Cojo Bay Beach on Dangermond Preserve
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About Cojo Bay Beach on Dangermond Preserve in Lompoc, California
UPDATE: Cojo-Jalama Ranch has been purchased by The Nature Conservancy through a generous $165M donation from the founders of ESRI. The beach in Cojo Bay and the lighthouse at Point Conception are still off-limits to the public, but at least the property won’t be sold off in private lots like nearby Hollister Ranch. Maybe one day we’ll get to see Cojo Bay in the newly named Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve.
Cojo Bay Beach is a long sandy beach near Point Conception in Santa Barbara County. The beach is completely surrounded by private property in the Cojo-Jalama Ranch (formerly called the Bixby Ranch). The only roads into this area are gated to keep out the general public. Cojo Bay’s sandy beach is in a south-facing cove that is protected from the west by Government Point. The beach, like all California beaches, is public property below the mean high tide level, but getting to Cojo Bay is only possible by boat from Gaviota Beach unless you have an inside connection to the ranch owners or managers.
This area has several surfing areas with names like Cojo, Perko’s, and Government’s, that are worth boating into when conditions are right. East of Cojo-Jalama Ranch is Hollister Ranch which is also privately-owned and gated at the entrance. In years past before the Hollister gates were locked, surfers enjoyed the many breaks along this long private coast.
Near Cojo Bay is Point Conception which has a Coast Guard lighthouse that few ever get to see in person.
If you are in the area and want to visit a public sandy beach, Jalama Beach is an excellent choice (and your only option).
- Address
- 10,000 Jalama Road
Lompoc, CA 93436 - Park Name
- Cojo-Jalama Ranch
- Other Names
- Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve, Big Coho Beach, Governments, Perkos, Bixby Ranch
- Activities
- Beach Exploration, Surfing, Tidepooling
- Amenities
- Lighthouse, No Facilities

Nearby Beaches
Point Conception Lighthouse
1.5 miles away
Point Conception is the prominent point where the Santa Barbara Coast turns northward. The point has an old Coast...
Jalama Beach County Park
4.6 miles away
Jalama Beach spans the mouth of Jalama Creek at the site of a historic Chumash Indian settlement named “Halama.” Now...
Hollister Ranch Beaches
7.5 miles away
Hollister Ranch is a large active farming and cattle ranch and private housing community located west of Gaviota State...
Nearby Attractions
Nearby Lodging
Jalama Campground and Cabins
4.5 miles away
Jalama Beach is for camping and glamping. It’s a long drive down here so you might as well stay...