Arroyo Honda Preserve: Open Weekends & Volunteer Days
October 1st & 2nd

SB Land Trust’s Public Invitation to the Arroyo Honda Preserve
            Called the “Jewel of the Gaviota Coast,” the 782-acre Arroyo Hondo Preserve is a magnificent canyon located west of Santa Barbara between Refugio State Beach and Gaviota State Park. The old ranch is rich in early California history and has an abundance of outstanding natural features. Within its steep canyon walls is a hidden place of extraordinary beauty and serenity. Cool, stream-side paths through the bay and sycamore trees transition into trails past ancient oak trees, tall yucca blooms and aromatic sages up the high ridges of the Santa Ynez Mountains.
           Everyone is welcome to visit the Preserve to hike, picnic, paint, volunteer or do research but advance reservations are required. The Preserve is open the first and third full weekends of each month, and every Monday and Wednesday for school and community groups. Free nature hikes with one of our knowledgeable docents are held at 10:00am on Saturday and Sunday of weekends that are open to the public.
          *Advance reservations are REQUIRED by emailing our Preserve Manager or calling (805) 567-1115.
           Due to the sensitivity of the resources in the canyon, dogs, mountain bikes, horses, hunting, fishing and campfires are not allowed. For individuals and small groups a suggested donation of $5 or $10 per person would be appreciated to help operate the preserves.

       The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County relies heavily on volunteers to keep our preserves open to the public and the ecosystems healthy.
       Volunteer Work Days are held the 1st and 3rd full weekends of each month from 9:00 am-12:30 pm at the Arroyo Hondo Preserve. To RSVP, please contact John Warner, Preserve Manager at arroyohondo@sblandtrust.org.
       Tasks include habitat restoration and trail maintenance. Volunteers are needed to pull out invasive non-native weeds that threaten the sensitive habitats of the canyon and replant with native plants. Also, we are letting most of the ranch roads naturally convert to hiking trails, and hope to create a new loop trail through the backcountry. We then intend to connect these trails with the Los Padres National Forest.