold Spring Trail to Eucalyptus Trees. Pass forgotten old home site. Moderately strenuous 6mrt, steep and slippery at times. Return on regular Cold Spring Trail with trees and stream. Bring lunch and plenty of water. Meet behind Bank of America on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. ROBERT 685-1283
Sat January 28 - MONTECITO PEAK: Hike up to a steep peak for a panoramic view of the South Coast. Strenuous 7.5 mrt. Bring lunch and lots of water. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. TONY 682-8290
Sun. January 29 - CARPINTERIA BLUFFS: Morning walk past Seal Rock, flower fields and over bluffs. Children welcome, bring water and a snack. Slow paced 3 miles or so. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. KEITH 965-9953
Sat February 4 - SAN YSIDRO/COLD SPRING LOOP: Strenuous 10.5 mrt hike up San Ysidro trail to E. Camino Cielo Road for lunch. Return via Cold Spring trail, then connect back to San Ysidro. Great views of the back country and the coastline. Bring lunch and plenty of water. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. JIM 447-1876/644-6934
Sun February 5 - WEST FORK COLD SPRINGS TO WATERFALL: Hike along the trail then do some rock-hopping up the creek. Difficult 3 mrt. Some climbing. Bring lunch and water. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. ALEJANDRO 898-1240
Sat February 11 - TEQUEPIS : Hike up to West Camino Cielo from Santa Ynez Valley. View of Cachuma Lake and the Pacific Ocean. Moderate-strenuous 8 mrt. Bring lunch and plenty of water. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. CHRISTINE 963-2347
Sun February 12 - GAVIOTA CAVES EXPLORATORY: Hike from Gaviota beach to the caves and wind tunnels in the ridges above. Includes off-trail cross-country exploration on a new route! Some rock scrambling and bush-whacking and agility required. About 5 MRT. Wear long pants and bring lunch and plenty of water. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9AM. ROBERT 685-1283
Sat February 18 - SAN MARCOS FOOTHILL PRESERVE: This is an easy-moderate 4 mrt hike across the San Marcos Foothill Preserve, part of our County Parks system. We'll explore the parts of the current trail system. Bring water and a light lunch. Sun protection is recommended as there is limited shade. Meet 9am at the Bank of America parking lot, Hope & State St. GERRY 964-5411
Sun February 19 - SAN ANTONIO CREEK: Beginning at Tuckers Grove County Park, we will walk on a creek side trail that meets up with Hwy 154. A short walk on this busy highway will link us to a return via San Antonio Creek Road. Easy, 2 mrt. Meet at the Bank of America parking lot, Hope Ave. & State St. at 9a.m. VICKI 563-4850
Sat February 25 - FREMONT TRAIL: Park on East Camino Cielo and walk North along ridge used by Fremont to cross the ridge into Santa Barbara. Superb views of valley. Bring lunch and water. Easy-Moderate, 4 mrt. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. TONY 682-8290
Sun February 26 - SWEETWATER TRAIL: A hike from the Bradbury Dam lookout to the Lake Cachuma County Park. We'll explore a portion of the park before retracing our steps. Easy 5mrt. Bring a light lunch and water. Meet behind the Bank of America on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. If you are coming from north of Santa Barbara, you can meet us at the trailhead. Call for instructions. GERRY 964-5411
Sat March 3 - SAN YSIDRO FIVE TRAILS: Hike up San Ysidro, over to Cold Springs, down to Hot Springs and the bamboo tunnel of doom and then down the Bud Girard and McMenemy trails. Bring Lunch and at least two liters of water. Strenuous 11 mrt. Prepare for an all-day adventure. This hike is not suitable for beginners or people with health issues. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. DIANE 455-4212
Sun March 4 - PARMA PARK LOOP: A pleasant four mile morning hike through Santa Barbara's largest and least used park. Dirt roads and primitive trails, sometimes steep. Bring water and a snack. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. KEITH 965-9953
Sat March 10 - CANINE HIKE JESUSITA TRAIL TO INSPIRATION POINT: Hike through woods and meadows to a scenic view point. Moderately strenuous 7 miles RT. Well behaved dogs welcomed and encouraged; must be leashed. Bring lunch and water for you and your canine companion. Hikers without dogs welcome too. Meet at B of A parking lot at 9AM Hike limited to six dogs - please call to reserve your dog's place. Rain cancels. Call leader if in doubt. SALLY 689-7820
Sun March 11 - GIBRALTAR ROCK VIA RATTLESNAKE TRAIL: Hike up a wooded canyon with scenic views to Gibraltar Rock. Moderately Strenuous 5.5 MRT. Bring lunch and plenty of water. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9AM. ROBERT 685-1283
Sat March 17 - COLD SPRING TRAIL TO GORILLA ROCK: Hike down to Forbush Flat onto an off-trail hike under strenuous conditions to rock formations in a remote canyon. Difficult/strenuous 8 mrt with over 1500 elevation gain/loss. Rock scrambling, bush whacking involved. Wear long pants and shirt. The hike will begin headed down hill and end headed up hill. Prepare for an all-day adventure. Call hike leader for details. TONY 455-4212
Sun March 18 - ENNISBROOK: Morning walk through this Montecito area with large trees and plants near San Ysidro Creek. Flat, slow paced 2-3 miles. Children welcome, bring water and meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. DAVE 563-4850
Sat March 24 - CHORRO GRANDE: Strenuous 12 mrt hike with 3200' elev. gain/loss - experienced hikers only. The hike starts at 4000` and climbs steadily for 6 miles to 7200', ending up on the Pine Mountain Ridge near Reyes Campground. Wear hiking shoes/boot, bring lots of water, snack, lunch. There's a good chance that there will be in snow at the top, so bring a warm jacket, a hat, and gloves. Meet at 8:30 at the Ventura carpool lot (Seaward and Harbor between Chase Bank and Carrows). JIM 805-447-1876/805-644-6934
Sun March 25 - ROCKY PINE RIDGE - SHORT ROUTE: From Camino Cielo, hike into this wonderful pine tree/rock region and skirt along the ridge line. Short, moderate morning hike, 4-5 mrt. Bring water and a snack. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. ALEJANDRO 898-1240
Sat March 31 - BARON RANCH TRAIL: A 7.5 mrt moderate hike on a new trail on the Gaviota Coast. This trail leads us high into the foothills for great views of the coast and valley. We'll include the upper loop in our route. Although mostly on old ranch roads, the route starts rising steeply towards the rear of the valley, then transfers to a newly cut trail leading us to the 1200' high point. Meet behind the Bank of America on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. If you are coming from north of Santa Barbara, you can meet us at the trailhead. Call for instructions. GERRY 964-5411
Sun April 1 - ARROYO HONDO PRESERVE: A docent led hike through a scenic canyon. Enjoy the views and learn the area's history. Easy trail along the creek then more strenuous up to the ridge (Upper Outlaw trail). About 6mrt. Bring lunch & water, & be prepared to carpool to the Preserve, approx 30 minutes north of Santa Barbara. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9AM. CHRISTINE 963-2347
Sat April 7 - PLAYGROUND: Explore the labyrinth of boulders forming a natural playground off West Camino Cielo. Some rock scrambling and agility required. Always a new route! Bring lunch and plenty of water. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9AM. ROBERT 685-1283
Sun April 8 - RATTLESNAKE TRAIL: Hike up a wooded canyon with scenic views to Gibraltar Rock. Moderate 5.5 mrt. Bring a snack and water. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. DAVE 563-4850
Sat April 14 - INSECT HIKE IN ALISO CANYON: Learn about the most abundant form of life on the planet - insects - on this interpretive hike. A leisurely loop from Sage Hill campground on a marked trail alongside a stream. Easy/Moderate 3.5 mrt. Please note that location may change based upon weather conditions. Bring lunch and water. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. KENNY 692-2227
Sun April 15 - SAN MARCOS FOOTHILL PRESERVE: Join us for the short (3.5mrt) but hilly hike. We'll start at the main entrance near Hwy 154. Our route will take us through the NW portion, then down into a small canyon. From there we will head for the lookout point for a light snack. Return via the lower portion of the preserve. Meet behind the Bank of America on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. GERRY 964-5411
Sat April 21 - SAN YSIDRO TO E. CAMINO CIELO: Fairly strenuous hike up to E. Camino Cielo for lunch. Great views of the back country and the coastline. Hike along creek for part of trip. Strenuous 9 mrt. Bring lunch and plenty of water. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. MOCK 805-450-7320
Sun April 22 - JESUSITA TRAIL TO INSPIRATION POINT: Walk through woods and meadows to a scenic view point. Moderate-strenuous 7 mrt. Bring lunch and water. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. DAVID P. 705-3025
Sat April 28 - PINE MOUNTAIN LODGE: Strenuous 13 mrt hike with 3000' elev. gain/loss - experienced hikers only. Wear hiking shoes/boots, bring lots of water, snack, lunch. There's a good chance that there will be in snow at the top, so bring a warm jacket, a hat, and gloves. Meet at Ventura carpool lot at 8:30 AM (Seaward and Harbor between Chase Bank and Carrows). JIM 805-447-1876/805-644-6934
Sun April 29 - WEST FORK COLD SPRING TO LOOKOUT: Start on Cold Spring Trail, cross stream and hike west up to Lookout. Moderate, but sometimes steep 4 mrt. Bring lunch and water. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. KEITH 965-9953
Sat May 5 - REFUGIO BEACH TO EL CAPITAN: Car pool to Refugio Beach and walk to El Capitan or beyond. Easy 6 to 8 mrt. Bring old shoes, lunch, and water. Share parking fee. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. DAVE 563-4850
Sun May 6 - CANINE HIKE RATTLESNAKE TRAIL: Hike up a wooded canyon with scenic views to Gibraltar Rock. Moderate 5.5 mrt. Well behaved dogs welcomed and encouraged; must be leashed. Bring lunch and water for you and your canine companion. Hikers without dogs welcome too. Meet at B of A parking lot at 8AM. NOTE EARLY START TIME. Hike limited to six dogs - please call to reserve your dog's place. Rain cancels. Call leader if in doubt. SALLY 689-7820
Sat May 12 - ROCKY PINE RIDGE - SHORT ROUTE: From Camino Cielo, hike into this wonderful pine tree/rock region and skirt along the ridge line. Moderate hike with some rock hopping, 4-5 mrt. Bring water and lunch. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9AM. ROBERT 685-1283
Sun May 13 - ROMERO CANYON TO CAMINO CIELO: Walk all the way up this mostly tree shaded trail to the top. Great views of back country. Moderate-strenuous 9 mrt. Bring lunch and plenty of water. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. CHRISTINE 963-2347
Sat May 19 - MORE MESA: Morning loop walk around this extensive coastal bluff. Children welcome. Slow paced 2-3 miles or so. Bring water and a snack. Meet behind B of A on upper State Street at Hope Ave. at 9am. VICKI 563-4850
Sun May 20 - COLD SPRING, FORBUSH FLAT TO GROTTO: Hike down Cold Springs Trail from E. Camino Cielo to Forbush Flat campground. Hike approx 1.5 miles further to natural grotto. Bring swim suit, towel, lunch and water. Strenuous 6 mrt. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. Alejandro 898-1240
Sat May 26 - SUMMERLAND WALK: Join us for a 3.5 mrt walk through the back hills of Summerland. We'll use little used paths, starting at Oceanview Park, to walk the trails above Summerland, returning on the back streets of the town. Easy, but lots of hills. Meet at 9am at the Bank of America parking lot, Hope Ave & State St. Bring water and a light snack. GERRY 964-5411
Sun May 27 - THREE POOLS BEYOND SEVEN FALLS: Primitive trail, some rock climbing. Bring swimsuit. Difficult but short 5 mrt. Bring lunch and water. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. DAVID P. 705-3025
Sat June 2 - WEST FORK COLD SPRING TO LOOKOUT AND BEYOND: Start on Cold Spring Trail, cross stream and hike west up to the Homestead. Moderate, but steep 5 MRT. Bring lunch and water. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. ROBERT 685-1283
Sat June 2 - La Jolla Valley (Pt Mugu State Park): Strenuous 7 mi loop with approx. 1,500 ft elevation gain/loss. We will climb to the top of Mugu Peak (elev. 1,266) before descending into beautiful La Jolla Natural Preserve for lunch at Lower La Jolla Camp in a shady oak grove. Wear hiking shoes or boots, bring the 10 essentials, lots of water (2-3 liters), snack, and lunch. Meet at 8:00 at Mission Plaza in Ventura (Main St. and Ventura Ave.) near O'Reilly's Auto Parts to carpool to trailhead, or meet at 8:45 at the trailhead on Hwy 1 across from the Seabee Rifle Range in Pt. Mugu. STEPHEN 805-794-1150
Sun June 3 - McMENEMY TRAIL: Hike from San Ysidro trail to Saddle Rock overlook, then back by dirt road to starting point. Moderate 6 mrt. Bring lunch and water. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. DIANE 455-6818
Sat June 9 - INDIAN CREEK: Long carpool to the trail head. Follow Indian Creek up a canyon and enjoy some rarely seen back country. The creek abounds with wildlife, especially frogs and the western pond turtle. Bring a swimsuit if you're interested in taking a dip in the creek or relaxing in the Little Caliente hot springs at the end of the hike. Moderate terrain, but long 16 mrt hike. There will be many creek crossings, and you may get wet. Bring water shoes for the crossings. Also, bring lunch and at least three liters of water. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. JIM 447-1876/644-6934
Sun June 10 - HENDRY'S BEACH TO MORE MESA: Beach walk past Hope Ranch to More Mesa or beyond depending upon tide. Easy 7 mrt. Optional swim. Bring swimsuit, old shoes, lunch, and water. Meet at Hendry's Beach (Arroyo Burro on maps) outside gate at 9am. VICKI 563-4850
Sat June 16 - RATTLESNAKE TRAIL CANINE HIKE: Hike up a wooded canyon with scenic views to beautiful meadow. Moderate 3.5 mrt. with 1000 foot elevation gain. Well behaved dogs welcomed and encouraged; must be leashed. Bring snack and water for you and your canine companion. Hikers without dogs welcome too. Meet at B of A parking lot on upper State at 8:00 a.m. NOTE EARLY START TIME. Hike limited to six dogs - please call to reserve your dog's place. Rain/fire cancels. SALLY 689-7820
Sun June 17 - FIR CANYON/ WILLOW SPRING LOOP: Car pool to Davy Brown camp behind Figueroa Mt. Steep hike up the most beautiful canyon in the area to a junction trail to Willow Spring. After a lunch break, we'll hike down Willow Spring trail looping back to Fir Canyon trail. Moderate 7.5 mrt. Bring lunch and water. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 8am. NOTE EARLY START TIME! TONY 682-8290
Sat June 23 - MONTECITO PEAK - ANNUAL SUNSET HIKE: Celebrate Summer Solstice with a late afternoon hike up a steep peak for a panoramic view of the South Coast. Enjoy a sunset supper. Strenuous 7.5 mrt. Bring lots of water, supper, flashlight. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 4:30pm. DIANE 682-6818
Sun June 24 - EL CAPITAN CYN: Join us for a 4mrt loop (600' elevation gain/loss) for an overlook hike of El Capitan Cyn. We'll use the trailhead just outside of the Ocean Meadows campground. We'll head down into the canyon and take the short Selma Rubin trail to the organic gardens, then hike to the Paradise Picnic area on the eastern ridge. From there, we'll follow the Bill Wallace trail, looping back to the canyon bottom. Crossing the creek, we'll continue up the Bill Wallace trail to the western ridge and eventually back to our starting point. Bring a water, a light lunch and sun protection. Meet 9am at the Bank of America parking lot, Hope & State St. GERRY 964-5411
Sun June 24 - HORN CANYON (Upper Ojai): Strenuous 5 mi round trip to The Pines with 1,800 ft elevation gain/loss. Pretty hike along a creek with several creek crossings before emerging on a ridgetop at the Pines with a nice spring and lunch spot. Option of adding another 3 mi and 1,500 ft elevation gain/loss and climbing to Nordhoff Peak Road. Wear hiking shoes or boots, bring the 10 essentials, lots of water (2-3 liters), snack, and lunch. Meet at 8:00 at Mission Plaza in Ventura (Main St. and Ventura Ave.) near O'Reilly's Auto Parts to carpool to trailhead. Stephen 805-794-1150
Sat June 30 - INSPIRATION POINT: Hike up Tunnel Rd., then by trail to a point with beautiful views of the coast and mountains. Easy 3.5 mrt. Bring lunch and water. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. DAVID P. 705-3025
Sun July 1 - URBAN HIKE TO FRANCHESCI PARK: Start near the Mission, walk through the Riviera, then up the "1000 steps" to a great view of the city and harbor. Return via Las Tunas Rd. Some steep sections. Moderate 4 mrt. Bring water and a snack. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. DAVE 563-4850
Sat July 7 - SADDLEROCK - HOT SPRINGS - COLD SPRING LOOP: Hike on parts of seven trails in a moderate loop of about 5 miles. Bring lunch and water. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9AM. ROBERT 685-1283
Sun July 8 - RED ROCK TO GIBRALTAR DAM: Hike up the road to Gibraltar Dam, then back past a popular swimming area. Moderate-strenuous 6.5 mrt. Bring swimsuit, wading shoes, lunch and plentyf of water. Optional side trip to old mercury mine adds 4 miles. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. TONY 682-8290
Sat July 14 - SAN YSIDRO TO THE FALLS: Hike past a favorite rock climbing location to a seasonal waterfall, then return to a pool for lunch. Easy 5 mrt. Bring lunch and water. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. STEPHEN 574-9445
Sun July 15 - CATHEDRAL PEAK: Start up Tunnel trail and branch off onto Jesusita connector trail. Continue up primitive trail, steep and rocky in places, to Cathedral Peak. Lots of boulder hopping. Strenuous 6 mrt. Some agility required. Bring lunch and water. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. TONY 682-8290
Sat July 21 - HENDRY'S BEACH/DOUGLAS FAMILY PRESERVE: Morning stroll along the beach then up the steps and back through the park completing the loop. Children welcome. Bring water and a snack. Slow paced 2 to 3 miles. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. DAVE 563-4850
Sun July 22 - ROCKY PINE RIDGE - SHORT ROUTE: From Camino Cielo, hike into this wonderful pine tree/rock region and skirt along the ridge line. Moderate with some boulder hopping and agility required, 4MRT. Bring water and lunch. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9AM. ALEJANDRO 898-1240
Sat July 28 - WEST FORK COLD SPRINGS TO TANGERINE FALLS: Hike along the trail then do some rock-hopping up the creek to the falls. Difficult 3 mrt. Some climbing and agility required. Bring lunch and water. Meet behind Bank of America on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. ROBERT 685-1283
Sun July 29 - FISH CREEK: Long car pool to Nira Camp, then up the Manzana to Fish Creek Camp, continuing up Fish Creek to nice waterfalls. Moderate 9mrt. It can be very hot in July, so bring at least 3 liters of water, plus electrolytes. Also bring lunch, snacks, hat, and swimsuit. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. Jim 447-1876/644-6934
Sat August 4 - RATTLESNAKE TRAIL: Hike up a wooded canyon with scenic views to beautiful meadow. Moderate 3.5 mrt. with 1000 foot elevation gain. Bring some water and a snack. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. TONY 682-8290
Sun August 5 - THREE POOLS BEYOND SEVEN FALLS: Primitive trail, some rock climbing. Bring swimsuit. Difficult but short 5 mrt. Bring lunch and water. Meet behind B of A on upper State St. at Hope Ave. at 9am. ALEJANDRO 898-1240
Sat August 11 - PIEDRA BLANCA: Strenuous 8 mrt hike across the Sespe and up Piedra Blanca Creek, then some rock and boulder scrambling to our favorite swimming hole. Much of the hike will be in the creek bed, so expect to get wet. It can be very hot in August, so bring at least 3 liters of water, plus electrolytes. Also bring lunch, snacks, hat, swimsuit, hiking shoes, and sandals for water crossings. Meet at 9 a.m. Ventura carpool lot (Seaward and Harbor between Chase Bank and Carrows). JIM 447-1876/644-6934
Sun August 12 - SHORELINE PARK PICNIC AND BEACH WALK: Share a potluck breakfast followed by an easy beach walk. Bring food to share. Coffee provided. Meet in the middle of Shoreline Park at 9a.m.
"All participants on Sierra Club outings are required to sign a standard liability waiver. If you would like to read the liability waiver before you choose to participate on an outing, refer to it on the public website: Outings Waiver (pdf) or contact the Outings department at (415) 977-5630 for a printed version."
Is now a book!
My trail journal from Santa Barbara to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail
My trail journal on the Pacific Crest Trail