All April long, we’re celebrating the way that cannabis combines perfectly with an active, outdoor lifestyle in our local area. This week, we’re focusing on biking and edibles— a great activity paired with a great way to enjoy cannabis anywhere you are.

All week long, we’ll be offering 25% off a different edibles brand every day in our store and online. But we want to do more than just give you the best quality edibles at the best possible prices— we want to help you have an amazing time enjoying the beauty of nature, too.

Santa Barbara is an amazing place to enjoy a range of trails, from the paved and flat to the wild and mountainous. Here are our five favorite spots in Santa Barbara to have a ride, paired with our recommendations for the best way to bring edible cannabis into your active life for the best results.

Obern Trail
We’re all about choosing your own path, and that’s part of what makes the Obern Trail so great. It can be a lovely two-mile ride or a tough 20-mile adventure depending on how far you go. Plus, the full ride ends at beautiful Goleta Beach Park, one of our favorite SB spots. It’s a mostly paved trail, but there is a dirt trail that runs alongside it in a few areas if you’re feeling a little more adventurous.

Elings Park
Just a few miles outside of downtown is Elings Park, where you’ll find over nine miles total of mountain biking trails for every skill level. If you’re less experienced, hit the Elings Loop Trail that gives you just enough hills and dives to make it exciting. If you want something a little more intense, the Downhill Trail dives right through the center of the park and drops over 200 feet in less than ¾ of a mile.

Santa Barbara to Ventura & Back
Did you know you could ride all the way from SB to Ventura? It’s quite a trip— almost 65 miles to get there and back— but it’s one of the best biking adventures in our area. Along the way you’ll pass through Montecito, Summerland, Carpinteria, and Mussel Shoals, not to mention the Santa Barbara waterfront, Butterfly Beach, the Andree Clark Bird Refuge, and a whole lot more. And while the ride is a long one, it’s mostly flat and completely paved.

Happy Canyon & Ballard Canyon Loop
This loop ride runs almost 19 miles total and takes you along Armour Ranch Road into the lovely Happy Canyon. You’ll feel like you’ve been transported to the Old West with massive oak trees, horse ranches, and rolling hills in the distance. Speaking of hills, the loop varies nicely from gradual uphills to gentle downhills where you can rest your legs, so it’s a perfect easy to moderate ride that will still give you a good pump in the legs.

Cabrillo Path to Butterfly Beach
We couldn’t leave out the most popular bike trail in Santa Barbara, could we? Stretching 4.5 miles from Leadbetter Beach to Butterfly Beach, the Cabrillo Bike Path is chill, beautiful, and the perfect way to take in the ocean sunset while staying active. And there’s no Santa Barbara experience quite like turning the corner and seeing Butterfly Beach come into view just as the sun dips onto the horizon.

Edibles have been growing more popular for long-distance fitness enthusiasts, but you don’t have to be a high-intensity road biker to enjoy their benefits on your ride. Even a casual ride can be enhanced through safe and responsible cannabis use, particularly with edibles.

First, consider the type of edible you choose— sativa, indica, or CBD-rich.

CBD-based edibles may not induce any euphoric effects, but CBD is well known for its therapeutic benefits as well as its ability to reduce inflammation. These traits can help you reach peak relaxation while enjoying a laid-back ride while also helping treat any swelling or soreness you may have along the way.

A sativa-based edible may provide more stimulating and uplifting effects during your ride, which can be great if you really want to push the distance and intensity. If you’re in it for a nice view on a smooth course, an indica-based edible may be a better choice thanks to the relaxing effects they sometimes have.

That said, sativa and indica classifications can be less important than cannabinoid and terpene profile. Terpenes are more than just aromatic elements of cannabis— they also help give it its beneficial effects.

If you opt for a THC-heavy edible variety, we recommend starting low and slow— particularly before a ride. Edibles must pass through your body’s digestive system before their effects are felt, which means it can take a couple of hours to kick in. Keep that in mind when planning your dosage before a ride. If you like the boost you can get midway through a workout, time your dosage accordingly!

Some people prefer their edibles post-exercise, helping aid with recovery and making for a great and relaxing cooldown as you remember the beautiful surroundings you’ve just experienced on your ride. If that’s the case, you can go for a higher dose— but always stay within your comfort zone.