Trails open following storm repairs
MONTECITO, Calif. (KEYT) Hikers are returning to Old Romero Road, Franklin Trail, Arroyo Burro Trail, Matias Connector Trail and North Tunnel Trail.
The Santa Barbara Ranger District said the trails that had been closed since storms in early 2023 are now open to the public again.
The Los Padres Forrest Association and countless volunteers partnered with the Montecito Trails Foundation, Santa Barbara County Trails Council, Sage Trail Alliance and Santa Barbara Ranger District to restore the trails.
Some volunteers and paid crews worked in 100 degree heat to get the trails ready for hikers.
Montecito Trail Foundation Executive Director Ashlee Mayfield
"It is really thrilling to have all these trails open for the first time since 2023, it has been a long three plus plus years waiting," Mayfield," We had such saturation in 2023 it wasn't just one particular day it was so much rain over that time period in January."
Rain on January 9th, the fifth anniversary of the Montecito Mudslide, caused trail bed failure and landslides, too.
Many trails were damaged and some were fixed sooner than others.
Now they are gearing up for El Niño impacts.
"It is hard not to be concerned, I think the important thing to realize is that we are here and prepared to come back and go to work and sometimes I just say we are really building sand castles so it is not about one particular project but just about being able to come back and maintain it regularly and try to keep it open and reopen things as fast as possible we obviously don't want to see these three year lags," said Mayfield.
She recommends keeping your ankles covered and watching what you touch, not weating earplugs and be cognizant of your surroundings.
The trailheads also have mountain bike bells that helps people know when cyclists are riding nearby.
"You can pick up a bike bell at the top of the trails on Camino Cielo at the top and it goes on your bike so that people with dogs or hikers can hear your bike coming," said Mayfield.
Other trails remain closed until work is completed including;parts of the Santa Cruz Trail and Aliso Loops and lower sections of north Tunnel.
For more information visit https://lpforest.org
National Pulic Lands Day happens to be on Saturday when people will be meeting at Cold Springs Elementary in the morning to help clean a trail.
People may sign up at https:/SantaBarbaraCa.gov/trailwork
Your News Channel will have reaction from volunteers and hikers tonight on the news.
