A Bright Future for Trails

Holiday greetings to all,

As we look ahead, one thing is clear. The future of trail access in Santa Barbara County is being shaped right now, often quietly, long before a shovel ever touches the ground.

Since 2020, sweeping land-use changes have made creating new trails more complex and more important than ever. While trail construction may be the most visible part of the process, the real work begins years earlier: building trust with landowners, navigating permitting requirements, aligning agencies, and securing the resources needed to move projects forward. This phase can take a decade or more, and it is where progress most depends on community support.

Thanks to sustained advocacy and collaboration, several new trail projects are now advancing, with multiple routes expected to open by 2030. Along the Gaviota Coast, we are working with California State Parks and the U.S. Forest Service to improve trail access on the eastern side of the inland portion of El Capitán State Park, realign the Bill Wallace Trail onto a more sustainable route, and reconnect the historic Gato Trail, which has been closed for nearly 50 years. We are also making steady progress on a mile-long segment of the California Coastal Trail at Paradiso del Mare, including permitting for trail construction, a bridge, and safe parking access.

Public agencies alone cannot carry this work forward. Trail planning and permitting are underfunded yet essential, and this is where the Santa Barbara County Trails Council and supporters like you make a difference.

If trails have ever given you a sense of well-being, connection with nature, or joy, we invite you to help create those experiences for future generations. Your donation directly supports the work that makes new trails possible, especially during this challenging and pivotal time.

Thank you for standing with us, and for believing in the lasting value of trails.

Sincerely,

Otis Calef
President