Gaviota State Park
State Park · Goleta, California
Gaviota State Park lies on the Gaviota Coast in Santa Barbara County, about 30 miles west of Santa Barbara, where the Santa Ynez Mountains come down to the sea. The name means seagull in Spanish. The park has a beach with a fishing pier - confirm its status - a campground, and a rail trestle over the cove carrying the Union Pacific line, with Highway 101 close by. Inland, a steep trail climbs to Gaviota Hot Springs, whose water is warm rather than hot - confirm - and another leads to Gaviota Peak and wind-carved sandstone caves. The historic Gaviota Tunnel is nearby - confirm whether it can be visited. Strong afternoon winds, rattlesnakes and ticks are everyday hazards, and wildfire has swept the area, including the 2004 Gaviota fire - confirm what is open. It is a wild, windy stretch of coast for hikers and campers, and a poor fit for anyone wanting calm water, shade or a lifeguard on duty.
15999 US-101, Goleta, California, 93117, United States
California State Parks has generally run Gaviota as a day-use park from around morning until sunset, with the campground following its own check-in and reservation rules - confirm current hours, whether the gate locks at night and whether a kiosk or ranger is present. The park has seen long closures after wildfire, storms and damage to the pier and trails, so the beach, the hot springs path and the peak trail may not all be open - check the State Parks page before you drive. Afternoon winds are strong on most days, so mornings are calmer for camping setup and hiking. Summer heat inland can be intense even when the beach is cool, and fog can sit over the water. Dry, windy days raise fire danger and can lead to short-notice closures, so check alerts that morning.
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