Arroyo Hondo Beach

Located between Refugio State Beach and Gaviota State Park, Arroyo Hondo Beach is a small and narrow rock-and-sand beach with some pebbly portions. The beach is situated below oceanfront bluffs at the mouth of Arroyo Hondo Creek. A wooden train trestle and a historic arched concrete bridge (which is now closed to vehicular traffic) also pass above this beach. The beach has some incredible linear vertical rock formations along its shoreline. 

Arroyo Hondo Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, so plan your trip carefully. 

Arroyo Hondo Beach offers many fun activities including beachcombing, sunbathing, wildlife watching, tide pooling, swimming, hiking, surfing, kitesurfing, bodysurfing, windsurfing, paddle boarding, boogie boarding, kayaking, canoeing, boating, jet skiing, wakeboarding, and surf skiing. If you are planning to go into the water near Arroyo Hondo Beach, we recommend being careful as the water here is known to have 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). During low tide, you can explore the tidepools present along the beach shoreline which are home to many animals including crabs, sea stars, and barnacles. This beach is ideal for those looking for a private beach experience as few visitors come here. You can also walk along the coastline around this beach to explore sandy coves, interesting bluff sides, and unique rock formations that were created more than five million years ago due to tectonic uplift. There is a blufftop spot above the beach near its parking lot called the Vista Point which offers marvelous Instagram-worthy views of the Pacific Ocean. The historic concrete beach above the Arroyo Hondo Beach also offers some great Instagram-worthy photos.

The Arroyo Hondo Preserve is located near the beach across United States Highway 101, which has hiking trails and offers an interesting insight into the rich history and biodiversity of Southern California. Guided tours of the preserve are also available between 10 am and noon. However, if you need to hike in the preserve, you need to make a prior reservation. If you want to make a reservation for your visit to the preserve, you can visit the website for The Land Trust For Santa Barbara County for more information. 

Getting to Arroyo Hondo Beach is easy - the rough and unpaved access trail to the beach starts from the southbound lanes of United States Highway 101 near the eastern end of the arched concrete bridge, where there is also a free parking lot. If you are driving northbound on United States Highway 101, there is a U-turn approximately five miles north of Refugio State Beach from where you can cross over to the southbound side of the highway and then drive to the beginning of the access trail for the beach. From this spot, you need to look out for some concrete steps and a steep trail between the train trestle and the concrete bridge leading down along the bluff side. Once below the blufftop area, you need to turn left and walk on a small path along the rocky terrain to Arroyo Hondo Beach. 

There are many attractions near Arroyo Hondo Beach. 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 that was originally constructed during the 19th century. 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. 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 Arroyo Hondo Beach, Sandpiper Golf Club is 18 minutes away by car and offers a challenging golf course with Instagram-worthy views of the Pacific Ocean. This golf course, which was designed by William F. Bell was included in the top 25 public golf courses of the United States by the Golf Digest magazine.  

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Arroyo Hondo Beach within a 20-minute drive. The Bistro is an upscale restaurant that offers a memorable oceanfront dining experience. In addition, the restaurant serves excellent breakfast and dinner dishes including sandwiches, burgers, huevos rancheros, pizzas, and seasonal salads. Itsuki Japanese Restaurant offers many delicious Japanese dishes including sushi, tonkatsu, and tempura. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Arroyo Hondo 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 Arroyo Hondo 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, a pool, and a playground. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Arroyo Hondo Beach, the modestly priced 2-Star Motel 6 Goleta, CA - Santa Barbara offers many amenities including morning coffee, a pool, and a coin-operated laundry.