Gaviota State Park Beach

Gaviota State Park Beach is a south-facing beach below a tall train trestle about 30 miles west of Santa Barbara and 25 miles southeast of Lompoc. Behind the trestle there is a campground, a seasonal camp store, and a day-use parking lot.

The trestle has been nicknamed the “Ghost Bridge” and people have reported that the ghosts of two young girls roam Gaviota Beach and campground at night. Both ends of the beach have high steep bluffs that prevent beach exploration east and west at high tide.

A public fishing pier with a boat hoist juts out from the west side of the sandy beach and Gaviota Creek intermittently flows through on the east side. The pier has been damaged by storms and is currently closed for safety reason so access to the boat hoist is blocked. This is too bad as boating is the only way to access the nearby beaches of Hollister Ranch.

Excellent hiking trails can be found within the state park and in the adjacent lands of Los Padres National Forest. There is even a hot spring, Gaviota Hot Springs, that you can hike to. That trailhead is about 2.5 miles north on the highway from the main park entrance. The campground spaces can be reserved so inquire at the state park website.

Address

Gaviota Beach Rd
Goleta, CA 93117

Park Name

Gaviota State Park, Kashtayit State Marine Conservation Area

Owner

State Park

Pet Details

No dogs allowed on the beach or on trails

Fees

Fee for parking

Activities

Hiking, Backpacking, Mountain Biking, Fishing, Surfing, Beach Walking, Swimming, Camping

Amenities

Fishing Pier, Campground, Lifeguard, Restrooms, Train Trestle, Picnic Tables, Trails, Hot Springs, Boat Hoist, Accessible Features

Links

Aerial View of Gaviota State Beach
Tide Chart
Water Quality
Surfing Info & Web Cams
Water Temps