More Mesa Beach

More Mesa Beach is a narrow beach hidden below the bluffs of More Mesa Park in Santa Barbara. The private land behind the beach is full of trails for hiking and mountain biking. Note that due to its seclusion More Mesa Beach has a reputation as a clothing-optional beach.

The main access to More Mesa is at the end of Mockingbird Lane in the Vista La Cumbre development, but you can’t park there so find a parking spot along Vieja Drive or Puente Drive and walk down Mockingbird Lane. After crossing the wide open mesa heading straight for the ocean (staying on east side of the park), look in some trees to find the only way down the steep bluff. It’s a steep path with steps to help keep your footing. If you turn right at the bottom of the stair it is a clothing-optional beach, but if you go left it is not (local rule). If you continue to the left for a half mile, you’ll be at Hope Ranch Beach. At high tide the beach here will be all wet and might not be passable at all.

A paved multi-use trail runs behind the beach next to Atascadero Creek and connects More Mesa to Goleta and Santa Barbara. This is an excellent place to start a bike ride.

To get to More Mesa Beach, turn off Hollister Avenue onto Puente Drive which turns into Vieja Drive near Mockingbird Lane. An alternate entrance that is farther from the beach access can be found down South Patterson Avenue which becomes Shoreline Drive and has a trailhead next to Shoreline Farms (5300 Shoreline Dr, Santa Barbara).

The More Mesa Preservation Coalition has been fighting to preserve this land which is mostly privately owned. Much of it is designated as environmentally sensitive, but the northeast portion might be developed on soon. This could possibly block the Mockingbird Lane access and impact the entire property. You should check out More Mesa while it’s still wild and undeveloped.

Address

1095 Mockingbird Ln
Santa Barbara, CA 93110

Park Name

More Mesa Park

Owner

County

Pet Details

Dogs allowed on leash

Fees

Free street parking

Activities

Beachcombing, Hiking, Beach Walking, Birdwatching, Equestrian Use, Mountain Biking

Amenities

Trails, Viewpoint, No Facilities

Links

Tide Chart
Water Quality
Water Temps