If you expect to find mini gardens with meticulously planted flowers in the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, then look somewhere else. The century-old Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is nothing short of a pristine forest or a tiny California state park.
Last updated: July 28, 2025
Visit Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
Several years ago while spending a day in Santa Barbara, we stumbled upon the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. Our goal was to find a beautiful, manicured “isle” of nature in a big city. The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, however, was far more than what we’d expected. Large, with a hard-packed walking trail that ran among towering redwood trees, the place was nothing short of a forest or a small California state park.
Location: The location of the garden also plays a huge role in this unlikely perception. Like many national parks, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is located up in the mountains. A narrow road takes you about a mile north of Santa Barbara Mission.
Visitor Center: Once you park, head straight to a small booth to your right. This is Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s visitor center. It looks very simple, a little bit bigger than a hut. Nevertheless, this is a place you don’t want to miss. On top of getting your tickets here (if you didn’t purchase them online), helpful staff provides you with a map and tons of information on what to do and where to start your garden adventure.
Admission and Reservation: The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is open seven days a week with the exceptions of major national holidays. An adult ticket costs $20. Kids (3-12) visit the park for $12. Discounts are also offered to students and seniors. You must make a reservation prior to visiting the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.
The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Is Nothing Short of a Small National Park
A Santa Barbara Botanic Garden journey usually starts at the intersection of two paths. One of them leads to the Garden Shop and the Garden Growers Nursery behind it. The second trail veers to the rights to the Meadow display, the heart of the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.
With the splendid views of the mountains and spring flowers, this part of the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden reminds you of the seasonal wonders of Yosemite National Park. A few other places to enjoy near the Meadow display include the Meadow Oaks, Dudleya display, and Ground Cover display.
Hiking in the Botanic Garden
The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden has more than 5.5 miles of hiking trails. Some paths are unpaved, with tree roots all over the trail. Others are well maintained and suitable for strollers and wheelchairs.
We followed the Woodland Trail and continued walking to the right of the Meadow section. Within a few minutes, a blooming field turned into a forest with tall redwood trees, rocky stairs, and big boulders.
The Redwood Forest is one of the most unique sections in the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. Dotted with California giants, it looks very similar to Sequoia National Park. And since it’s located far enough from the visitor center, it’s unlikely to meet a crowd of other hikers here.
