My favorite hike!! So many different trails (from easy to strenuous) on these hills and essentially impossible to get lost (being said by someone with no sense of direction). The views are absolutely gorgeous and I get the best workout. Highly recommend! read more

San Marcos Foothills Preserve - Hiking Near Me - Goleta, California

Wonderful place for a hike, saved from greedy developers eager to build McMansions by local conservationists and the community. I was fortunate enough to be able to participate in a seed collection event, learning a lot about the native plants including oaks, bushmallows and native morning glories. Trails are in excellent condition; the area is being restored to its natural status, so many signs are asking hikers to stay on the trail. Free parking on the street. read more

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Great trail for dogs and children too! The older children wanted more of a challenging trail, and the little ones had to take a break or two. They all enjoyed the nature outing. Everything was so green, bright and fresh. There are some rocks the littles can climb and enjoy! Overall, so calm and peaceful. read more

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Easy area to hike in and welcoming to dogs. There is parking right at the beginning which is easy access. The view of the ocean behind you or the hills above you is perfect for a morning stroll or sunset hike. There isn't that much shade so recommend a hat or going in not so hot hours. Nice thing is you feel pretty safe here and there are people around so you can go alone if you like; just keep an eye on your surroundings as with any outdoor space. Great location too since it is close to town! read more

This was a great spot for a hike in town. There are some hills but I'd say it is moderate level for a hike, nothing too difficult. We went in November so it wasn't super green, but the ocean views throughout the hike are incredible. You get a sweeping view of the coast of Goleta as well as the Santa Barbara coast. When we did this hike we didn't see too many other people out walking, but everyone we did see was wearing a mask so we felt very safe on this walk/hike. We'll definitely be coming again for an afternoon hike with beautiful views!! read more

San Marcos Foothills Preserve - Sunny day with ocean and island views in the distance! - Hiking Near Me - Goleta, California

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The walk here is not at all difficult. Fairly flat with a couple of dips. What is unique about this preserve are the poisonous plants in abundance. When I was a kid, my parents had castor bean trees and oleander bushes around the house. They said, "Don't eat them. They are poisonous." I smiled to myself thinking back that I did everything they asked me not to do except eat the poisonous plants. I first came across the Datura wrightii https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datura_wrightii and took lots of photos - only to discover they are everywhere. These plants are unusual because they grow lush leaves and large beautiful trumpet flowers in places that are so dry and on hard packed ground that it is surprising they can do so well. The castor bean tree https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricinus is what is used to make castor oil - or as my brothers enjoyed doing - having castor bean fights with the green castor beans that are perfect for throwing at each other coming in nice bunches to carry around as an ammunition cluster. This area is under some sort of study. Areas have been marked and are under observation. You can see the stakes and the tags on the stakes that identify the plots. I use to do the plot studies years ago for the BLM. The plots are photographed each year and the plants are identified. This way, one might discover a trend over time. My study site was south-eastern Oregon. What did we learn? Nothing really changes out there. San Marcos Foothill preserve is a 4 hour investment of your time. If you enjoy running, this is probably a good place to get a run in because it's open and the trails are in good condition. read more

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Thank you for the opportunity to read people's comments, I am a local and love the idea of the preserve, but every time I have visited the preserve more dogs are off leash than on, I have a well behaved older dog and will always walk there with her leashed. I only wish that the idea that wild birds, snakes, etc. all need protection from loose dogs, people are not understanding the need for this rule to be followed. It is a lovely spot to view our beautiful mountains and the blue Pacific. How lucky we are to be able to browse these foothills. Thank you for all the work to preserve this special spot. read more

Really nice hike that doesn't require driving up a long and windy road. Tons of parking available and pretty! Not too much shade but it's an ok hike! Not too difficult either read more

This is one of my favorite spots. It's quiet, peaceful, and safe. I come here whenever I'm in the area to do reflecting or enjoy the scenery. There is a clear pathway, but you can definitely go and hide out in the field if you wanted. read more

San Marcos Foothills Preserve - Hiking Near Me - Goleta, California

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Beautiful spot, some parts are very steep. Good for walking or running. Lots of beautiful plants and a great view :)

This is my new outdoor hike that's close to home! Hidden just off of Highway 154 is the San Marcos Foothills Preserve. It's a beautiful oasis with ocean, island and mountain view's featuring hiking/running trails. While the main trail is a 3.7-mile loop that's of moderate difficulty with a gain of 751 feet, multiple smaller unmarked trails venture further into the reaches of the preserve. There's a large parking lot right at the trailhead (for exact directions use: 34.457620, -119.766830). The best feature about this preserve is the fact that one section is maintained by a herd of 400 sheep with two shepherds and several sheepdogs from the Channel Islands Foundation. I was lucky enough to run into them during my adventure. Truly happy California sheep--forget about cows! The trail is not for horses or bicycles, however, is dog friendly if they remain leashed. I saw some great wildlife besides the sheep including a skink, lizards, a gopher and many birds species. Check it out for yourself. read more

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The San Marcos Foothills will be developed if the community can not raise funding. This is a tragedy to our community!! Share this link out and stop the development!! http://sanmarcosfoothills.com/buythesanmarcosfoothills/pledge.html read more

This is a nice little hike if you only have 45 minutes or so. The trail meanders over gentle hills of open grassland. There is no tree cover so it would be hot in summer but this breezy day in April it was quite pleasant. Dogs must be leashed. read more

San Marcos Foothills Preserve - View from the trail - Hiking Near Me - Goleta, California

The San Marcos Foothills Preserve is a County of Santa Barbara open space located in the foothills between Santa Barbara and Goleta. Encompassing 200 acres (plus a 10 acres park) the Preserve offers extraordinary views of the Santa Ynez Mountains, Pacific Ocean, and the Channel Islands. A web guide to the Preserve can be found here: www.sanmarcosfoothills.com The Preserve is the feeding ground for hawks, kestrels, kites, roadrunners, coyotes, bobcats, and hundreds of other animal species. It offers nesting locations for dozens of native bird species, and it provides connecting corridors for wildlife to Los Padres National Forest and Goleta Slough. There is a well maintained, 2.6 mile trail that runs between the Preserve western entrance at Via Gaitero Road and the Preserve Eastern entrance at Antone Road. A side trail runs a short distance to the north in the middle of the Preserve and leads to a lookout that provides panoramic views of Santa Barbara and Goleta plus the Santa Ynez Mountains, Pacific Ocean, and the Channel Islands. Also, many species of wildflowers are visible during the late winter and spring season. Follow the links at left to view a trail map and for a list of plants that grow on the Preserve. This is a wildlife PRESERVE not a park, and as a result, there are some restrictions on the kinds of recreation that are allowed there. The Preserve is open for hiking and walking etc., but bikes and horses are not allowed. Please see this web page for more info: http://www.sanmarcosfoothills.com/bikes.html. Please keep your dog on a leash for the safety of your pet and the wildlife. read more

Beautiful spot, but ruined by overzealous park ranger that drives 2 miles in to cite me for having my old dog unleashed (i was carrying the leash). I understand it is the rule there, but there was no other person on the trail that day and i was the only car parked at the trail head. How about a warning? or citing the person on the side of the rode as i was leaving the trail that threw his cigarette onto the ground by the brush. read more