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An excellent area to bring kids for their first hike. Close to the city yet a very remote feeling. There are trails leading in a variety of directions, making it possible to take a short hike or combine sections to create a 3-4 mile hike.

Toro Canyon is a great place for families to take their children for the afternoon. The setting is very picturesque, there’s lots of play equipment for the kids, and the trail is short and not too steep. It’s romantic, too.

The canyon is narrow and, though the creek is small, very picturesque. Because it is a bit out of the way the trail doesn’t enjoy the popularity of those directly behind Santa Barbara, meaning that often you will have it all to yourself.

You’ll find an 80 foot waterfall at the upper end of the canyon section. Several connector trails lead to the east and west, making several short scenic hikes possible, none of them too far from your car.

Cold Springs represents the shortest distance you can travel to get the furthest away from Santa Barbara. Above the trailhead you will find bedrock pools and places to sunbathe, overlooks of the coastline and a route to the mountain crest, the one memorialized by Stewart Edward White in his epic book, The Mountains.

Though this is a relatively short hike and isn’t terribly primitive, it is a wonderful place to take children. Tucker’s Grove is perfect for a picnic, and it has the best playground equipment for kids anywhere in Santa Barbara. The hike is level so you can take even the littlest tots on the trail.

The trail beyond Stevens Park wanders through a beautiful oak-filled canyon, whose combination of picturesque scenery and easy hiking is perfect for children.

Jesusita Trail wanders through a beautiful oak-filled canyon, whose combination of picturesque scenery and easy hiking is perfect for children. The hike to Inspiration Point provides views that make the ascent worthwhile.

From Santa Barbara, the Mission Crags dominate the skyline. On the left side of Mission Canyon a rocky shoulder rises from its depths, forming a long, steep and picturesque profile. If you can imagine yourself climbing up that ridgeline, leaping from boulder to boulder, you will have a sense of the feeling you will get.

A must hike for power walkers. The dirt road is open and fairly easily traversed by most hikers. The route continues around the upper end of the east fork of Mission Canyon, bringing you high up on the mountain within a relatively short distance. There are excellent views out over Rattlesnake Canyon and the Montecito coastline.