Among our leadership core, Trails Council has more than 100 years of combined experience in trail-related activities in Santa Barbara County. Trails Council has been actively involved in planning issues on the front country trails, Santa Barbara County Community plans, CRAHTAC and the California Coastal Trail Planning process along the Gaviota Coast.
The Trails Council offers trail design and planning services to federal, state, county and city agencies; private/non-profit open space and conservation advocates; and private development groups. Projects include:
- Sustainable Trail Design
- Trail Restoration Planning and Design
- Trail Planning and Construction Feasibility Studies
- Designing Digital and Paper Trail Maps
- Developing Master Plans for Trail Systems in Parks
- Design of sign systems, site amenities and kiosks
For additional information visit our Sustainable Trail Design and Project Reports pages.
Qualifications
Santa Barbara County Trails Council (Trails Council) is a non-profit advocacy group that supports nature-based recreation and access to the Santa Barbara County trail system for safe shared use by everyone. We advocate for the conservation of natural spaces in order to create opportunities for the expansion a countywide network of multi-use trails for recreation. We provide guidance and effective management for trail planning, construction and maintenance projects for public agencies. We also facilitate a popular year-round recreational hiking program and a volunteer supported trail maintenance program.
The organization was formed in 1967 as an advocate for trails and to lobby the public agencies on behalf of hikers, equestrians, mountain bikers and other outdoor enthusiasts. The Trails Council has a strong record of completing trail planning, design and construction efforts. The Trails Council recently completed grant funded trail improvements at Ellwood Mesa, Goleta Butterfly Grove and Lake Los Carneros in Goleta, on the Rattlesnake Canyon Trail and the Douglas Family Preserve in Santa Barbara, and at Midland School in the Santa Ynez Valley. The Trails Council is currently under contract with the City of Goleta and State Coastal Conservancy for pre-construction planning and design services for completion of a 2.2 mile long segment of the California Coastal Trail on the Ellwood Mesa. Most recently the Trails Council is planning and constructing a 2.7 mile long section of the Franklin Trail in Carpinteria, a 3.5 mile long section of the Baron Ranch Trail segment in Los Padres National Park in Gaviota and 3.0 miles of trail at Rice Ranch in Orcutt.
Over the last 50 years, the Trails Council has also worked cooperatively with the local, state and federal agencies to develop, improve and maintain the trail systems in Santa Barbara County for all types of users — hikers, mountain bikers, equestrian groups, trail runners, surfers, bird watchers, rock climbers and many others. The Trails Council has five major actions that we focus on to make our community a better place to live.
- Advocate for new trail access to wild and scenic destinations
- Protect trail access to the coastal, foothill and forest habitats of Santa Barbara County
- Build and maintain safe and sustainable trails for all types of nature-based recreation
- Support public agencies with trail planning, construction and maintenance services
- Collaborate with community organizations to enhance trail-based recreation for everyone
Background
- Founded in 1967 as an advocacy group for Santa Barbara County Trails
- Established as a 501 (c) (4) non-profit corporation in 1969.
- Recognized as the leading trails advocacy organization in Santa Barbara County for over 50 yrs.
- 2009 reorganized as a 501 (c) (3) organization for the purpose of raising funds for trail access issues.
References
County of Santa Barbara | Community Services | Parks Division
Claude Garciacelay, Parks Planner
805-568-2469 • CGarcia@sbparks.org
Services provided:
Lower Baron Ranch Trail Proposal, prepared by Ray Ford for Trails Council and Santa Barbara County Parks Division and finalized in December, 2015. Development of a trails master plan for Lower Baron Ranch on the Gaviota Coast owned by Santa Barbara County and managed by County Public Works. Public Works has established a partnership with County Parks for the development of a trails system and amenities on the western side of Arroyo Quemada Creek that cuts through the middle of the ranch. 22 pages.
Rice Ranch Trail Design and Construction Proposal, prepared by Ray Ford for Trails Council and Santa Barbara County Parks Division in November 2016. 12 pages. Trail design proposal for approximately 5 miles of new trail construction in the Rice Ranch Open Space.
Lower Franklin Design & Construction Proposal, Phase 1, prepared by Ray Ford for Trails Council and Santa Barbara County Parks Division for construction of a new 1 mile segment of the Franklin Trail through the Persoon Nurseries and Horton Ranch. 2013.
City of Goleta
Ann Wells, Senior Advanced Planner
805-961-7557 • awells@cityofgoleta.org
Services provided:
Lake Los Carneros Trail Management, Rehabilitation and Interpretive Program Review, prepared by Ray Ford for Trails Council and City of Goleta Parks Department, September 2009. 16 pages.
Ellwood Mesa-CA Coastal Trail Analysis and Design, prepared by Ray Ford for Trails Council and City of Goleta Parks Department, March 2012. 44 pages. Project analysis and design for the main trail systems at Ellwood Mesa including the CA Coastal Trail and the De Anza Trail.
U.S. Forest Service | Los Padres National Forest
John “Pancho” Smith, District Ranger, Santa Barbara District
805-448-0276 • jsmith03@fs.fed.us
Services provided:
Trail Assessment & Analysis For Phase 3 of the Franklin Trail, prepared by Ray Ford for Trails Council in December 2015. The report provides analysis of the conditions and issues involved in restoring the historic Franklin Trail on a 2.69 section of trail. 56 pages.
Upper Baron Ridge Trail Construction Proposal, prepared by Ray Ford for Trails Council in 2015. The report provides description of the work to be performed to complete new trail construction of a 2.5-mile trail down the west ridge of Baron Ranch that would connect the Santa Ynez Mountain crest to Lower Baron Ranch. 21 pages.
City of Santa Barbara Parks & Recreation
Santos Escobar, Senior Advanced Planner
805-961-7557 • sescobar@santabarbaraca.gov
Services provided:
Rattlesnake Canyon Trail Improvement Project, prepared by Ray Ford for Trails Council and City of Santa Barbara Parks & Recreation, February 2011. 16 pages.
Oak Grove Trail Improvement Project, prepared by Ray Ford for Trails Council and City of Santa Barbara Parks & Recreation, February 2011. 16 pages
Historic Tunnel Trail Restoration Project, prepared by Ray Ford for Trails Council and City of Santa Barbara Parks & Recreation, Los Padres National Forest & Santa Barbara County Parks Division, November 2011. 44 pages.