The San Marcos Foothills Preserve is a County of Santa Barbara open space located in the foothills between Santa Barbara and Goleta. Encompassing 200 acres the Preserve offers extraordinary views of the Santa Ynez Mountains, Pacific Ocean, and the Channel Islands.

The Preserve is the feeding ground for hawks, kestrels, kites, roadrunners, coyotes, bobcats, and hundreds of other animal species. It offers nesting locations for dozens of native bird species, and it provides connecting corridors for wildlife to Los Padres National Forest and Goleta Slough. This hike is a little more challenging than other Weekend Ambler walks, with a couple of steep hills to walk up (and down). However, admiring the views will give us a chance to go slowly, take breaks, and catch our breath. There are many places to stop and go back to the entrance as well. Bring hats, sunscreen and water. On-leash dogs are welcome (though there are coyotes.) There are no restrooms. We will meet for coffee after the hike at Java Station.

How to Get There – Read Carefully as there are Two Entrances (and somebody always goes to the other entrance): We will meet at the main public access at the western portion of the Preserve. San Marcos Foothills Preserve is located just east of Highway 154 although you access it from west of 154 and north of Cathedral Oaks. From Cathedral Oaks/Foothill Road go north on Via Chaparral, turn right on Salvar Road (the bridge to nowhere) and left on Via Gaitero.