Santa Barbara County Search And Rescue

All Night Rescue in McCoy Canyon - Yesterday afternoon, April 26, 2026, two women began hiking from Lizard’s Mouth on West Camino Cielo, planning to descend McCoy Canyon to their home in Goleta. Believing there was a trail leading out to Glen Annie Road, they encountered thick brush, large boulders, and steep waterfalls instead.

After reaching a vertical waterfall they could not safely navigate — and unable to climb back up — they contacted a family member for help. The husband attempted to reach them but was stopped by the difficult terrain and called 911.

Our team was paged at 10:43 PM last night. Using cell phone contact and SMS location sharing, we deployed two ground teams up the canyon from the north end of Glen Annie Road.

At 2:18 AM this morning, our teams made contact with the hikers. After a medical assessment confirmed they were uninjured, we set up rope systems to belay them safely down the waterfall. We then assisted them through the steep, heavily brushed canyon to our vehicles for transport back home.

The incident was completed at 7:52 AM.

Both hikers are now safe with their family. This incident highlights how quickly familiar canyons can become technical and hazardous when leaving established trails, especially after dark.

Grateful for the teamwork and dedication of our SAR volunteers who made this rescue possible. We’re glad this ended safely.

Safety Reminder:
Not all “routes” on maps or word-of-mouth are safe or passable trails. Our local canyons can quickly become technical, impassable, and dangerous—especially after dark.
✔ Research your route carefully
✔ Turn around before terrain becomes unsafe
✔ Carry a fully charged phone and emergency signaling tools
✔ When in doubt, don’t commit to unfamiliar descents

santabarbara KnowBeforeYouGo

Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue (SBCSAR) has successfully passed its 2026 Mountain Rescue Association (MRA) Technical Rock Reaccreditation, a major achievement that reflects the team’s continued commitment to excellence in mountain rescue.

MRA reaccreditation is a rigorous peer review process in which teams are evaluated on complex, real world rescue scenarios involving high angle terrain, technical rope systems, leadership, communication, and safety. Teams must meet strict national standards and retest every few years to maintain accreditation.

Passing this test reaffirms that SBCSAR operates at the highest level of professionalism, readiness, and technical capability, ensuring the community and partner agencies can rely on them in the most challenging environments.

Congratulations to all team members for the hard work, training, and dedication that made this accomplishment possible.