Located to the west of Goleta, the Hollister Ranch Beaches are a group of six sandy and rocky beaches which are named from the west to east as San Augustin, Bulito, Drakes, Sacate, Alegria, and Agua Caliente respectively. These south and southwest-facing beaches are situated below oceanfront bluffs and the area around these beaches is part of a private residential and agricultural community known as the Hollister Ranch. These beaches often have very few visitors as there are no public land access routes available for these six beaches. A new law named AB 1860 was approved by the Governor of California in 2019 which seeks to provide a public access route to the Hollister Ranch shoreline by 2022. Despite the current constraints in access, some intrepid beachgoers often visit the Hollister Ranch Beaches via boat or kayak. The nearest kayak-launching spot for the Hollister Ranch Beaches is the Gaviota Pier, which also has a boat hoist. However, if you are planning to visit the Hollister Ranch Beaches via boat, be careful as these beaches are known to have localist beachgoers who may try to dissuade you from visiting these beaches. Nevertheless, these beaches have many locally famous surfing spots and surfers have been visiting these beaches for an exciting surfing session since the 1960s. In addition, some of the beaches in Hollister Ranch are also used by clothing-optional visitors. However, if you are planning a clothing-optional visit to the Hollister Ranch Beaches, we recommend being careful as public indecency is legally punishable by the local authorities. Some of the beaches in Hollister Ranch also have tidepools.
