California · Hiking · Near Carpinteria

Cold Spring

18.9 mi
round trip
3,212 ft
climb
3,419 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Cold Spring open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Los Padres National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Los Padres National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Cold Spring is a hard hike in California's Los Padres National Forest, within the Santa Barbara Ranger District and Gould Park, which is city land. The route is an out-and-back of about 19 miles, with a total elevation gain of about 3,200 feet, taking you from a low point of about 750 feet to a high of about 3,400 feet. The trail is natural-surfaced and allows both horses and bikes, so it works for riders and pack animals as well as hikers. It is open year-round, and the trip is long enough to plan around a full day or more. Lower Cold Springs Canyon, a climbing area, sits just 0.2 miles away, and the Ridge Trail and Las Barrancas Trail are both within half a mile. For an overnight stay, Upper Oso Campground is about 9 miles off.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Santa Barbara Sunrise RV Park

    Campground

    Campground · 2.5 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Stonehouse

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 2 mi
  • If it rainsMike Boucher, CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Casa del Herrero

    Museum

    On your way back · 2 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Mike Boucher, CC BY 2.0 (commons)

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