Lookout County Park

Located in the town of Summerland in Santa Barbara County, Lookout County Park - also known as Lookout Park - has an oceanfront park on a bluff top that has a long and wide beige sand beach right below the bluff, which is popularly known as Summerland Beach.  The park is spread over four acres, and the beach is tucked between Loon Point Beach on its east and Fernald Point Beach, which offer incredible views of the southern coastline of California.

Lookout County Park does not have lifeguards but offers many amenities including a grass park, a barbecue grill facility, a large playground with swing sets, picnic areas with picnic tables, benches, restrooms, showers, a volleyball court, and a coin-operated dog wash service.

Lookout County Park is a family-friendly beach that offers many fun activities including fishing, picnicking, surfing, sunbathing, beachcombing, swimming, paddleboarding, bodyboarding, volleyball, surfing, kayaking, canoeing, horseback riding, and bird watching.  If you are planning to go into the water, the waves are usually calm, but we recommend being careful, as the water here is known to have unpredictable rip currents.  The water near the beach is shallow, which is ideal for kayaks and small boats.  Depending on the time of year, visitors may spot whales, seals, sea lions, and dolphins.  Visitors may also spot many shorebirds and migratory birds.  It is also an ideal spot for windsurfing due to its frequently windy weather.  Visitors can also enjoy horseback riding on the beach.  You may call (805) 881-3196 or visit online.  Dogs are welcome on the beach if they are on a leash, and the park is open from sunrise until sunset.

Lookout County Park does not offer an access path for people with disabilities.

Getting to Lookout County Park is easy - the park has a large paid parking lot located at the end of Wallace Avenue.  After parking, you have to hike down a few minutes on a paved path to access the beach.

Lookout County Park is a perfect place to relax and unwind, especially during sunsets.

There are many attractions near Lookout County Park. Hot Springs Canyon Trailhead is a dog-friendly, moderately challenging hiking trail that passes through the woodlands of mixed pines, oaks, chaparral shrubs, a river, and several hot springs, which together provide interesting insight into the local flora and fauna.  Alameda Park is a dog-friendly park spread over 9 acres and has many amenities, including a pond, a large playground with swing sets, restrooms, a gazebo, picnic areas, picnic tables, a bandstand, and water fountains.  MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation, is a unique museum that offers interesting interactive exhibits focused on science, technology, and the arts for visitors of all age groups. 

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center has many aquarium tanks that showcase a wide variety of marine life, including sharks, seals, sea lions, starfish, two-spot octopus, moon jellyfish, giant Pacific seahorses, and urchins.  It provides a unique opportunity for visitors to explore the vibrant marine ecosystem of the region through touch-and-feel tide pools, live shows, guided tours, and educational programs that focus on educating visitors on how to protect marine life and oceans.  If you are looking for another attraction near Lookout County Park, Santa Barbara Zoo is home to over 500 animals, including lions, tigers, giraffes, koalas, gorillas, zebras, lemurs, elephants, monkeys, penguins, otters, pythons, macaws, flamingos, gibbons, kangaroos, and crocodiles.  The zoo offers interactive animal feeding and petting sessions.  In addition, it also has a miniature steam train, a playground, picnic areas, and restrooms.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants within a three-minute drive of Lookout County Park.  Summerland Beach I is nestled in an 1893 Victorian beach house with outdoor seating areas and serves amazing eggs, omelets, waffles, pancakes, rancheros, salads, burgers, sandwiches, and desserts. In addition, it also serves gluten-free dishes.  Ca’uso's is a beachfront, upscale Michelin-starred restaurant that serves pre-designed chef-special three-course meals.  China Palace Restaurant serves dim sums, soups, noodles, fried rice, curries, seafood, pork, meat, and poultry dishes.  The Nugget serves incredible salads, burgers, sandwiches, steaks, ribs, chops, pasta, seafood, beef, pork, and poultry dishes.  If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Lookout County Park, R’sty's Pizza Parlor serves delicious pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, hot wings, and desserts.

If you are looking for a hotel near Lookout County Park, there are many great options nearby.  If you are looking for an oceanfront upscale hotel, the 5-Star Rosewood Miramar Beach is seven minutes away by car and offers many amenities, including two outdoor pools, a spa, hot tubs, a fitness center, a piano lounge, and several restaurants.  A more affordable hotel is the beachfront 4-Star Inn on Summer Hill, which offers many amenities, including a hot tub, a spa, a fitness center, and a restaurant.  Another moderately priced option is the beachfront 4-Star Best Western Plus Carpinteria Inn, which offers many amenities including an outdoor pool, a hot tub, a fitness center, a garden with an outdoor seating area, and a restaurant.  A more reasonably priced option is the oceanfront 3-Star Santa Barbara Inn, which has many amenities including a heated outdoor pool, a hot tub, a fitness center, an Italian restaurant, and complimentary breakfast.  If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Lookout County Park, the 3-Star Holiday Inn Express & Suites Carpinteria, an IHG Hotel, offers several amenities including an outdoor pool, a fitness center, and complimentary breakfast.