Oil Piers Beach(Old Piers Beach)

Oil Piers Beach located near the communities of Mussel Shoals and Seacliff Beach Colony, Oil Piers Beach is a popular beach situated along the Ventura County coastline. The beach is long and narrow and has light brown sand, portions of the beach are fixed with rocky man-made embankments to prevent erosion. The beach is located near Rincon Island, which is a small artificial islet once used for extracting oil. There is also an oil pier (called Richfield Pier) situated near the northern end of the beach. The pier connects Rincon Island (which is situated 3,000 feet away from the shoreline of mainland Ventura County) to the mainland. However, both Richfield 

Pier and Rincon Island are currently off limits to the public. Oil Piers Beach does not have any lifeguards or any other amenities, plan your visit accordingly. The beach allows dogs on leash.

Oil Piers Beach offers many fun activities including swimming, fishing, wildlife watching, tidepooling, surfing, skim boarding, paddle boarding, windsurfing, kitesurfing, bodysurfing, boogie boarding, kayaking, canoeing, boating, jet-skiing, surf-skiing, wake-boarding , beachcombing, sunbathing, and wildlife watching. If you are planning to go into the water near Oil Piers Beach, we recommend being careful since the water here is known for its strong currents and sharp waves. If you are an amateur swimmer, we recommend foregoing swimming here. Oil Piers Beach is ideal for kayakers, canoers, boogie boarders, and paddle boarders. The water near the beach is also home to a variety of animals including seals, sea lions, dolphins, and migrating grey whales (between December and April). Moreover, there is a large array of fish here making it an ideal fishing spot - corbina, croaker, and halibut are some of the popular catches here.

Getting to Oil Piers Beach is easy - the beach is located near the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Mobil Pier Road and is easily accessible from United States Highway 101 (via Exit - 78). There are free parking spaces along Mobil Pier Road which are open from 5 am to 10 pm. There is a narrow access point for Oil Piers Beach a short walk away from these parking spaces.

There are many attractions near Oil Piers Beach. Carpinteria Seal Sanctuary is a harbor seal rookery which offers a unique opportunity of watching harbor seals during breeding season and also features trained volunteers offering interesting information about the local fauna. Tar Pits Park is a park which offers active asphalt tar pits which are sourced by an underground asphalt lake (which is one of the only five asphalt lakes in the whole world). If you’re looking for another attraction near Oil Piers Beach, Carpinteria Valley Museum of History offers interesting exhibits on local history and also features a gift shop. In addition the museum also hosts flea markets and art-and-craft fairs.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Oil Piers Beach. Zookers Restaurant is an upscale restaurant which offers delicious steaks and seafood dishes that are served in generous portions. Shoals Restaurant offers a pleasant oceanfront dining experience and serves delectable seafood. If you’re looking for a good and modestly priced restaurant near Oil Piers Beach, the modestly priced The Spot offers excellent burgers, french fries, and sandwiches.

If you are looking for a hotel to stay near Oil Piers Beach, there are many great nearby options. The 4-Star Best Western Plus Carpinteria Inn offers many amenities including a restaurant, a bar, a pool, a hot tub, an exercise room, and a garden. A more affordable hotel is the 3 Star Holiday Inn Express & Suites Carpinteria which offers many amenities including a fitness center, a pool, and complimentary breakfast. If you’re looking for another affordable hotel near Oil Piers Beach, the modestly priced 2-Star Sandyland Reef Inn offers many amenities including a pool and a hot tub.