Nine Trails Postponed to March 15, 2025

Update: As of November 2024. We fully intend to host the event in Santa Barbara on the weekend of March 15, 2025. I am in contact with the Forest Service and working to secure the permits to run the traditional course. However, there is still significant damage to the roads and trails, which may prevent a permit.

Pending USFS permit. Due to storm damage, trail and access road closures the 2024 Santa Barbara Nine Trails Endurance Run is postponed to Saturday, March 15, 2025

Santa Barbara Front Country Trails Temporarily closed until further notice due to heavy rain/flooding include:
Jesusita Trail
Tunnel Trail
Rattlesnake Trail
East and West Cold Springs Trail
San Ysidro Trail
Hot Springs Trail
Romero Trail

These closures directly impact the Nine Trails course.


There is still significant storm and fire damage to the Santa Barbara front-country trail system and access roads.

About the course

Big climbs. Big views. Technical trails. Great people. The Santa Barbara Nine Trails 35 Mile Endurance Run is a challenging problem for trail runners of every ability level. The trails are steep, rocky, inaccessible and long. There is more than ten thousand vertical feet of gain and descent packed into the relatively short 35 miles. Experienced runners will tell you that Nine-Trails runs like a tough 50 miler. Athletes attempting this course should be prepared for long, slow sections with no support. Santa Barbara Nine Trails is the Jesusita Trailhead to Romero Canyon Trailhead and back. This 35 mile endurance run will cover most of the Santa Barbara front country trail system. Starting at the Jesuita Trailhead the course climbs approximately four mies to Inspiration Point. From here the course descends a couple miles to the Tunnel Trail. Climb the rocky Tunnel Trail to the junction of Rattle Snake Trail. Follow Rattle Snake to Gibraltar Road. Run a mile or so down Gibraltar Road to the West Cold Spring Trailhead. Follow the long, steep downhill of the West Cold Spring Trail to the bottom of the canyon. Cross the creek, turn left and climb the east side of the Cold Spring Trail to the junction of the Hot Spring Connector, approximately mile twelve. Run to the bottom of the canyon and cross San Ysidro Creek to the very steep, Edison Catwalk. Locals call this section "the wall". Continue along the steep, hot and dusty Catwalk Road to the Buena Vista Trail. Follow the Buena Vista Trail along the creek to the bottom of Romero Canyon. Cross the creek and work your way to the Romero Canyon Trailhead. Turn around and re-trace your steps all of the way back to Jesusita. This little course is beautiful and shockingly difficult. Enjoy!

Aid Stations and Course Markings

The course will be minimally marked with colored ribbon. It is a fairly complicated course and you should become acquainted with the trails prior to race day. All participants will be required to use gpx digital mapping. Digital gpx map will be provided prior to the event.

There will be long sections between Aid Stations. Expect to find full Aid Stations at miles 9, 17, 26, 31 and the finish.

Things to know

This event is intended for experienced distance runners. This is NOT a crew and spectator friendly event. The course will be will marked but support will be limited. There is no parking at the start/finish area. Please do not plan on parking at the Jesuita Trailhead, San Roque Road and or Gibraltar Road. You will need to be dropped off and picked up. Transportation is your responsibility. Plan accordingly. Registration fee is not refundable and not transferable. Registration fee includes aid on course, tech tee shirt and finishers awards. The run will be timed and results will be posted at www.allwedoisrun.com.

Traditional Course

As of now, we have permit and permission to run the traditional SB9T course, Jesusita Trailhead to Romero Canyon Trailhead and back. However, due to possible fire and flood damage there is always a chance that we will need to modify the course as directed by the USFS.

Nine Trails Half 17 Miler

The Santa Barbara Nine Trails Half is a non-competitive, point to point, 17 mile, fun run.

Romero Canyon Trailhead to Jesusita Trailhead.

9:00am start at the Romero Canyon Trailhead on Bella Vista Road in Santa Barbara California.

4:00pm cut off at Gibraltar Road Aid Station, mile 8.

Participants will be responsible for their personal transportation. There will be no event provided transportation services.

Registration fee includes; Marked course, three aid stations, tee shirt, finishers award, published results.

Cut Off Times

1:00pm at mile 17.5
4:00pm at mile 26

Buy Registration as a Gift!

Instructions for Purchasing an Event Entry as a Gift:

• Log Out of Your Account: Ensure you are logged out of your account before starting the registration process.
• Start Registration: Begin the registration for the event.
• Choose "Register as a Guest": When prompted to sign in, click the green link on the right side of the screen that says "Register as a Guest."
• Complete the Registration: Follow the prompts to complete the registration.

Note: If you’ve already registered for the event yourself, use a different email address for the gift registration to avoid any errors.

Event's current local time: 10:21 PM PT