National Public Lands Day Volunteer Event Aims to Spruce Up Hot Springs Canyon Trail

The City of Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Department is seeking up to 50 volunteers for a trail volunteer day on Hot Springs Canyon Trail. The event is part of National Public Lands Day, a nationwide observance that celebrates public lands as places where people connect with nature, build memories, and work together to care for the landscapes we all share. The volunteer day offers an opportunity to give back to the public lands that belong to us all.

National Public Lands Day Volunteer Event
Saturday, September 26, 2026
8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Cold Springs Elementary (2243 Sycamore Canyon Road)

No special experience is required to volunteer. Tools and instructions will be provided, and volunteers will be assigned to small work teams based on experience. Work will include clearing overgrown vegetation, remove graffiti, and clearing accumulated rocks and leaves from the drain basin. Tasks will be assigned based on volunteer experience and comfort level.

Volunteers will gather for safety orientation and instruction before heading to the trail. The event will wrap up with a group lunch for volunteers.

RSVPs are required for this volunteer event. Contact Eric Ullrich at EUllrich@SantaBarbaraCA.gov or (805) 564-5439 to sign up.

The Parks and Recreation Department coordinates multiple large-scale volunteer events each year across City, County, and Forest Service properties to help maintain the community’s network of trails. This event is held in partnership with Santa Barbara County Parks, the U.S. Forest Service, Montecito Trails Foundation, Los Padres Forest Association, and SAGE Trail Alliance.

Learn more about this event at SantaBarbaraCA.gov/TrailWork