Obern Trail - Tourist Attractions

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Obern Trail
updated: Apr 02, 2011, 8:45 AM

By the dedicated staff

Ever wonder why they call Goleta the good land? If you can get around on two wheels during your visit to the South Coast, take a spin on the Obern Bike Trail and find out.

This flat bike path, allowing easy cycling travel between Goleta Beach and Modoc Road, is beloved by semi-pro cyclists, bicycle commuters, and families. It's one of the safest places around to ride bikes, due to the lack of vehicle traffic, and shows the pastoral side of the City of Goleta. You'll see everyone from toddlers to seniors pedaling here, and adjoining dirt paths are excellent for walking, walking dogs, and jogging.

We recommend starting your trip at Goleta Beach, where you can park your car for free, unload your wheels, slap on your helmet, and head south.

The bike path picks up at the entrance to the park, making a sharp right just off the bridge over the Goleta slough.

If you need a bike rental to make your tour possible, visit the Edhat Visitor Guide activity page to find several options. Here are some highlights you'll see along the way:

Wildlife living the good life. As you ride south from Goleta Beach, the Goleta Slough turns to swampy marshland, and is home to many birds and other creatures. You'll see ducks, egrets, pelicans, seagulls, and more. Just a mile down the path is a crossing of South Patterson Avenue - if you turn right on S. Patterson, it turns into Shoreline, and offers the best access to More Mesa. A coastal bluff top with miles of trails used by walkers, cyclists and equestrians, More Mesa's range of wildlife is even more diverse, including bobcats and coyotes. There is beach access here too, but beware of the historically nude beach underneath the mesa.

Friendly natives (the human kind). People say hi while passing one another on the trail - not always, but often. A local resident riding along stopped to chat about a passing cat. "He lives just down the street, comes out here every day," she remarked. The orange tabby looked protectively at the path as though the passing riders were just borrowing his turf. Mothers with strollers, grandmothers riding bikes with toddlers, dads accompanying kids on training wheels, and even ladies on cruisers with small dogs in their handlebar baskets were spotted on just one recent weekday ride. It's a great way to see how Goleta likes to get out and stay active.

Detours aplenty. The trail is the officially designated coast route for riders coming south into Santa Barbara, and you're likely to see at least one rider laden with saddlebags filled with the supplies for a long pedal trek. But if you're just sightseeing, you can cut over crosstown via turnoffs at S. Patterson and Turnpike. The best way to access Foothill Road is the Maria Ignacio Route, another designated bikeway that keeps you out of traffic. For a good map that shows the routes, visit this handy map.

Celebrating local cycling. The Obern Trail is named for George and Vie Obern, a lovely local couple who used to ride their tandem bike all over town. They were actively involved in the area cycling community and lobbied nationally for improved cycling experiences. Today, much of the trail that bears their name is maintained and cleaned up by the Goleta Cycling Club. Some people call the path the Atascadero Creek Bike Path, but its proper name honors the Oberns and their lobbying efforts to get the path built for so many to use and enjoy.

History and home life. While riding along, you'll be right next to the backyards of a slice of suburban Goleta. Along the fences and retaining walls are little glimpses of the lives inside - a roadrunner windmill, a multi-tiered birdhouse, and a balcony where the inhabitants can sit and watch the bike traffic cycling by.

Between Puente and Nogal the path runs through a pleasant neighborhood, and on Nogal you can turn right or left to see two interesting buildings. The Hope House, the original home on the sheep ranch that gave luxury neighborhood, Hope Ranch its name, dates from 1875, and is just a few yards on your right. Hope Ranch is up the hill to your right - if your legs are up for some climbing, explore and see some of the most beautiful properties in the area. On the left is Rancho Asoleado, a horse training and riding facility. Learn a little more about the equestrian outfit in a past Edhat story

When you reach the intersection with Modoc Road, you can continue on the roadside bike path along the Coast Route or turn and head back to the beach. Ride time from the beach to Modoc is about 40 minutes one-way. Enjoy the ride!