All Places of Interest

 Arroyo Hondo Historic Adobe The earliest known inhabitants of Arroyo Hondo are from the Barbareno-Chumash civilization 5,000 years ago. Evidence of a permanent Chumash camp has been discovered buried deep in the lower canyon. Rancho Arroyo Hondo was part of the original 26,530-acre Rancho Nuestra Señora del Refugio Mexican land grant to former Santa Barbara Presidio Commandant Jose Francisco Ortega Read more...

Gaviota Gorge Tunnel This Gaviota Gorge Tunnel (51 0172R) is a reinforced-concrete tunnel measuring approximately 420 feet long, 35 feet wide, and 22 feet tall. The raised curb on the west side is approximately 2 1/2 feet wide, while the east side has a 4-foot-wide walkway. The interior of the tunnel is smooth concrete with two rows of mounted square Read more...

South Coast Railroad Museum The South Coast Railroad Museum, in Goleta, Calif., focuses on the history, technology, and adventure of railroading. Special emphasis is placed on the railroad’s contributions to local history, on the Southern Pacific Railroad, and on the key historical role of the railroad depot in rural community life across America. The museum centerpiece is Goleta Depot, a Read more...

Rancho La Patera & Stow House The Stow House was built in c. 1872 by Sherman P. Stow (1851-1907). Stow was the son of William W. Stow (1825-1895), an influential San Francisco railroad attorney who in 1871 purchased 1,043 acres of La Patera Tract land in Goleta where his son could establish and manage a ranch. The Carpenter Gothic Style Read more...

Coal Oil Point Natural Reserve One of the best remaining examples of a coastal-strand environment in Southern California, the Coal Oil Point Natural Reserve protects a wide variety of coastal and estuarine habitats. Largely undisturbed coastal dunes support a rich assemblage of dune vegetation and have become a nesting site for the endangered Snowy Plover. Learn More → Article by James Read more...

Arroyo Hondo Vista Point Scenic Vista If you forgot to bring your binoculars, no worry. Use the recently installed telescope and binoculars to scan the ocean for migrating whales and other distant objects. Interpretative Information Display The history of the Gaviota Coast is on display at this southbound turnout off Hwy 101 Arroyo Hondo Bridge The bridge was built in 1918. It was Read more...

Arroyo Hondo Preserve Called the “Jewel of the Gaviota Coast,” the 782-acre Arroyo Hondo Preserve is a magnificent canyon located west of Santa Barbara between Refugio State Beach and Gaviota State Park. The old ranch is rich in early California history and has an abundance of outstanding natural features.Within its steep canyon walls is a hidden place of extraordinary beauty Read more...

Kashtayit State Marine Conservation Area Kashtayit State Marine Conservation Area is intended as a heritage site with significant educational opportunities. Kashtayit SMCA is connected to Gaviota State Park, the traditional Chumash village site of Kashtayit. As a Traditional Cultural Place that plays a significant role in Chumash maritime culture, it is ideally suited for tribal co-management to promote 1) education and Read more...

Campus Point State Marine Conservation Area Campus Point (aka Goleta Point) is a popular surfing and tidepooling area adjacent to UCSB. Learn More → Article on Boundaries and Permitted Uses at Campus SMPA published by California Marine Sanctuary Foundation Article published by California Department of Fish and Wildlife Map created by California Department of Fish and Wildlife Article in Wikipedia Article and Read more...

Naples State Marine Conservation Area Naples Reef offers a remote, wilderness-type dive for more experienced divers. Naples Reef features arches, pinnacles and ledges filled with colorful anemones, nudibranchs and cowries, along with reef fish like kelp bass, sheephead and even the occasional white sea bass or yellowtail. Marine mammals including sea lions and harbor seals also frequent the area. Look Read more...