Near Rattlesnake Canyon
Waterfall
Near Rattlesnake Canyon
Following the creek
Near Rattlesnake Canyon
Ocean views from Rattlesnake Canyon

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Driving Directions
Hike Route

Rattlesnake Canyon

4.4 (18 Ratings)
A local favorite hike directly above Santa Barbara offering space for a hikers only experience
4.5
mi
Distance
1,715
ft
Gain
moderate
Difficulty
Family FriendlyRiver/CreekViewsWildflowers

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
4.46mi
Distance
1,715ft
Elevation Gain
1,715ft
Elevation Loss
60%
Max Grade
2,473ft
High Point
886ft
Low Point
Path Type
There and Back
Description
Starting from the trailhead, which is located alongside Las Canoas Road, head north past the Rattlesnake Canyon Wilderness sign. Soon after beginning your hike you'll cross the creek and climb slightly up the hillside. Half a mile into the trail you'll see another trail diverging to the right. This trail makes for a great byway that later reunites with the main Rattlesnake Canyon Trail a mile later. Continuing along the main trail, you'll cross over the creek a couple of times before reaching a huge, flat rock, known as "Lunch Rock", that sits in the creek.After crossing the creek once again, you'll follow the trail to Tin Can Meadow, which was named after a homestead cabin that existed there before it unfortunately burned down in 1925. A trail junction sits at the end of this meadow, at which point you'll want to bear right to follow the Rattlesnake !Canyon Trail for another 3/4 of a mile until it hits Gibraltar Rd. The Rattlesnake Trail ends at this intersection with the road, but there are stunning views of the South Coast from this point.Thanks to John McKinney, The Trailmaster, for sharing this trail description. To learn more about trails in California, check out his guides at The Trailmaster Store.

Route Conditions

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Contributors
John McKinney