El Capitan State Beach

Santa Barbara County

El Capitan Beach, Santa Barbara County, California
El Capitan Beach, Santa Barbara County, California

El Capitan State Beach

Santa Barbara County


El Capitan State Beach

Only a half hour drive up the coast from Santa Barbara, El Capitan State Beach draws a lot of visitors year-round. Among favorite activities along the rock and sand beach are surfing, exploring tide pools, picnicking, sun bathing, and fishing. A bike-walk trail meanders along the coast, provide great views of the ocean. Clusters of campsites among the dunes near the shore make it a popular destination for campers. Groves of oak, eucalyptus, and sycamore offer ample shade to campsites.

El Capitan Beach property extends across the railroad tracks and Highway 101 up into the lower slopes of the Santa Ynez Mountains, but most visitors confine themselves to the beach areas. A nature trail offers great ways to explore the coast and the forested areas along El Capitan Creek. A stairway provides access from the bluffs to the beach area.


map of El Capitan State Beach, Santa Barbara County, CA

El Capitan State Beach Wildlife

A variety of birds can be spotted in the trees. Among the most common are scrub jays, flickers, California thrashers, and band-tailed pigeons. Visitors also spy an occasional red-tailed hawk. Squirrels scurry about the tree limbs while mule deer forage among the oaks and shrubs. Out along the coast birders spot gulls, loons, Clark's grebes, and scoters. Looking out to sea, you may well see dolphins and passing gray whales.

El Capitan State Beach, Santa Barbara County, California
East Beach, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, California


El Capitan Canyon Resort

Across Highway 101 from El Capitan State Beach and tucked among the trees is cozy El Capitan Canyon Resort. Located on 300 acres, El Capitan Canyon provides nature lodging for those who want to relax, unwind, and commune with nature.

El Capitan Canyon Accommodations

Enjoy cedar cabins and safari tents grouped in villages with names such as Peace Tree, and Shaded Creek. Each cabin or tent has casual furnishings. All cabins have front porches, bathrooms, fine linens, kitchenettes, wet bars, outdoor picnic tables, grills, and firepits. Some cabins have fireplaces and soaking tubs.

Safari Tents are equipped with queen or double beds, screened windows, linens and towels, storage, heaters, electric lighting. Each tent has its own picnic table, grill and firepit. Private bathroom facilities are located in nearby buildings. Yurts come with features similar to the safari tents. Bathrooms are nearby.



El Capitan Canyon Amenities

On the resort grounds are a market and deli, a swimming pool, and a ropes course. Guests enjoy yoga, story-telling, Saturday night BBQs, and much more. Beach cruiser bikes available. WiFi is provided.

Contact

11560 Calle Real, off Highway 101,
opposite El Capitan State Beach
(805) 685-3887 or toll free (866) 352-2729
El Capitan Canyon Resort
Rates: $$$

  TOP


Ocean Safety

California State Parks and Recreation cautions that "large surf, cold water temperatures, backwash, sudden drop-offs, pounding shorebreak, and dangerous rip currents can turn what seem like safe activities such as playing near the surf line, wading, or climbing on rock outcroppings, deadly." Learn more about ocean safety at CA State Parks: Ocean Safety