5 Peak Challenge runs until April 30th, 2024

What is the 5 Peaks Challenge?

The Santa Barbara County Trails Council is excited to announce the 2024 edition of the 5 Peaks Challenge! Beginning in February, we challenge you to hike five peaks locally in Santa Barbara County to promote individual health and well-being, connection to nature, and fun. The challenge will run until Tuesday, April 30th, 2024. The Challenge isn't just a hike; it's a test of endurance, a journey of self-discovery, and a celebration of our county's diverse majesty. Five peaks await your ascent, each a sentinel of a different ecosystem. From the San Rafael Mountain's windswept peaks to the Santa Ynez Mountains’ sun-baked chaparral, each climb promises breathtaking panoramas and a unique taste of wild landscapes.

The Challenge is to climb five of the ten peaks listed below. But you need not climb them alone. The SB County Hikers and other guided hiking groups will lead hikes up all the peaks this spring. Participation in the hikes will be free, but group hike memberships may apply. The mountains have been selected to be accessible on a day trip from anywhere in Santa Barbara County. The hikes are intended as a physical challenge, ranging from tough-moderate to strenuous.

Prizes:

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

The first 100 participants to verify five climbs will be entered in a drawing for prizes, including products from:

• REI CoOp
• Patagonia
• Toad & Co
• Mountain Air Sports
• Deckers Outdoor
• Santa Barbara Running
• Channel Islands Adventure Company
• Santa Barbara County Trails Council

The winners’ prizes will be awarded at a Trails & Ales event in Santa Barbara on Wednesday, May 8th, 2024, at 6:30 pm. 

We are having a Trails & Ales event to celebrate the 5-Peaks Challenge on May 8th, from 5:30 to 7:00, at the Anchor Rose in the Harbor. Come for an evening of relaxation, camaraderie, and, of course, delicious brews! Please join us for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate.

What peaks are included in the 5 peaks challenge?

• Arlington Peak, 3,258 feet
• Cachuma Mountain, 4,696 feet
• Cathedral Peak, 3,333 feet
• Flores Peak, 3300 feet
• Gaviota Peak, 2,458 feet
• Grass Mountain, 3,685 feet
• La Cumbre Peak, 3,935 feet
• Little Pine Mountain, 4,480 feet
• Montecito Peak, 3,214 feet
• Ranger Peak, 4,660 feet

How do I enter the 5 peaks challenge?

To verify each climb, participants will submit a photo of themselves at the top on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter with peak name and hashtags #SB5Peaks and #SantaBarbaraTrails. Other options include joining https://www.strava.com/clubs/5-Peaks-Challenge, or peak-baggers can submit photos to explore@nullsbtrails.org. A GPS track of the hike is welcomed, but not necessary, to demonstrate progress of the hike. Participants can use hike-tracking software such as Gaia GPS, AllTrails, or Strava. There are no forms to fill out.

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.

Peak Challenge FAQs

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

The 5 Peak Challenge is free to participate in, however, everyone is encouraged to make a donation to the All Santa Barbara County Trails Fund. There is no need to sign up. Peak bagging is tracked when participants submit a photo of themselves at the top of a mountain with the peak named in three ways:

1. 1. Through posting a photo on Instagram and the use of two hastags: #SB5Peaks and #Santa BarbaraTrails (private Instagram accounts are not visible)
   2. Join our 5 Peaks Challenge Club on Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/5-Peaks-Challenge 
   3. Email photo to explore@nullsbtrails.org

You can go on all of our guided hikes for free as a member of SB County Hikers (http://sbhikers.org/). Other organizations offer guided hikes periodically.

I'm ready! Now what?

Awesome! Now you can go hiking! You can take on these peaks on your own or join SB County Hikers (http://sbhikers.org/) for a guided group hike. We’ll be offering hikes regularly, so keep an eye on the Trails Council-sponsored SB County Hikers to see what’s coming up. These hikes have been filling up quickly, so we recommend signing up early!

If you’re taking the Challenge alone, take a selfie at the summits or use a GPS tracker to verify your achievements. Submit your photos for verification using one of the options listed above.

I’ve already hiked some of these summits. Do I have to do them again?

Yes! If you’d like your hikes to count toward the 5 Peaks Challenge, you’ll need to hike them again between February 1, 2024, and April 30, 2024

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

The 5 Peaks Challenge is designed for advanced hikers. Participants should be in good shape and have the ability and experience to climb steep and rough trails. Please read the hike descriptions in advance to know what to expect for mileage and elevation gain. When climbing these peaks, challenge participants should also have good, sturdy hiking shoes, food, a first-aid kit, maps, and plenty of water. If you are new to hiking, participating in easier group hikes is a great way to gain experience as a hiker before starting the Peak Challenge.

If you choose to sign up for one of our guided peak-bagging hikes to one of the peaks, you will be asked about your experience with climbs of this nature. Inspiration Point and Gaviota Peak are good training hikes for the 5 Peaks Challenge.

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

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