Gaviota Beach

Gaviota Beach is a coastal area in Santa Barbara County featuring rocky cliffs alongside sandy stretches and a distinctive railroad bridge spanning Gaviota Creek. The shoreline blends different landscapes where the creek meets the ocean and where rock formations rise above the water.

Spanish explorers of the Portolá expedition named this location La Gaviota, meaning seagull, in 1769 when they explored the California coast. The name has endured through the centuries and remains part of the region's identity.

The coastline held deep meaning for the indigenous people living here, who depended on ocean resources for sustenance and trade. Walking the beach today, you can sense the connection between the land and the sea that shaped their way of life.

The park provides developed campsites with facilities like restrooms, showers, and picnic tables for visitors wanting to stay overnight. The beach itself is accessible for day-trippers and offers multiple paths to explore the shoreline.

Natural hot springs are hidden inland from the beach and accessible via a challenging hiking trail that many visitors never discover. The warm pools offer a surprising contrast to the cool ocean just beyond the coastal ridge.