Storm Damage at Baron Ranch Trails

Dear Happy Hiker,

Just weeks ago, Baron Ranch was a place of strength, challenge, and beauty. In early December, runners traversed its ridgelines and canyons during the Island View Endurance Run, taking in sweeping views of the Gaviota Coast and Channel Islands. Today, the landscape tells a very different story.

According to the National Weather Service, the heaviest rainfall fell along the Gaviota Coast and surrounding foothills over a three-day period ending at midnight on Monday, January 5. Rainfall exceeded eight inches in the mountains above the Baron Ranch trail system. The storms triggered widespread landslides, rockfalls, and erosion across the network. The photos in the image gallery show washed-out tread, collapsed trail edges, and deeply scarred terrain that was recently stable and well-traveled.

Image Gallery →
Map →
Donate →

What This Means for the Trails
Some damage can be addressed by trained volunteers. However, several slide areas will require professional trail crews, heavy equipment, and careful regrading to restore safe public access.

Past storm events have shown what this work entails. Repairing a single trail has cost more than $25,000 and required hundreds of volunteer hours, on top of approximately $15,000 in general trail upkeep each year. With 9 miles of trail impacted, the scope of recovery at Baron Ranch is significant.

For safety reasons, Baron Ranch Trails are closed as of January 7. Full repairs are expected to take up to eight weeks.

Our Goal
Restore safe public access to Baron Ranch trails while building a sustainable, long-term stewardship model that strengthens the trail system against future storms.

How you can Help
Donate — this is the most immediate way to support recovery.
Your contribution helps fund:

• Trail repair materials and tools
• Safety equipment
• Professional services when required
• Coordination of volunteers and recovery projects

→ Donate to support Baron Ranch trail recovery

Be Part of the Crew
During the rainy season, trail recovery is ongoing. Feel free to join us for a single morning of volunteering, or let us know if you want to be a repeat or long-term volunteer.

If you’re interested, fill out the volunteer form, and we’ll follow up with details. We’ll also share a simple monthly volunteer calendar with consistent workdays to make participation easier.

Together, through donations and sustained stewardship, we can restore Baron Ranch and ensure these trails remain safe, resilient, and accessible for the community.

Thank you for standing with us, and for believing in the lasting value of trails.

Mark Wilkinson
Executive Director
Santa Barbara County Trails Council

PS. Join us for a Q&A about Baron Ranch on January 22nd at noon.