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California Coastal Trail
Santa Barbara
Season 1
Episode 23
"Santa Barbara is so full of history, you can't throw a stick without hitting history around here," boasts historian and author Neal Graffy. From the native Chumash to Spanish explorers to American settlers, this Mediterranean slice of California coast has a rich past that dates back thousands of years. And there's no better way to follow in the footsteps of history than to travel the California Coastal Trail. Established approximately along original trade routes that connected oceanside settlements, the trail offers the chance to wander the coast like early explorers. Whether toured by bike or on foot, Santa Barbara and the California Coastal Trail are windows into a fascinating past and glimpses of a bright, interconnected future.
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2:41
Gary Conwell is a lifeguard officer for the city of Newport Beach for the past 18 years.
5:02
Marin Headland's Golden Gate National Recreation Area hosts rich biodiversity.
6:07
Lands End is a popular hiking destination at Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
6:28
Del Norte County is home to the cleanest river in the continental U.S., the Smith River.
5:26
Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park hosts sea-side bluffs above ancient redwoods.
6:03
The Humboldt Bay Trail is a network of trails that will connect Humboldt's largest cities.
5:59
The Fort Bragg Coastal Trail sees as many as 12,000 people per day on holiday weekends.
6:48
In Fort Bragg, California, an industrial mill site closed off the coastline for 150 years.
6:55
The Mendocino Land Trust has just completed the two-mile Pelican Bluffs Trail.
7:58
The Sea Ranch is an environmentally-planned private community along the Sonoma Coast.
8:10
In 2015, the Trust for Public land helped establish Kashia Coastal Reserve.
5:28
Decades after the Russians withdrew, Fort Ross was acquired by the state in 1906.