Landslide Shuts Down Nojoqui Falls Park Trail Near Solvang

A landslide occurred at Nojoqui Falls Park near Solvang just after 11:30 a.m. Wednesday that closed down part of the popular hiking spot due to concerns of another slide happening.

Zachary Ulrich was playing his guitar next to the waterfall when it all came tumbling down.

“I could feel the shockwave of it coming from behind me blew past my head and there were little chunks of the rocks still flying,” said Ulrich.

Ulrich and two others jumped into a nearby creek and looked for higher ground. He said they “were just freaked out because it still coming down after [they] got out of the way.”

Three Santa Barbara County Fire engines were dispatched to Nojoqui Falls Park along with a helicopter, an Urban Search and Rescue Team, and a medical response team.

Though no one was buried, Ulrich’s guitar case was – and he is hoping park rangers can help him get it back.

“I’m glad to be alive but I told them told them if you ever dig up the rocks my guitar case is under there, said Ulrich.

Firefighters are looking at the rain as a possible factor in the slide.

Santa Barbara County Parks said the trail will remain closed until an engineer is able to get out and assess what happened

Capt. David Sidecki, Santa Barbara County Fire Department, said there were five adults and two children present in the area when the landslide occurred but all got down the trail safely.

Capt. Sidecki also says there was a second landslide in the area.

The park itself remains open but there is no time estimate on when the hiking trail will re-open.