Rattlesnake Canyon Sunset

Cold Spring Trail Partially Re-Opens Following The Gibraltar Fire - Details Below

 Cold Spring Trail has reopened between the lower trail head and Montecito Peak only.  Trail between Montecito Peak and Camino Cielo Rd. is an active fire zone at this time and closed until further notice.  

Photos taken during the fire from the Riviera and from Cold Spring Trail  following the trail's re-opening.

Morning of 10/29

  Phos Chek dropped via jetliner

Not a worry in the world

 10/29 PM, Montecito Peak to the right

Cold Spring Trail on 11/1

View from Montecito Peak couple months back

Today

Closed portion of Cold Spring Trail as seen from Montecito Peak, 

multiple slides are just some of the issues on this section of trail

Fire fighters mopping up on the perimeter

National Public Lands Day 2015 on Cold Spring Trail was a success!

You may notice that Cold Spring Trail got a little more user friendly this past weekend.  This was thanks to a group of dedicated volunteers, local trail organizations, on this City, County, and USFS sponsored event.

Tread Reclaiming

The Trail Head

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National Public Lands Day - UPPER Cold Spring Trail, 9/26/15

Snake - 0, Lizard - 0

Q: Who is more fierce, the lizard or the snake?

A: It's a tie, they both died

Rattlesnake Damage Repaired - 6/10/15

This narrow section of trail just below the meadow has been a growing hazard for the last several years.  This part of the trail was barely one foot wide and shrinking, a missing 2 foot wide hole was opening wider and cutting more into the tread with a long steep fall into the creek below.

Before

After- wide and safe, can you find where the hole was?

National Trails Day, June 6th 2015, Romero Canyon Trail

Special thanks to the agencies and all the volunteers who helped make National Trails Day on Romero Canyon a success!  Lots of work was completed opening up trail narrow by slough, slides, and brush.  In addition, long lost water drainage features were reinstated, and short cuts were eliminated.

The volunteers gathered at the trail head

Steve, Jim, and Mitch removing slough and brush 

After, the trail as it should be

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National Trails Day is June 6th - Romero Canyon Trail!

Jesusita Trail Tree Trimming

Before and after of several leaners along the trail

 Rogue Trail Chicken?

State Trails Day 2015 A Success! West Fork Trail Has Been Saved

Over 30 people joined in with the USFS, City and County of Santa Barbara to bring the West Fork Trail some well needed maintenance.  Removing downed trees, cutting brush and widening narrow tread were just some of the tasks successfully completed.  Big thanks to all that participated!

Improving the tread in a chronic slide area

Before

After

SEE THE REST OF THE PHOTOS HERE!

State Trails Day on West Fork, April 11th

Rattlesnake on Rattlesnake Canyon Trail - 3/27/15

This little guy decided to curl up right in the middle of Rattlesnake Canyon Trail.  Semi-burrowed, he was well hidden, just waiting to get stepped on or snap at some unsuspecting passerby.  

 Although he looks rather big in the photos, when coiled he was only about 4 inches in diameter and about 1 foot in length when he decided it was time to leave with encouragement from a tree branch.

First Rattler Of The Year - Arroyo Burro Trail

He was not looking to make friends!

Cold Spring Trail Erosion Control

Lack of water drainage features on Cold Spring Trail began to cause a deep channel to form.  Front Country Trail Coordinator Chris Orr worked in cooperation to prevent future damage by adding water drains along the trail in key spots.

Cold Spring Trail showing water damage

 Lack of drainage

Chris Orr finishing off a drain

Before

After, knicks line the trail

More problem areas

A new knick

Arroyo Burro Erosion Control

Arroyo Burro Trail, one of Santa Barbara's first trails but also most neglected trails.  It has been years since any erosion control has been performed on this trail and it is showing with a high degree of erosion from recent rains.  Water drainage features or water bars as they are more commonly called have now been repaired in many key areas to prevent further water damage.

Water erosion damage  or "channeling" on this steep section of trail

After - filled in rut with waterbars repaired above this section to prevent future channeling

One of many areas where water running down the trail created the "creek bed" effect

Water drainage feature in place

The last sunset of 2014