The City of Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Department is asking trail users to give local paths time to dry after recent rainfall to prevent erosion and long-term damage.
Officials recommend waiting at least one full day for every inch of rainfall before returning to dirt trails, noting that wet surfaces are especially vulnerable to rutting and widening from shoes, bike tires, and horse hooves.
Why it matters
- Erosion and trail widening: When soils are saturated, footsteps, tires, and hooves can form ruts that channel water, accelerate erosion, and force users to walk or ride around puddles—widening trails and damaging vegetation.
- Maintenance and safety: Deep ruts and mud can create hazards and increase the time and cost required for volunteer crews and agencies to restore tread and drainage.
Alternatives and where to go
- Parks instead of trails: The department suggests exploring one of the city’s more than 60 parks this weekend and using hard-surface paths until conditions improve. A searchable map of park locations and amenities is available on the city website (see Sources).
- Check conditions and forecasts: Before planning an outing, review the National Weather Service point-and-click forecast for Santa Barbara and regional updates from NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard.
Trail stewardship guidance
- If a trail is muddy, turn around rather than walking or riding around puddles, which widens the trail.
- Avoid using wet, soft singletrack by bike or horse until it has had time to firm up.
- Stick to durable surfaces (e.g., pavement, gravel) while trails dry.
Regional management
Many popular foothill routes in and around Santa Barbara are part of the Front Country trail network, managed in coordination with the City of Santa Barbara, County of Santa Barbara, and the U.S. Forest Service (Los Padres National Forest)…