All Outdoor Recreation in Goleta

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...

Sandpiper Golf Club This spectacular seaside 18-hole, 72 par, 7,068 yard course was designed by William F. Bell and opened in 1972 featuring rolling fairways and challenging greens in the seaside links style layout. The course has a championship rating of 74.2 and hosts several professional tournaments, such as the PGA TOUR Tournament Players Series, The LPGA TOUR Santa Barbara Women’s Open, and Read more...

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...

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...

Windrow Trail More info coming soon Read more...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...