What is the 5 Trails Challenge?

The Santa Barbara County Trails Council is excited to announce the 2024 edition of the 5 Trails Challenge! Beginning on August 1st, we challenge you to walk, hike, or run five urban or rural trails to promote individual health and well-being, connection to nature, and fun. The Challenge isn't just a hike; it's a journey of self-discovery and a celebration of our county's wild and scenic landscapes.

 
The Challenge is to explore five trails that are new to you. They can be old historic trails, but we ask that you keep up with the spirit of the challenge and explore somewhere you have not been before. But you need not hike alone. The SB County Hikers and other guided hiking groups will lead hikes in August you may not have experienced. Participation in the hikes is typically free, but group hike memberships may apply. Check the Healthy People Healthy Trails website for a consolidated list of hiking events in August.

Prizes:

Every 5 Trails finisher will receive a frameable certificate and a sticker created specially for the Challenge and will be honored on the Trails Council's social media. Please join the 5-Trails Challenge!

Participants who verify completing five hikes by Tuesday, September 3rd, will be entered in a drawing for one of five prizes. The winners’ prizes will be awarded at a Trails Council event in Montecito on Saturday, September 8th, 2024. 

How do I enter the 5 Trails Challenge?

We will use a simple registration method for this Challenge. Please donate $20 to the Santa Barbara County Trails Council and add "5-Trails Challenge" to the comment line. The Trails Council is raising funds to repair the Midland School Trails burnt in the Lake Fire. Miles of trails damaged by the Lake Fire need rehabilitation before the fall hiking season and winter storms, so your donation will go a long way in ensuring that everyone can enjoy these revered trails.

For more information, contact: explore@nullsbtrails.org 

To verify each hike, participants will submit a photo of themselves on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter with the trail name and hashtags #SB5Trailss and #SantaBarbaraTrails. Other options include joining https://www.strava.com/clubs/SB5Trails, or hikers can submit photos to explore@nullsbtrails.org. A GPS track of the hike is welcomed but not necessary to demonstrate progress. Participants can use hike-tracking software such as Gaia GPS, AllTrails, or Strava. 

Best practices

• Bring a friend / Let someone know where you are hiking.
• Bring plenty of water.
• Bring a first-aid kit.
• Stay on the trail. Respect native habitat.
• Leave no trace.

Trail Challenge FAQs

Is the Challenge free to participate in? How do I sign up?

The 5 Peak Challenge is free to participate in. However, to be eligible to receive a sticker, certificate, or win a prize, please donate $20 or more to Trails Council's Lake Fire Trail Fund. Donating will register you for the event. Trails hiked are recorded when participants submit a photo of themselves on a trail with the trail named in one of three ways:

1. Through posting a photo on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter and the use of two hashtags: #SB5Trails and #Santa BarbaraTrails (private Instagram accounts are not visible to us)
2. Join our 5 Trails Challenge Club on Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/SB5Trails
3. Email photo and trail name to explore@nullsbtrails.org

I'm ready! Now what?

Awesome! Now you can go hiking! You can take on your own choice of trails or join SB County Hikers (http://sbhikers.org/) for a guided group hike. These hikes have been filling up quickly, so we recommend signing up early!

If participating in the Challenge, take a selfie on the trail or use a GPS tracker to verify your achievements. Submit your photos for verification using one of the options listed above.

Do I have to pick trails I have not hiked before, or is it okay to hike any five trails?

You can choose your own trails. To be eligible for the prize drawing, hike them between Thursday, August 1, and Tuesday, September 3rd, 2024. However, stickers and certificates are available to 5 Trails finishers until the end of September.

Do I need to be an experienced hiker to participate in the Trails Challenge? How strenuous are the hikes?

The 5 Trails Challenge is designed for beginner to experienced hikers. Look for trails that match the difficulty level you are comfortable with. Please read the hike descriptions in advance to know what to expect for mileage and elevation gain. Challengers should also have good, sturdy hiking shoes, food, a first-aid kit, maps, and plenty of water when hiking. If you are new to hiking, participating in easier group hikes is a great way to gain experience before exploring trails with moderate or strenuous ratings.

Where to hike?

• https://healthypeoplehealthytrails.org
• https://santabarbarahikes.com/
• https://songsofthewilderness.com/
• https://www.hikelospadres.com/santa-barbara-ranger-district-hiking-trails.html
• https://www.hikespeak.com/central-coast/santa-barbara/
• https://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/hiking.htm
• https://sbbotanicgarden.org/visit/ (membership required)
• https://elingspark.org/about/plan-your-visit/
• https://www.sblandtrust.org/land/arroyo-hondo-preserve/
• https://www.alltrails.com/
• https://www.hikingproject.com/directory/8011411/hiking-santa-barbara

Who offers guided hikes?

• https://www.meetup.com/santa-barbara-county-hikers/
• https://www.sblandtrust.org/event/land-trust-treks/
• https://dunescenter.org/events/
• https://www.meetup.com/SierraClub-SantaBarbara/
• https://sbbotanicgarden.org/classes-events/guided-hikes-native-plants-around-the-central-coast/ (Registration fee for hike series)

Guidebooks to local trails are available at bookstores and online.

• HIKE Santa Barbara | John McKinney
• Best Easy Day Hikes Santa Barbara | Bryn Fox
• Hiking & Backpacking Santa Barbara & Ventura | Craig R. Carey
• Day Hikes Around Santa Barbara | Robert Stone
• California Missions Trail Guidebook | Sandy Brown

Do you still have questions? Email explore@nullsbtrails.org or call Mark at 805.708.6173. We’ll keep updating this page as we hear from more participants.

Midland School Trails severely damaged by Lake Fire in July 2024