San Onofre Beach

Located to the west of Goleta, San Onofre Beach is a long, narrow, and less popular rock-and-sand beach with some interesting rock formations. This beach is situated below steep oceanfront bluffs and is a part of a state park known as Gaviota State Park. The beach has a sparse amount of vegetation along the bluff sides and the eastern part of the beach is sandier than its western part. The Canada San Onofre Creek (also spelled as Cañada San Onofre Creek) flows through the beach into the Pacific Ocean. San Onofre Beach should not be confused with another, a separate state park with a similar name called San Onofre State Beach, which is in San Diego County. 

San Onofre Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, so we recommend preparing accordingly.

San Onofre Beach offers many fun activities including beachcombing, sunbathing, wildlife watching, swimming, surfing, kitesurfing, tidepooling, fishing, bodysurfing, windsurfing, paddle boarding, boogie boarding, kayaking, canoeing, boating, and jet skiing. If you are planning to go into the water near San Onofre Beach, we recommend being careful as the water here has rip currents. The water near the beach is home to many animals including seals, sea lions, dolphins, and migrating grey whales (between December and April). San Onofre Beach is also a popular fishing spot - depending on the time of the year, you can catch many kinds of fish here including surfperch, smelt, and mackerel. The beach is popular among clothing-optional visitors due to its secluded location. However, if you are planning a clothing-optional visit to San Onofre Beach, keep in mind that nudity is illegal under local regulations. 

Gaviota State Park is a 2, 742-acre oceanfront state park that offers many fun activities including camping, hiking, biking, horse riding, swimming, and fishing. The state park has a pier which is a popular fishing spot and is equipped with a boat hoist. Hikers can also explore more than 2,000 acres of oak woodlands in the state park that also has the Gaviota Peak (that is a part of the Santa Ynez Mountain Range), the Gaviota Hot Springs where you can take a refreshing dip, and an interesting sandstone rock formation known as Gaviota Wind Caves. In addition, the portions of Gaviota Creek passing through the state park are known to have an incredibly vivid riparian habitat and are considered as one of the most pristine riparian habitats in Santa Barbara County

Getting to San Onofre Beach is easy - the free parking lot and the access trail for the beach are present near southbound lanes of United States Highway 101. If you are traveling along United States Highway 101 from Goleta or Santa Barbara, you can switch to the southbound lane by exiting the northbound US Highway 101 through the Mariposa Reina exit (also known as Exit 128) and then switching to the southbound lanes of the highway. From this exit, you need to drive around a mile south to get to the free parking lot and access trail from San Onofre Beach. From the parking lot, you need to walk on the access trail to San Onofre Beach which leads you down along the bluff side near the mouth of the Canada San Onofre Creek. In addition, there is also a tall rock formation near the entrance from this access trail to the beach. We recommend being careful while walking on the access trail to San Onofre Beach as it crosses through an active railroad. In addition, we recommend visiting this beach during low tide as during high tide this narrow beach is almost completely submerged and inaccessible.

There are many attractions near San Onofre Breach within a 20-minute drive. Winchester II Park is a three-and-a-half-acre grassy park that has a swing set, and a softball/baseball backstop which makes it an ideal visitation option for families. Nojoqui Falls Park is owned by Santa Barbara County and has many amenities including ball fields, barbecue spots, picnic tables, restrooms, and a playground. In addition, the park also has hiking trails through which you can explore the vibrant landscape of Santa Barbara County and Southern California. The park also has a seasonal 80-feet high waterfall known as the Nojoqui Falls, which offers some incredible Instagram-worthy photos. If you are looking for another attraction near San Onofre Beach, Nojoqui Horse Ranch is set at the base of the Santa Ynez Mountain Range and offers interesting horse riding trails. In addition, the ranch also offers horse riding lessons.

If you get hungry, there are many restaurants near San Onofre Beach within a 20-minute drive. Angel Oak is an upscale steakhouse that offers a pleasant oceanfront dining experience and also serves steaks and seafood. Itsuki Japanese Restaurant offers many delicious Japanese dishes including sushi, tonkatsu, and tempura. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near San Onofre Beach, the modestly priced Home Plate Grill offers delicious breakfast dishes including waffles, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, eggs, and wraps. The restaurant also serves excellent lunch and dinner dishes including pizzas, pasta, burgers, salads, sandwiches, and soups.

If you are looking for a hotel near San Onofre Beach, there are many great nearby options within a 20-minute drive. The 5-Star Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara offers many amenities including two oceanfront saltwater pools with a rental cabana, tennis courts, multiple restaurants, a bar, a wine tasting room, tennis courts, and a seasonal kids’ club. In addition, the hotel also offers many amenities for a resort fee including a spa, a fitness center, and complimentary drinks. As another upscale option, the 4-Star Pacifica Suites offers many amenities including complimentary breakfast and an evening wine reception on weekdays, a pool, and a hot tub.  A more affordable option is the 3-Star El Capitan Canyon which is a resort that offers accommodation in both cabins and tents. The resort campground has many amenities including heaters, lamps, restrooms, grills, firepits, and picnic tables. The resort also offers many other amenities including a deli, bike loaner facility, free admission to local musical events, and a pool and a playground. If you are looking for another good and affordable option near San Onofre Beach, the modestly priced Gaviota State Park campground accommodates tents, trailers, and RVs and offers many amenities including a camp store, drinking, water, restrooms, tables, fire ring, barbecue spots, and showers.