Get Involved

Membership Benefits

The most significant benefit of joining the Santa Barbara County Trails Council is the knowledge that you have become part of a network of people committed to protecting, restoring, enjoying, and sharing the joy and beauty of our local trails.  If that is not enough, consider the following benefits:

Direct Impact:

  • Conservation: Contribute to protecting and preserving trails and their surrounding natural environments.
  • Trail Improvement: Help fund the construction, maintenance, and upgrades of trails, ensuring safe and enjoyable experiences for all users.
  • Access: Advocate for increased trail access for all community members, including those with disabilities.

Community Building:

  • Meet Like-Minded People: Connect with other outdoor enthusiasts who share your passion for trails.
  • Volunteer Opportunities: Engage in hands-on activities like trail workdays, cleanups, and education programs.
  • Social Events: Participate in hikes, bike rides, and workshops, fostering a strong sense of community.

Personal Growth:

  • Develop New Skills: Gain valuable experience in advocacy, fundraising, event planning, and project management.
  • Learn About Conservation: Increase your knowledge of environmental issues and best practices for sustainable trail use.
  • Make a Difference: Experience the satisfaction of contributing to a meaningful cause and positively impacting your local environment.

Advocacy:

  • Influence Policy: Help shape local and national policies that support trail development and conservation.
  • Raise Awareness: Educate the public about the importance of trails and the need for their protection.
  • Support Legislation: Advocate for funding and legislation that benefits trails and outdoor recreation.

By joining the Trails Council, you can actively participate in the conservation movement and help ensure that future generations enjoy the benefits of well-maintained and accessible trails.

Memberships

Trails Council offers a selection of membership levels.

Individual — $25 • Family/Dual — $35 • Supporting — $60  Sustaining — $100 • Business/Organization — $125

Our Initiatives

For over 50 years, the Trails Council has worked on behalf of its members to build new trails and maintain existing trails in partnership with local government agencies and like-minded community organizations. The Trails Council supports nature-based recreation for all non-motorized trail user groups. We would like you to be a Trails Council member. We think you will be proud to know that, through your membership, you are supporting specific projects that make our community a better place to live.

  • We planned, permitted, and constructed new trail segments for the Franklin Trail in Carpinteria and the Arroyo Quemado Trail to Camino Cielo in Gaviota. Funding has been secured through grants, individual donations, and volunteer support.
  • We worked with the City of Goleta to secure a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) for the California Coastal Trail and the Anza National Historic Trail across the Ellwood Bluffs in Goleta. The funding ($195,000) was secured through grants from the Goleta Valley Land Trust, UCSB Students Association Coastal Fund, CREF, and the California Coastal Conservancy.
  • We are leading a grass-roots campaign to ensure that the Gaviota Plan will site the California Coastal Trail along the bluffs and adopt tools and methods for creating new trails and open space along the Gaviota Coast. Funding has been secured through individual donations and volunteer support.
  • We maintain trails at Midland School Trails in Santa Ynez, Gaviota State Park, and Baron Ranch in Gaviota. Funding has been secured through individual donations and volunteer support.
  • We are planning, permitting, and fundraising for a one-mile segment of the California Coastal Trail just west of Goleta. The Paradiso del Mare segment of the bluff top trail includes a parking lot and a bridge over the railroad. The project is estimated to cost upwards of $4 million dollars and take several years to permit, fund, and construct.
  • We sponsored the creation and distribution of the Gaviota Coast Trails and Access Study. The professional award-winning study, funded by the UCSB Students Association Coastal Fund and donations from private individuals ($15,000), addresses agricultural, biological, cultural, scenic, and recreational resources along the Gaviota Coast. The plan includes a map that describes all existing informal access points and the ideal route for the California Coastal Trail.

Our county’s trail network is both a community resource and a community responsibility. Becoming a member of the Trails Council is one way to contribute. Please join today. We appreciate your support for our programs and projects.