Ocean Beach Park is where the Santa Ynez River meets the Pacific Ocean. Bird-watchers and nature photographers flock to this destination, where all kinds of migratory sea birds can be seen. Please note that access to the beach is closed to the public from March 1 through September 30 due to the Snowy Plover nesting season. Read more...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Gaviota State Park Gaviota State Park is about 30 miles west of Santa Barbara. For the outdoor enthusiast the park offers a wide range of water sports and traditional activities such as hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Visitors can choose to fish from a historic pier, scuba dive in a marine conservation area, bag a 2461 foot peak, soak in the 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...
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...