Arroyo Quemada Beach(Arroyo Quemada Creek Beach)

Located to the west of Santa Barbara, Arroyo Quemada Beach - also known as Arroyo Quemado Creek Beach - is a narrow and remote rock and sand beach with incredible rock formations. The beach is situated below a blufftop residential area named Arroyo Quemada, and the Arroyo Quemado Creek flows into the ocean through the beach. The northern part of the beach is wider than the southern part, and a concrete wall is present behind a portion of the beach. 

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

Arroyo Quemada Beach offers many fun activities including beachcombing, tidepooling, sunbathing, swimming, fishing, wildlife watching, surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, bodysurfing, boogie boarding, kayaking, canoeing, boating, paddleboarding, jet skiing, and surf skiing. If you are planning to go into the water near Arroyo Quemada Beach, we recommend being careful as the water here is known to have rip currents. The water near Arroyo Quemada Beach is also home to many animals including seals, sea lions, dolphins, and migrating grey whales (between December and April). During low tide, you can explore the various interesting rock formations and tidepools which are present along the beach shoreline. The beach offers a marvelous Instagram-worthy view of the Southern California shoreline. The beach is ideal for those looking for a quiet beach experience as it sees few visitors due to its remote location. 

Getting to Arroyo Quemada Beach is easy - the beach is located near 400 Arroyo Quemada Lane. The public access to the beach starts near the southern entrance of Arroyo Quemada Lane, which is present along United States Highway 101 around two miles north of the exit for Refugio State Park. From this entrance, you need to drive around half a mile on Arroyo Quemada Lane before you can reach a free small parking lot that has an access trail leading down along the bluff side to the beach. However, we recommend being careful since walking on this access trail involves crossing an active railway line. In addition, we recommend visiting this beach during low tide as during high tide this narrow beach can become significantly submerged and inaccessible.

There are many attractions near Arroyo Quemada Beach within a 20-minute drive. South Coast Railroad Museum has interesting exhibits related to railway technology and the history of railroad expansion and its contributions to the development of local communities in Southern California. The museum premises also include the Goleta Depot which was built in 1901 and is listed in the United States National Register of Historic Places. The Stow House is a historic landmark that was built in the 19th century that offers a unique insight into the history of Goleta and Santa Barbara County. In addition, Stow House also has a garden that has many interesting species of plants including Chilean wine palm and Spanish fir. If you are looking for another attraction near Arroyo Quemada Beach, Sandpiper Golf Club 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 Quemada 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. Cajun Kitchen Cafe serves excellent Cajun dishes including po’boy sandwiches, jambalaya, and gumbo. In addition, the restaurant also serves excellent breakfast dishes including pancakes, burritos, egg scrambles, and waffles. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Arroyo Quemada Beach, the modestly priced Lilly’s Taqueria offers an excellent variety of grilled and steamed tacos.

If you are looking for a hotel near Arroyo Quemada Beach, there are many great nearby options within a 20-minute drive. 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 hotel is the 3-Star Hilton Garden Inn Santa Barbara/Goleta that offers many amenities including a rooftop restaurant, a pool, a fitness room, and a 24-hour convenience store. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Arroyo Quemada Beach, the modestly priced Super 8 by Wyndham Santa Barbara/Goleta offers many amenities including a pool, a picnic area, a barbecue spot, and complimentary breakfast.