Favorite
Goleta Butterfly Grove Monarch butterflies migrate to Goleta each November through February and this amazing sight is best viewed at the Goleta Butterfly Grove. The site is open sunrise to sunset with no admission fee, but the City of Goleta does accept donations to support the Monarch Butterfly Docent Program. The grove is adjacent to the Sperling Preserve on the Ellwood Mesa. The Read more...
Favorite
Haskell’s Beach Trail This local surf spot has a long history and much of it is showcased in a series of interpretive signs that line the short trail down to the beach. A good place for a range of water sports, picnicking, beach walking or simply enjoying the view. Learn More → Article on the history of Haskell’s Beach at GoletaHistory.com Read more...
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Coronado Butterfly Preserve The Coronado Butterfly Preserve is home to native coastal sage scrub habitat, eucalyptus groves and numerous birds and wildlife that thrive in this urban community treasure. The 9.3-acre preserve includes Devereux Creek, woodlands and meadows as well as trails, an outdoor gathering area and classroom. The Preserve is protected open space and acts as a gateway to Read more...
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Pond Dune Trail The Pond Dune Trail (aka Pond Trail) begins at the northwest corner of the Devereux Slough. To get there you can park on the street where Storke Rd meets El Collegio Rd at the start of the Slough Road and walk 4/10ths of a mile through the student housing parking lot and continuing on along the Veneco Road that runs Read more...
Favorite
UCSB Lagoon Trail The gateway to the lagoon trail is at the end of Lagoon Road on the east side of the UCSB campus. Parking fees are required for designated coastal access parking spots. The trail along the north side of the lagoon is paved, while the south side is a combination of dirt, sand and paved surfaces. The 1.5 mile Read more...
Favorite
West Campus Bluffs Trail The West Campus bluffs area sits just west of Isla Vista. The West Campus Bluffs Trail is accessed off of Camino Majorca Road. This trail leads to a network of trails throughout Coal Oil Point Natural Reserve and the adjoining Ellwood-Devereux Open Space areas. Read more...
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Ellwood Mesa | Sperling Open Space Elwood Mesa is part of the Ellwood Devereux Open Space, a 600 acre multi-agency open space that includes opens space and reserves on UCSB’s North Campus and West Campus, lands within the University System’s Coal Oil Point Reserve, The Land Trust’s Coronado Butterfly Preserve and the City of Goleta’s Ellwood Mesa and Sperling Open Read more...
Favorite
Lake Los Carneros Ecological Preserve Lake Los Carneros Ecological Preserve is a nature preserve and bird habitat with a large lake. A network of trails meander across the park through rolling meadows and a forest of eucalyptus, oak, and pine trees. A wooden bridge crosses the northern end of the lake. This is a great place to stroll or watch wildlife, and Read more...