Our family just stayed for the weekend at Circle Bar B, and we were blown away! The drive from the 101 is fairly short, roughly 3 miles of road that becomes increasingly more rustic as you draw closer to the ranch. Once we checked in, we made our way to our room, which was very spacious and perfect for our family of 4 (big bed for my wife and I, and bunk bed for our kids). As we entered the lodge for dinner on Friday night, I immediately felt at home. A large fire was already growing in the oversized fireplace, and there was plenty of seating nearby. Additionally, all the way across the sizable room was a bar (saloon?) where you could get a stiff drink. Country music of all kinds, from different eras, played constantly during our weekend. Normally I am not a fan of these tunes, but here, in this room at this ranch, it was perfect. Dinner wasn't fancy, but was really good. Great salad bar, and the communal dining gives you the opportunity to meet fellow travelers. This place seems to attract high quality people, as we had several pleasant exchanges w/fellow guests. Spoke with owner Jim about his long, adventurous life and his incredible love affair with his wife Betty, who sadly passed away in the Spring of 2016. My conversation w/Jim was one of the special memories of this weekend. We had been to Circle Bar B ranch before, when we were staying at a nearby property, El Capitan Ranch. Then, we had only done the horse back riding, which we did again on this trip. The cowboys are great at making inexperienced riders comfortable, and the majestic trails are beautiful and filled w/stunning views. This is definitely the main activity at the ranch, and the operation is flawless and run very efficiently. My favorite thing was coming down in the late afternoon w/some apples, hoping we could feed the horses. Not only did one of the cowboys let us do that....but we were able to watch as he let the 40-45 horses "go" for the evening. These horses get to roam the mountainside in the evening, rather than be crammed in a stable. Unbelievable! This made me feel great for the horses. As one of the cowboys put it, "I wouldn't work anywhere where they could keep a horse in a cage. These horses are meant to run free." Amen. Nature is everywhere. Hawks, woodpeckers, and turkey vultures filled the skies, and a peaceful, serene feeling encompasses you. While we drove out on Saturday for a short day trip to Solvang, a bobcat jumped out in front of our vehicle, about 20 yards in front of us. He was carrying a mole or gopher that he had just caught, and he quickly crossed the street and then ran across and through the creek, jumping into some bushes on the other side. What a highlight! Day trip to Solvang included trip to Ostrichland (emus/ostriches) and walking around the shops. But we quickly returned to Circle Bar B for dinner, which turned out to be epic! Tri tip, beans, steamed broccoli/carrots, garlic bread.......and that salad bar again. Wow. Again, this food isn't fancy, but it was very, very good. All of the employees at Circle Bar B were incredibly friendly and helpful. This is a very well run establishment from top to bottom. After dinner, our family gathered in the lodge to do a jigsaw puzzle, something we would never attempt at home. We listened to music, laughed, and spent 2-3 hours having a great time. If your family struggles to find moments like this, this is the IDEAL place to vacation. It would also seem to be perfect for company gatherings, weddings, reunions, or sales retreats. In the morning, we made the short drive over to Refugio beach, where we saw several pelicans flying in formation......first high in the sky, then low, skimming the ocean. A solitary seal swam by where the waves were breaking near a large kelp bed. Seagulls were everywhere. Two very big thumbs up from me.....I can't wait for our next trip to Circle Bar B. Bring your cowboy boots, jeans, and prepare to journey backwards in time to a simpler, better way of living. Bravo and kudos to everyone at Circle Bar B......we can't say THANK YOU loud enough, or too many times. Family memories like this are epic and meaningful, and we thank you for making us feel at home in your special ranch. read more

I was extremely excited to go horseback ridding for my first time, but I was extremely disappointed. The guide, Joe, was extremely rude ! Made my 1.5 hr ride stressful ! The scenery was nice at some points, probably the best part of the ride. I would not recommend this place, but if you decided to try it out MAKE SURE YOUR GUIDE ISN'T JOE! read more

This was an AWESOME experience. Beautiful scenery, romantic adventure, helpful friendly staff. More than worth it, a MUST - DO in SB!! :) read more

Circle Bar B Stables - Horseback Riding Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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This place is wonderful! Affordable horseback riding in a beautiful location. The views are amazing and our guide Bob was great! If you go, ask for Bob to be your guide. He is s so sweet and adorable. We can't wait to go again! read more

Circle Bar B Stables - Horseback Riding Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

This was an amazing ride. Our cowboy guide Robby was amazing, knowledge, and sweet. Beautiful country and well cared for horses. The creaks were going --it was magical! read more

First time going horseback riding, we decided it would be a nice surprise for my dads bday. None of us, except my dad, had ever been on a horse. We LOVED IT! The staff was very friendly and welcoming. And our guide, Jimmy, was very friendly and helpful the whole ride. He made sure we were good the whole way and let us take breaks in the shade when we got too hot (it was about 95° that day!) Great experience and we will definitely be coming back!! hopefully on a cooler day... read more

Great ambiance good food. Service outstanding. Jeez love this place. Friendly great drinks and individual attention. Can't even talk about how beautiful it is. I'll be back read more

Went a 90 minute group ride today. Nice people, safety-conscious, beautiful scenery, learned a little bit about the area, had a great time.

We had the time of our lives riding horses for 4 hours up and down the mountain at Cirle Bar B. Our guide Jimmy was so professional, ressponsible and knowledgeable. I always felt safe on the hourse and him leading the way. The views are unbelievable, spralwing ocean and mountain views. There is no bad view from any point in the hike. We saw some cool wildlife along as well. In general this hike made me feel like I went back in time to Wild Wild West, riding dusty roads of the west, just my loyal horse and I. I highly recommend these stables! read more

This is a "must do" on the Central Coast! I went for a private three hour ride and it was truly amazing! The horse was great, the Guide was even better, and the views are outstanding! The staff is so friendly and the Ranch is so beautiful. read more

We had the most spectacular experience here. It was one of the cleanest ranches we have ever seen and all the staff were lovely. We took an evening/late afternoon ride and getting to see the sunset at the top was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Jimmy took us on our ride and we had a great time talking with him! A truly special experience....! read more

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Great spot for horseback riding. Horses don't seem dopey and/overworked. Try to come on a cool day as the trail could be very hot. A 2 hour ride is longer than you think if your an armature. read more

Circle Bar B is a great place for horseback riding. The views are awesome and the horses are too cute for words! Beautiful pathways through the Santa Ynez Mountains which are the same mountains where Ronald Reagan had his ranch. Views include the Pacific Ocean. You really feel like you're in a cowboy movie. They take you out for 1.5 hours and it's very professionally done. The guide is knowledgeable and is very clear on instructions. It's very safe too if you're "city slickers" like we are from nyc. I was scared but they don't let you chicken out but also make sure you're not clueless and teach you to handle a horse. Also they have a guest ranch. Very beautiful accommodations and tastefully done overall. read more

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Though you might be greeted by a grumpy cowboy who cracks bad jokes, don't take it to heart, it's just cowboy charm (as they call it where I come from). That said, it's a well run operation. As a horse owner, i generally regard commercial entities with skepticism but this place checked off my boxes. Horses are turned out as a herd into the hills at night. They have salt licks available, plenty of water, grain and hay, and are clearly in good health. Their feet are in good shape and i didn't notice any lameness. The tack room was super clean. The wranglers seemed content and were happy to accommodate any requests- even an early morning ride to see wildlife (doe and a fawn). For horse owners, there are a handful of stalls (I've brought my horse in the past), but beware the parking is tight and will require serious trailering skills. For me, it's a nice way to enjoy riding with my friends who don't know how to ride. read more

We came up with the entire family to stay at the lodge to celebrate my wife's birthday and had an absolute blast!!! We had 8 adult and 6 kid riders and everyone had the best time! We did both the 1.5 hour ride and the half day ride - both incredible! Our guides over the few days were Mick, Jake, Colby and Randy. There were all extremely knowledgeable and made the ride even more fun! And our time with Randy will never be forgotten ... he needs to write a book of all his cowboy experiences - one that would include numerous photos of a life well-lived (including his very recent bronc riding adventures!!!). Also, need to mention how organized their operations are ... Jack and Pat were able to get all of our riders mounted and ready despite the wide range in age (7 to 77) and in riding abilities! This operation is top-notch!!! Can't wait to get back!!! read more

So awesome. Great staff, horses, and views. 100% recommend!! It is a must if you're in the area. Whether it is hot or gloomy, this is honestly the perfect activity. read more

I came solo for the 9AM half day ride expecting to be with a larger group, and that was complelty ok with me. 9AM comes and no one shows so I got a private ride for the price of a group score! My guide was Randy. Randy was the best part of the entire ride. Yes the horses are beautiful and the scenery is breathtaking but with such great company it only enchaned everything. Recently being discharged from the military I was told that horseback riding was therapeutic so I thought let's try it out soak in the landscape and be one with nature. Turns out Randy is a Vietnam Marine Corps. Veteran. Randy and I talked the entire 4 hours. Turns out the most therapeutic part of the ride was talking and venting to a fellow vet. Separated by generations and wars but still instant connection. I thank Randy with the bottom of my heart for taking me on a breathtaking tour but also for ending up being a friend. Thank you Circle Bar B, and thank you Randy. read more

Adam was a patient and entertaining guide. My wife, two teenagers and I truly enjoyed the experience with our horses and the scenery. It was a wonderful opportunity for us city slickers to create memories, and for this, we are truly grateful. Thank you Adam and Circle Bar B. read more

Such a great place to go! Beautiful location and awesome workers! Jimmy was our tour guide and he was amazing! Horses are very well taken care of! I would most definitely recommend Circle Bar B to anybody looking for a relaxing beautiful ride full of amazing people! 10/10!!! read more

Circle Bar B Stables - Horseback Riding Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Had a wonderful midweek break here. Really enjoyed the trail rides in beautiful country, and the people who work here could not have been lovelier. The horses are very well taken care of and healthy, and the people who lead the rides are great about pointing out things of interest. There's also a beautiful swimming pool and Jacuzzi, and a library with WiFi for those who need to get some work done.... or just read! They were great about accommodating my particular food preferences as well. I honestly can't wait to come back! read more

Loved the experience with Circle Bar B Stables! The guide, Jimmy, was friendly and took the group through some breathtaking views. Will definitely do this again! read more

This place is amazing. Don't hesitate. We got stranded at El Capitan camping grounds. Couldn't get an Uber to take us up. One of their guides, Jake, volunteered to pick us up in his own truck. I would have given a 5-star rating just for that. Our guide Randy was perfection. Perfect mix of cowboy swagger and charm. Did the 2 1/2 hour ride and the terrain was beautiful country and mountain views. Go early before it gets hot! read more

We had a phenomenal time today. Rode a private ride with Randy Johnson as our wrangler and he is just the best! We were welcomed by all so pleasantly and Randy made this ride memorable! So much so he invited us to do a 1/2 day ride with him and we will sign up for that this fall and request to ride with him again! Yeehaw! read more

My fiancé surprised me & took me horse back riding at Circle Bar B stables, knowing that I love horses but had never been riding. I was instantly in heaven driving up the path to the stables, the views are gorgeous!! Our wrangler was Caleb & he was amazing, he shared plenty of great stories with us, We are definitely looking forward to coming back. Everyone was so great & easy going, best date ever!!! Thank you for such a wonderful experience!! read more

Just like what everyone says. This place works because every staff member is attentive and is there to provide one thing and one thing only. There to make the CBBS riding experience fantastic. Customer service and professionalism at it's finest. Good job to the staff and our guide Rick. Parking can be a little tight during popular times. read more

Really enjoyed our ride today. Different way to spend Thanksgivings Day but everyone made it a fun experience. Amazing ocean views. Really good to see healthy horses. Thanks Circle Bar B Ranch. read more

We had such a great time!! Snuffy was such a character and Blue was so sweet! Thanks for a great experience! read more

Circle Bar B Stables - Horseback Riding Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

My first horseback riding experience was as good as it can get thanks to Circle B and their great staff! Our guide JP and Danny (I think that was his name) made our entire tour extremely comical and fun. We rode the horses up this beautiful mountain overlooking Santa Barbara. Although I was scared out of my mind being on a horse climbing up a mountain, the guides' funny little comments and the beautiful scenery made this experience incredible! If I go back to SB, i would definitely use Circle B and their horseback riding services again. Thank you for such a great time! read more

Absolutely LOVED this place and everything about it! Such a gorgeous place with spectacular views. Everyone on the ranch was plenty helpful and amazingly friendly. My girls took me here this past Saturday to kick off my bachelorette weekend and boy, what a wonderful start it was! We did the 90 minute tour with Joe and Francis (our a awesome tour guides). They made us laugh and feel absolutely comfortable during this tour. They were simply amazing!!! Not to mention Jack, he was the one to check us in for our reservation. This man is sooooo sweet, he did his very best to accommodated us in every way possible. Even when 2 of our girls showed up late, Jack assured us that we were fine and that we need not to rush, he offered us the phone inside the little check in station in case we needed to get a hold of our friends since there is no cell phone reception up there. He made us feel important and that made us love the Circle Bar B Ranch even more. Aside from the terrific staff, the horses were all so amazing. I had he pleasure of riding Bob. Bob was my BFF throughout that whole tour. I was sad o leave without Bob. I wanted to take him home with me. Bob made my experience just that much more enjoyable. What a well trained and well behaved horse he was. I absolutely LOVED Bob for taking care of me up and down the mountain. I will definitely come back and request another tour with Bob, Joe & Francis. I look forward to coming back with my soon to be husband and perhaps even staying the whole weekend at the ranch and doing the 4 hour tour. Thank you, Circle Bar B Ranch for the outstanding experience. My bachelorette girls weekend out will definitely be a memorable one with much thanks to you all!!! read more

Circle Bar B Stables - Kicking off my Bachelorette Girls Weekend Out Party with these beautiful horses! - Horseback Riding Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Was planning a trip to Solvang for a wine tasting weekend and thought why not look and see if there are some places near by that offer horseback riding. Found Circle B and it was perfect because it was on our way in. Called and made reservations for 2 and Jack who helped set it up was extremely friendly and helpful. The grounds are amazing and it was so peaceful. We got there and checked in and waited for the rest of the group. The 1.5hr trail ride was amazing! It was so beautiful we had a great time! Apparently, we were one of the quietest groups our guide ever had (sorry Rick) haha, but it's hard not to just want to look around and take it all in while you're riding. Our guide was great and the horses have done this so many times they basically know where they have to go, but sometimes like to test you as their rider and will try to stop to have a snack here and there along the trail. I loved every minute and would definitely do it again and recommend it! read more

Circle Bar B Stables - One of the look out points on the trail. Amazing! - Horseback Riding Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We had an absolutely amazing experience on our trail ride. Our guide, Paul, AKA "Paulie" was very knowledgeable and interesting. It was an experience of a lifetime to ride on a trail through the mountains to a vista point looking at the ocean. Highly recommend the stables and Paul! read more

It has been several years now, but my daughter and I still have wonderful memories of Circle Bar B Ranch. We took advantage of a winter deal that, at the time, was about $280/day with meals and rides. My daughter was just learning to ride and had the time of her life. On the third day I sent her off for a full day ride with one of the wranglers. She got snowed on and thoroughly cold, but loved every minute. The food is perfectly good ranch grub, which we love. The staff is kind and treated my daughter wonderfully. If it was possible to rent horses and go off by ourselves or join a group of more experienced riders we'd definitely go back. read more

This place is GREAT! All of the staff here are very friendly and customer-service focused. We did the 90 minute ride, which was a blast. There were two guides for a group of 8 riders. You can't beat the value here - $50 for a 90 minute ride (most places are 50-100% more than that). One note - some portions of the trail have steep drop-off's. For some reason the horses like to walk close to the edge. Scared the crap out of me a few times, but the guides said not to worry - the horses won't plunge over the side of the cliff. As others have noted, please tip the guides - these guys probably don't get paid a ton of money. Some places are in your face about gratuities, but not here, which was refreshing. read more

I spent an awesome time at the Ranch yesterday! The process of checking in is a breeze! All the staff were amazing, friendly & very helpful. Their knowledge of the horses & trails was perfect! Our guide was Jimmy...a very funny guy who kept us engaged & brilliantly informed of the area. We got to see a lot of wildlife...scary or not! Lol! It only cost $65/person...I had investigated other riding stables in the area, & by far, they were the best! And after we rode the trails feeling like real cowboys...the perfect finish to the day was a bourbon on the rocks in the quaint & fully stocked bar! A very nice venue, comfortable & charming! We will definitely put this activity on our schedule to do again!! & again, & again! Great job Circle Bar B!! read more

My family brought me on a surprise birthday camping trip in the area so we were staying close by for the weekend. We were looking for things to do and came across the Circle Bar B Stables and we thought it would be fun. Boy were we right!!! From the moment we called and got Jack on the phone we knew we were in for a treat. Jack was such a nice guy who gave us the low down on what to bring and expect. When we arrive, after taking a short little drive from our campgrounds through the beautiful lemon and avocado groves we were greeted by an amazingly hospitable staff. My wife, daughter and myself were quickly given the rundown and away we went. Randy was our tour guide and man was he awesome. He led the way and even held tight on to our daughters horse as she is 8 and it was her first time riding a horse. He told us all about the area and pointed out all kinds of animals hiding holes and had more jokes than any of us would have expected. In a group riding with us, we had a few slow riders and he kept giving them encouraging ways to keep up instead of talking down to them or gettin he frustrated he kept it light and fun. Also Randy is an accomplished actor who plays some cool parts in movies and commercials we have seen so the authenticity factor went right along with what we were looking for. They allow you to stop and take pictures and make the most of the trip to keep some great memories. I didnt catch the gentlemans name but i did overhear he was originally from the catskills in ny, he mustve have been able to tell i was a bit nervous at first having not been on a horse in 30 years and he quietly said its cool man just relax and remember who is riding who. That calmed me right down and I really appreciated that. If you are looking for an incredibly scenic ride or to kill some time for an amazingly low price then by all means support this business and keep these big corporations out of areas like this. My hats off to everyone we came in contact with and will surely be back to do an even longer ride next time. Thanks guys!!! read more

Good & Bad A group of girls & I went here for my birthday and as soon as we arrived we had two girls telling us to be careful because the stable hands were rude and had no humor. We were apprehensive after hearing that. After we met with the man who does the reservations (He was very nice) we went down to where you get your horse. The older heavier set gentleman was very rude, ripped my friend and my hat off of our heads saying we couldn't ride with them. which that was understandable that it could of spooked the horse, but he could of went about it nicer. So at all costs AVOID speaking with him. He realized he pissed us off and then tried to be nicer. Our lead was DOUG, he is amazing and very nice. We had an inexperienced rider with us and he made sure to constantly check on her to make sure she was comfortable. I would recommend this place but make sure you ask for DOUG as your lead. The horses are well maintained and gentle. read more

I can't say enough great things about this place. Firstly, we ended up being the ONLY guests there for our overnight stay for our 1 year anniversary. A large wedding party was arriving the following day and booked the entire place but Circle Bar B was kind enough to not only accommodate us but upgrade our room to one of the Private Creekside Cabins!!! We were served some of the best meals we've ever ate and had the pleasure of dining with the owner. What a treat!!! The cabin was clean and well supplied with a fabulous view of the creek and even had it's own porch with chairs to sit and soak it all in. We took a dip in the pool and spa after dinner and then battled it out in ping pong and pool in their game room. I recommend hiking the trail to the top of the ridge. You can see all the way up and down the coast. We can't wait to go back. read more

My husband search hi and low to find a great birthday gift. He finally settled on taking me horseback riding. It had been years since we have ridden horses, but I was excited. We arrived early and the other couple in our time slot was early as well. They asked if we wanted to head out since we were all there. On word we went. I rode "Snuffy", I put it in quotes because our guide was making jokes about his name the whole time, that I'm not sure if this was his real name. My husband rode Zeus, who was the slow poke. Haha. Our guide was awesome, made us all comfortable, and the other couple was very fun to trail with. My husband and I are looking forward to our next trip and we will be bringing along our friends. Thanks Mick! read more

Don't hesitate for another minute, book your ride with Circle Bar B. Everyone is pleasant, the horses are well mannered and the landscape is gorgeous. Prices are extremely fair. Highly recommended. Great experience all around! read more

Circle Bar B Stables - Breathtaking views. - Horseback Riding Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We just did the 4 hour and it was absolutely beautiful. The ride is a little long for novices like us but we would definitely come back for the shorter ride. Randy our guide was the BEST! His personality and knowledge made the ride even more enjoyable. Highly recommend it! read more