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Running trails in Isla Vista, CA
Isla Vista has 1 trail in the directory — 1 open 24 hours. Every one posts opening hours, so you can check the gate before an early start. They're ranked here by rating weighted by review volume, across 88 Google reviews. Filter by surface, loop, distance, shade or lighting to get to the run you're actually planning — no made-up difficulty score, just the facts you'd check before driving out.
Coal Oil Point Reserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 88 reviews
Scenic
Coastal region with bluffs and slough that's known for protecting snowy plovers.
No trails match those filters.
How to pick a trail in Isla Vista
- Match the surface to your legs. Asphalt and concrete are fast, predictable and runnable year-round but the least forgiving; crushed limestone and dirt take the sting out of high mileage; boardwalk is flat and scenic but slick in the wet. If your shins or knees are complaining, the fix that actually works is varying the surface you run on rather than chasing one "best" one.
- Loop or out-and-back? A loop finishes back at the car with no backtracking; on an out-and-back you simply turn round at half your distance.
- Check the hours before a 6am run. Every trail in Isla Vista is listed as open 24 hours, so an early start is never the problem. 1 of the 1 listing carries posted opening hours — worth a look before you set an alarm.
More on all of this in the trail-running guides.
Browse Isla Vista trails by type
Running trails near Isla Vista
Worth the short drive — the closest towns with trails in the directory.