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Gaviota State Park
1595 US-101, Goleta, CA 93117, United States
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Lu
Review №1

Absolutely wonderful ️ Pretty-much pristine restrooms. Outdoor shower and indoor shower that takes quarters plenty of rest rooms Great views. 5 min walk to the beach. Loved this place! Would definitely come back.

Jo
Review №2

Very small but also very low-key park. If you plan on camping here the spots are tight and there is no privacy from the neighbors. No shade, so be sure to bring something. Overall a great place.

Do
Review №3

A real nice hiking trail, with part shade part sun. However, the routes could use more signage to direct hikers to the Hot Springs area.

lo
Review №4

Beautiful park with some great trails. We hiked the wind caves an hot springs.

Tr
Review №5

This is an AMAZING state park!!! If you go down to the beach there are some cool places to explore, if you drive down towards the beach take the road the goes up to the right and you can get to an awesome hike inland that goes to the wind caves, or walk towards the water across the train tracks and see some awesome water views. Drive up the road a minute or so and there are some awesome hikes (short) to the hot springs and to the top of a few mountains that you see in my pictures. Definitely a great go to hiking and adventure spot!

Ma
Review №6

I live in Goleta so I’ve never camped here. I love the crescent shaped beachfront and the beautiful old train trestle that is like a back drop to the park. Beautiful place to visit!

Ro
Review №7

Very nice and quiet spot. Clean but small beach lifeguard on duty

Br
Review №8

This beach is isolated and beautiful. The rock formations are unique as well. Very relaxing.

E
Review №9

This place has been ruined by over visiting by LA types. They litter.They unleash their spoiled mutts.The dogs will agressively run at youOr worse. These visitors from hell lack manners and litterOur precious beaches. Now I knowWhy surfers put up locals only signs.Where are the rangers?! Do your jobs.Try picking up litter like we unpaidLocals do! Who pay your salaries andDo the to trash pick up. Oh and theBlighted tunnel is full of gang graffiti.One last word: L A. Go Home!

Le
Review №10

Most beautiful beach in CA Ive seen, I will be back

Br
Review №11

A St Patricks Day tradition, I love this hike in the spring time, but it can be done year round and has expansive views of the ocean and the hills. The trail starts as a fairly flat fire road, then a steep climb that you wont love. But after you make it up that dirt hill, you will reach your first wind cave. Take a minute, and explore the cave, beginning to enjoy the natural effects of wind on the stone. Keep going the extra 1.5 miles and you get to more sand made jungle gyms, great for the beginner explorer and still challenging for those experienced climbers. Any level, YOU can do IT!Please hide your belongings and lock your car. This is one of the few hikes where I have noticed car break-ins more than once in the parking lot near the entrance to the trail. Use caution.

Os
Review №12

It is such a great place for an afternoon or an entire weekend of fun an relaxation. Nice crowds here but plenty of parking.

Ho
Review №13

The location is lovely. Easy access to the beach and a lifeguard was on duty. Check in was easy. The bathrooms were very dirty and the sites are small.

Gl
Review №14

I was very excited to go there because we have never stayed at that State Beach. When we got there we thought it was really cool. Campground was small and short little walk to the beach. Train passing by on tall bridge was really cool to see. Then came the nighttime. Campers partying all night long. Fighting, screaming, cussing, belligerent drunks. Such unneighborly selfish Acts. Other campers are there to enjoy their vacation but cant because there are people out of control. These state parks really need to be patrolled at night and the camp hosts should be giving people warnings and then calling the police. I dont expect camp host to try to act like police as it is not their job. But they should be able to give campers a warning and tell them the police will be called if it continues. I dont expect other campers to be perfect. We are all there to have fun. I enjoy my campfire and beer myself. But quiet time means you respect others and if you dont it needs to be enforced.

Yu
Review №15

Very nice small beach with tables/benches by the water.

Ed
Review №16

Very nice place to come bring your family enjoy the day or The Weeknd Or the whole week first time here very nice definitely coming back

sh
Review №17

Beautiful park along the Pacific Ocean. Sunsets are GORGEOUS here

Me
Review №18

Plenty room to explore different and interesting aspects of Gaviota beach. From the rocky outcroppings under the pier(closed) to the elevated train trestle and adjoining trail (fishing spots). Not sure I like the idea of paying at the gate but they have a little visitors center and clean restrooms so Im game!

Al
Review №19

Beautiful but unfortunately its full of homles people right now

Aa
Review №20

Really nice beach. It was really crowded on the main beach. But you can walk down the beach. As soon as you get past the rocks it becomes less crowded

st
Review №21

Its very beautiful! I would recommend it! theres also a old train bridge thats rusty and beautiful almost right above the ocean!

Li
Review №22

Gaviota state park. Really nice and cold water for a hot wheather

Ro
Review №23

Beautiful park, even when completely overcast! Self-registration is a breeze, parking is easy. The town of Gaviota is almost non-existent; I think it has a pop of less than 100? Bring more water than necessary if you plan on walking any trails. Careful turning into the park --- the cross-traffic is heavy and fast!

Ro
Review №24

Very clean. Restrooms r very clean. An the staff r very nice.

Do
Review №25

Amazing! I wish we wouldve camped there. The RV sites were huge. Beautiful setting. Nice camp hosts and park staff. Stunning beach. Neat shells, rock formations, and walking paths. Not busy or crowded. A gem of a find!

Em
Review №26

You have to pay 10$ for the day of parking. Its a small beach. The rocks were interesting.

An
Review №27

We jumped over to the closed pier for loading boats thats closed and got some good shots

Ba
Review №28

The beach is small but beautiful.

Bo
Review №29

Parking is good, restrooms handy, and a nice little stretch of the beach. And at certain times a nice little convenience store.A wonderful place to sit back, or take a walk, and enjoy the sun and surf that the California coast has to offer.

Ed
Review №30

Nice little park and Beach area, definitely enjoy smaller beaches like these with less ppl and again ppl.

na
Review №31

This place is amazing I DEFINITELY recommend going the waves were REALLY nice and there was super cool shells there ️

Ja
Review №32

Lived here all my life and have just gone to see the wind tunnels off the 101 south rest stop/tunnel area. so beautiful tho and a great hike. And it was all to myself

Jo
Review №33

Restaurant open limited hours, Food Truck there Thurs thru Sunday. Wine tasting, some tables, popular when warmer, Highway #1 Closed just North of this point

St
Review №34

Super awesome camp site got pics of the sunrise on the beach, met some really nice people. The only negative was dogs arent alowed on the beach at all so thats unfortunate.

C.
Review №35

Great park with awesome hikes. Plenty of options for you regardless of how short or long you are looking to go. With a beautiful beach at the base of these trails it’s worth going a little further to make the cool off that much sweeter!

Jo
Review №36

Camped here last summer. The spots are close together, but everyone was friendly and polite. Theyve got flush toilets and hit showers 4mins for a dollar. Be aware that wind can kick up pretty strong so if youre in tents lock everything down. Beach is steps away as well as hiking trails. The camp ranger has firewood, cash only.

Vi
Review №37

Excellent location for a one day picnic or bbq.

Aa
Review №38

Awesome. Clean and fun for the kids! Warmer water and good waves !

Mi
Review №39

Such a cool little compact beach and campground. Shh. Dont tell anyone about it.

Ti
Review №40

Pretty area with a nice view. Watch out for animals though!

Ma
Review №41

It was great but no generator until 10am is to late. Need to use generator for breakfast.

ra
Review №42

Nice little rest stop. Needs more stalls for those busy days.

Al
Review №43

Beautiful day hiking! We did the short loop trail called “Tunnel View Trail” - 3 miles round trip. Getting there was easy and there was a lot of parking. There is a 2 dollar parking fee- totally worth paying to keep our state parks looking beautiful!

Da
Review №44

Nice, quiet, State Beach. Kind of secluded.

Am
Review №45

This campsite was awesome. The culture here was very fun, from the little shop to the private feeling shoreline. The bathrooms are top notch for campgrounds!When I booked I was worried about the lack of shade but the fog/marine layer that hangs around until about 10-11 let us sleep in without extra shade. The campsite was clean, the firepit was really clean, the picnic table was in good shape. The whole campground was pretty level and nice to walk around, just steps from the shore.

Br
Review №46

We went to visit the spring. It was not the cleanest of springs but its nice given that it has such easy access.There is a strong sulfur smell but it will once you dry off.

Am
Review №47

Easy parking off 101, near tracks. Quick jaunt down to beach where you can travel north or south to find your own area or just hike around. Not good surf and lots of flies/beach bugs near rocks but plenty of places to spend a few hours in quiet appreciation of our coast.

Si
Review №48

Breath taking. Short but mildly hard hike to the hot springs

Re
Review №49

Every year we go up for a little family reunion to celebrate my step-daughters great-grandmothers birthday. Its always so beautiful, and when you go in September you can see dolphins and sharks on the horizon.If you are camping, make sure you SECURELY fasten your tent into the ground. One year it was so insanely windy one night that it actually destroyed a campers tent across from us.A twenty or so minute drive outside of Solvang, its definitely a great place to spend a couple days.

St
Review №50

Love this park! Nice beach popular with families. Have visited several times and the water has been nice. The trains go up the on a bridge that runs alongside the park, which the kids think is cool. I kind of like it too, as long as Im not napping :-). Lots of parking and many people bring small boats they launch from the beach. No ramp but a short carry across the sand. Theres a small snack bar but its been closed most times Ive gone. There is a park entry fee, like other state parks - about 8-9$.

Jo
Review №51

Great place..little windy at times

Gu
Review №52

Nice beach. Camping sites are small and facilities are ok. Come prepared with your own soap and quarters for the showers. Our site #7 had a big shady pine tree. Site #8 has 2 trees that could hold a hammock.

To
Review №53

Great hike! Took us about 4 hours. The fire road is pleasant in the morning since its in the shade the whole way. We came down the main trail, which is sun exposed the whole time. Worked out nicely.

Ju
Review №54

Beautiful...well maintained trails...only problem was that we paid $2 fee per requirements...put tab in our front window and still got ticketed! Whats up with antagonistic parks and rec staff???

Ra
Review №55

Well maintained with a variety of challenging trails.

St
Review №56

Interesting to see but not worth paying 10$ for the parking.

St
Review №57

So beautiful even during COVID-19

E
Review №58

Gorgeous lowkey place to camp fish just soak up the nice beach!

Ng
Review №59

Clean facility. No hot water.

Gr
Review №60

If you want an easy access fossil hunt on a quiet beach, go here.

Ma
Review №61

Nice trails/caves, great hike. Highly recommend either alone, with buddies and for couples as well!

ni
Review №62

Covid19 lockdown was driving me nuts, so I decided to drive there from Los Angeles at 12 midnight.Got there by sunrise and I felt like I was in a different world.The pch Hwy there has a very secluded feel to it. Like you are very far away from the city. Natural beauty like no other.Shouldve stayed there for a couple of days but since no cell signal and fam was probably worried since they have no idea where I went.Stress level down to 1 from 9.

Hi
Review №63

Its a nice experience for the whole family to have fun..

Yo
Review №64

Overcrowded, barely anyone was wearing a mask, and the weather went from clear skies and sunny to cloudy and chilly very quickly

Fr
Review №65

Nice quite place to camp

Je
Review №66

Went on a wonderful family hike up to the wind caves, located in the back country of Gaviota State Park. A solid moderate hike. There are a few spots that have steep inclines, but the whole family had an easy time overall. Unless going with someone who knows the pathway, I would suggest finding a trail map as towards the top theres an easy way and a rocky way. The first cave area is an awesome spot to take a break and catch a cool breeze. The top caves have incredible veiws of the mountainside leading to the beach. After our decent, we decided to relax on the beach. Its a nice little bit of beach, not big, but nice. Cool veiws of the train going by over head on the large raised track. We all enjoyed the whole experience.

Yu
Review №67

I did not camp here or visit for more than a few hours, but here are my thoughts for campers:The site spaces provide minimum privacy and are very close together. If your neighbor is playing Single Ladies at 11pm, youll be humming along with every verse.The beach itself has plenty of rocks, dark sand, and kelp. Its neither romantic or picturesque, but should provide plenty of good fishing.The facilities were all closed and closeted when I visited in the fall, with the exception being the bathrooms. They were well maintained and fairly clean. Kudos to the workers that keep it that way.The pier was entirely closed and gated off when I visited.This location feels like it would best be used for a midway stop if you had an RV; I would not visit again unless I had a real need to stop and take a break. Think of it as a flyover state where youd visit only for the sake of a layover to stretch your legs.

Li
Review №68

Quiet, small, clean. Its a good little place to check in with the Pacific Ocean.

Ch
Review №69

Awesome and good view, so relax in there.

Pa
Review №70

Great place to hang out at the Pacific Ocean coast.

Da
Review №71

Nice, secluded State Park. Crowds are practically non-existent during the week

Je
Review №72

Site of a wedding and everyone was so nice to us.

Os
Review №73

A must to visit beach while in town

Ta
Review №74

Great place for walks mediation. And surf

ni
Review №75

Dolphins, swimming, sunsets! No surf but paddle boarding was awesome!

Ra
Review №76

Nice place to camp near ocean . Just make sure to pay parking fees.

Ci
Review №77

Beautiful place

St
Review №78

Awesome hiking trails, the beach is wonderful, amenities, camping, General Store and the train trellis.

Fe
Review №79

This park brings me peace. When life gets crazy I go here on my scooter. Enjoy the waves crashing and a nice nap. Love taking walks along the coast. Just be aware if you head south down the Beach. It is clothing optional. But thats no big deal.

Pa
Review №80

Awesome almost like private beach, very small place.

Cl
Review №81

Take a hike up to the wind caves!

Sh
Review №82

Very cool beach but watch out for getting oil tar on your clothes or bring some Dawn dish soap with to clean it off.

El
Review №83

I really like this place .. Rock formations are amazing , the view is beautiful.. Check it out you wont regret it.

Ja
Review №84

Love this rest stop. Clean and very quiet.

Da
Review №85

Be ready for wind! Seriously though, tent companies should have a Gaviota certified sticker for wind. That aside, this is a great camp site. Fire pits to flushable bathrooms are all well kept and clean. The beach is so pretty. Go during low tide along the cliffs for some amazing photo opportunities.

Ja
Review №86

Great place for Hardware!

Re
Review №87

Great family beach. Could spend a day just watching the amazing waves here!

Po
Review №88

Small and very intimate campground. Want to get to know all of your neighboring campers? This is the place! It also provided a safe shelter during a red flag wind event. The host was awesome.

Da
Review №89

Wish I could stay longer to see more.

MA
Review №90

I love this place it has so much nature.Unlike some people I like it.

Mi
Review №91

Better when its open

Ti
Review №92

Great day for the beach. High 60s low 70s minor breeze sunny. Great place to be in California.

Ba
Review №93

BEAUTIFUL small Beach

Wi
Review №94

Great place if you have time to explore. Clean restrooms. Food is available.

Mi
Review №95

Nice place to stop. Fairly clean. Last time I was there I got stuck there while they cleared an accident.

An
Review №96

Loved the wind caves trail

Ke
Review №97

Beautiful and the railway trestle was amazing

Br
Review №98

Great rest stop, especially if you have a pet.

Jo
Review №99

It was rather boring really, not a whole lot to see or do here, I mean some of the scenery was great but all in all we found it rather cliche and boring.i would go on down the road a few miles, more things to see and do.

Om
Review №100

Is so beautiful

Information
100 Photos
100 Comments
4.5 Rating
  • Address:1595 US-101, Goleta, CA 93117, United States
  • Site:http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=606
  • Phone:+1 805-968-1033
Categories
  • State park
  • Park
  • Tourist attraction
Accessibility
  • Wheelchair-accessible entrance:Yes
Amenities
  • Good for kids:Yes
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