Work begins on miles of badly damaged front country trails from Montecito to Carpinteria

MONTECITO, Calif. - 90 miles of front country trails in Southern Santa Barbara County are being checked for impacts by last weeks powerful  storms.

The Montecito Trails Foundation says just prior to the weather systems, the routes were in great shape.

"I can tell you that 90 percent of the work has washed away," said Montecito Trails Foundation President Ashlee Mayfield.

Various types of erosions and severe trail damage have been reported in many areas, both at lower elevations and higher up on the hills as high as over 3000 feet. 

Mayfield said, our survey team has made it through Cold Springs entirely and Hot Springs.  We have had a hard stop at San Ysidro Canyon and a very tough time in Romero because of the water levels."

At the San Ysidro trail,  you will see advisories and closure signs posted on the map boards.

The trails are off limits and the Los Padres National Forest has closed its land  for 60 days.

Hiker Sean Larkins is a regular in the area and checked out what he could. "I did that whole loop and it's crazy up there, you almost have to climb a little bit," he said.  "The whole Hot Springs route, it's like a war zone it looks like just rubble."

After crews get in to make it safer, he will be back."Get up there and see the waterfall and all that so. I will be up in the next couple days," said Larkins.

Because of the damage it will take quite some time to open up these trails all the way to the top.  The first phase will be to open up at least three miles from each of the  trailhead  from Montecito to Carpinteria for the hikers.

Mayfield says "we have a lot that are alongside the creeks and the creek banks are undercut those trails will be realigned slightly to move them away from  the creek bank to make them safer  for the other damage - landslide damage so  rock slides so if it's on top of the trail  we will move that off."
 

Near many trails,  creeks are still gushing and cutting out the dirt embankments along with the hiking areas.

If you cross over into closed off areas,  "you may pay with a broken leg , and ankle or your life,"  said  Mayfield.
Some runners and others, bypassing signs and orange fencing went up some of the trails.

While these areas remain off limits, there are still other options for hikers with a sunny weekend ahead.

"Gaviota trails are open, check Elings it is closed now but will  probably open.  San Marcos Preserve. Tuckers Grove, the first two miles of Franklin trail," said Mayfield.

She also suggested coastal bluff hikes.

For more information go to :  Montecito Trails Foundation or Los Padres National Forest.