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Gaviota Wind Caves The Gaviota Wind Caves are a sandstone formation located a mile from the Pacific Ocean in the Santa Ynez Mountains west of Santa Barbara. The hike to the wind-swept caves is 2.5 miles round trip with 600 feet of elevation gain. To learn more about the trail go to: Beach to Back Country Trail Learn More → Article Read more...
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Las Cruces Adobe Las Cruces Adobe. The home of Miguel Cordero family members, probably constructed in the 1850s or earlier. A kiosk at the site tells more about the history of the Cordero family and the adobe building. Learn More → Article in Wikipedia Article by Michael Redmon published at Independent.com Report by Santa Barbara County Planning Department on the Las Cruces Read more...
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Gaviota Hot Springs The Gaviota Hot Springs are 3/10ths of a mile from the trail head. At about 2/10ths of a mile turn right on a single track trail that leads to the three pools that make up the hot springs. The water is warm not hot. The main pool stands a bit higher up the ravine, and you can Read more...
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Baron Ranch Trails From the main Baron Ranch gate, follow the entrance road into the canyon that forms the Arroyo Quemado Creek watershed. The trail is well-marked and follows a network of ranch roads leading through a habitat restoration area and into the backcountry. The main trail is Arroyo Quemado Trail which begins at Calle Real and ends at Camino Read more...
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Gaviota State Park Gaviota State Park is about 30 miles west of Santa Barbara. For the outdoor enthusiast the park offers a wide range of water sports and traditional activities such as hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Visitors can choose to fish from a historic pier, scuba dive in a marine conservation area, bag a 2461 foot peak, soak in the Read more...
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Ellwood Mesa | Sperling Open Space Elwood Mesa is part of the Ellwood Devereux Open Space, a 600 acre multi-agency open space that includes opens space and reserves on UCSB’s North Campus and West Campus, lands within the University System’s Coal Oil Point Reserve, The Land Trust’s Coronado Butterfly Preserve and the City of Goleta’s Ellwood Mesa and Sperling Open Read more...
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Lake Los Carneros Ecological Preserve Lake Los Carneros Ecological Preserve is a nature preserve and bird habitat with a large lake. A network of trails meander across the park through rolling meadows and a forest of eucalyptus, oak, and pine trees. A wooden bridge crosses the northern end of the lake. This is a great place to stroll or watch wildlife, and Read more...
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Vista Del Mar Union School In 1927, Vista del Mar School was built on land deeded from the Hollisters after three nearby schools were combined. The school, with its signature jet fighter aircraft on the playground, served generations of children until it was closed down in 1986 because of safety concerns associated with an oil-processing facility Chevron was constructing nearby. Read more...
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Nojoqui Falls The 164-foot waterfall is located on the backside of the Santa Ynez Mountains near Solvang. The hike to the falls is a little over a half mile round-trip and is suitable for almost all ages. Learn More → Article by James Wapotich at Songs of the Wilderness Article by Seth Smigelski at Hikespeak.com Article in Wikipedia Read more...
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Beach to Back Country Trail Head Beach to Back Country Trail This trail is your access to the ever popular Gaviota Wind Caves. It’s a short walk with a steep start to get to the first cave. Please be careful as you explore the caves and be courteous by removing any trash or refuse. The caves are protected by law Read more...