Emma Wood State Beach

Emma Wood State Beach is a sandy shoreline along the Pacific coast in Ventura that stretches for miles with distant island views. The area features beachfront camping sites and a freshwater marsh system where the beach meets a river delta.

During World War II, the area housed military gun emplacements as part of coastal defense efforts. Traces of this wartime fortification still remain visible on the beach today.

The beach sits on land that once sustained Native American communities who relied on the ocean's resources to thrive along this coast. Visitors can sense the long human history embedded in this location.

The beach has camping sites positioned right at the waterline, best suited for visitors traveling in recreational vehicles and operating during warmer months. Bring plenty of water and sun protection, as the exposed beach offers little natural shade.

A freshwater marsh tucked into the southwest end of the beach draws raccoons, songbirds, and red-tailed hawks into view. This wetland offers a quiet corner for wildlife watchers seeking birds and mammals in their natural surroundings.