If it’s a beautiful coastal hike you seek in the Santa Barbara area, look no further than the state beaches along the Gaviota coast.
Refugio State Beach and its southern neighbor El Capitan State Beach are only 2.5 miles apart and provide an easy way to appreciate the scenic coastline. Lined with tall bluffs and wild stretches of sand, it’s classic California scenery.
Hiking entirely on the beach between the two state parks is possible at minus tides, but using the bluff-top bike path is recommended on most days. The paved trail parallels the beach for more than half the way. It used to connect the two parks all the way until worsening erosion forced the section near El Capitan to become off limits.
From the bluffs are better views for seeing wildlife. Seabirds, seals, kelp forests, and dolphins are common sights. On the sand it’s interesting to see what the tide brought in, whether it be shark eggs or sea glass.
Speaking of tides, remember to check the charts as it’s best done at mid-to-low tide.
The campgrounds at Refugio and El Cap are almost always full during the summer. There’s a day-use fee for parking that includes access to the beach, bathrooms, and the campground market.
Have fun!
