Supporting Local Agencies
Santa Barbara County Trails Council works with each of our local public agencies to provide trail-related planning, design, mapping, construction, and maintenance expertise for city, county, state, and federal agencies. We fund projects through grants, in-kind services, and volunteer recruitment to augment the lack of public funding for trails.
Since 2010, the Trails Council has raised over $1,000,000, contributed thousands of hours of volunteer work, and helped rebuild public trails that would not have been maintained without our support.
Our Government Agency Partners
U.S. Forest Service | Los Padres National Forest. Trails Council has a Volunteer Service Agreement with the Forest Service to provide trail maintenance on the Santa Barbara front country trails and specific projects in other areas. Trails Council also works closely with the Forest to support the Volunteer Wilderness Rangers, the LPFA Working Vacations program, and the Trail Leader's Training Program. We are actively involved in major restoration projects in coordination with the Los Padres National Forest in Gaviota and above Carpinteria.
California State Parks | Channel Islands District. The Trails Council had a partner agreement with the Santa Barbara sector (El Capitan, Refugio, and Gaviota State Parks) on efforts to rebuild trails at Gaviota State Park. We also fund maintenance projects to improve trails along the Gaviota Coast and at La Purisima Mission.
County of Santa Barbara | County Parks Division. Trails Council provides trail maintenance services for County Parks for trails in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd districts. The Trails Council has provided the volunteer crews for the Baron Ranch Trails, the Franklin Trail and, performed major rehabilitation work on the San Antonio Creek Trail, and rebuilt trails at San Marcos Preserve twice, first after the Jesusita Fire in 2009 and after the spring after floods caused serious damage to the eastern part of the Backbone Trail.
City of Goleta | Parks and Recreation. Trails Council has worked cooperatively with Goleta Parks to develop management plans for both the Lake Los Carneros and Ellwood open spaces and, through generous grants from the city and UCSB's Coastal Fund, have rebuilt almost 75% of the Los Carneros trails and made major safety improvements to the Ellwood trails and beach access points. The Trails Council also coordinated 5 days of volunteer work to replace 100 posts used to rope off sections of the Goleta Butterfly Preserve. Working under an MOU with the City of Goleta, Trails Council secured funding and coordinated project management services required for a Coastal Development Permit for trail improvements and habitat restoration on Ellwood Mesa.
City of Santa Barbara | Parks & Recreation. The Trails Council has partnered with Parks & Recreation on several projects, including improvements to the trails at the Douglas Preserve and acquiring an easement for a reroute on the Jesusita Trail that has eliminated a major safety concern. We also partnered with Parks & Recreation on trail improvements to the Rattlesnake Canyon Trail.