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About Tar Pits Beach in Carpinteria, California

Tar Pits Beach is an area within Carpinteria State Beach where asphalt seeps out onto the beach. The oily substance comes a natural asphalt lake, one of just five in the world. After most of the easily accessible asphalt was mined long ago, the area became a local trash dump. Since then it has gone through a transformation to become Tar Pits Park. The park has many trails to walk and overlooks that look down on the beach and out toward the Channel Islands. Dark strands of asphalt soaked rocks line the beach and the bank behind the beach. There is a sandy beach here, but it is much narrower than the wide sandy beaches of Carpinteria City Beach and Carpinteria State Beach. It’s possible to walk at low tide south to the oil pier, but the area past the pier is a seal rookery that is off limits to humans. There are several ways to get to Tar Pits Beach. On foot or on a bike you can take the Bluff Trail from downtown Carpinteria or from the Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve. By car you can drive into Carpinteria State Beach (entrance is on Palm Drive) and continue to the southern end past the last campground where there is a small day-use parking lot. Finally, there is another way to get here without paying to enter the state park. Drive Carpinteria Avenue to Concha Loma Drive then follow it to Calle Ocho with eventually dead ends at the railroad tracks. Park near here and walk over the tracks into the park. Note that since tar bubbles up to the surface here, the beaches are usually covered in tar balls that will stick to your feet so bring olive oil or another natural oil to clean it off.

Address
5596 Calle Ocho
Carpinteria, CA 93103
Park Name
Tar Pits Park, Carpinteria State Beach
Owner
City Beach
Pet Details
Dogs are not allowed on the beach, but ok on trail if on leash
Fees
Fee for parking
Activities
Hiking, Tidepooling, Whale Watching, Biking, Walking, Fishing, Camping
Amenities
Campground, Restrooms, Showers, Tide Pools
Map of Tar Pits Beach
Carpinteria, US
5:07 pm, March 28, 2024
temperature icon 64°F
L: 54° H: 65°
Feels like 62.96 °F broken clouds
Wind gusts: 0 m/s
UV Index: 0.8
Precipitation: 0 inch
Visibility: 10 km
Sunrise: 6:49 am
Sunset: 7:15 pm
Humidity 67 %
Pressure1014 mb
Wind 0 m/s

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