Welcome to “50 Great Public Lands Destinations – Santa Barbara and Beyond.”

Whether you are a student, a newcomer, a visitor, or a long-time resident, this website is designed to introduce you to many wonderful places to visit and enjoy in the remarkable city, county, state and national public lands in and around Santa Barbara. With an emphasis on public lands close-by, on this website you will also find numerous special areas to explore within 300 miles of UCSB.

In addition to a brief description of the featured destination, all of the 50 links below include photos, the mapped location, an official website link, fun facts, things to do, the best time to visit and other helpful and interesting information. Also, almost all of the 50 Destination descriptions feature a section called “Nearby Public Lands Worth Visiting.” There are so many wonderful and surprising places to explore!

Please Note: Because of dynamic weather and other conditions, before making final plans, definitely check the official Public Land Website (a link is included on each Destination Page) to make sure your destination is open. Also, some activities may be limited.


Hope to see you outdoors soon!

Browse All Destinations

View an alphabetical list
of all destinations
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Search by Distance

Distance from UCSB

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Search by Activity

Step 1. Check the box next to the activities that interest you.
Step 2. Click the "Search" button to see the results.

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