| Gaviota State Park | |
|---|---|
 Gaviota State Park from the Gaviota Peak Trail | |
   | |
| Location | Santa Barbara County, California, United States |
| Nearest city | Goleta, California |
| Coordinates | 34°29′25″N120°13′45″W / 34.49028°N 120.22917°W /34.49028; -120.22917 |
| Area | 2,787 acres (11.28 km2) |
| Established | 1953 |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
Gaviota State Park is astate park ofCalifornia, United States. It is located in southernSanta Barbara County, California, about 33 miles (53 km) west of the city ofSanta Barbara.[1] One of three state parks along theGaviota Coast, it extends from thePacific coast to the crest of theSanta Ynez Mountains, and is adjacent toLos Padres National Forest. The 2,787-acre (1,128 ha) park was established in 1953.[2]
The park is bisected byU.S. Route 101, which turns north from the coast atGaviota, passing through theGaviota Tunnel and Gaviota Pass, a deep canyon cut entirely through the southern branch of the Santa Ynez Mountains.[3] Gaviota State Park consists of two units, one on each side of the highway. The western unit includes the beach and acampground, which receives most of the park's visitors.
Adjacent to the park on the west is a large region of private ranches and ranchettes known asHollister Ranch, which extends for almost the entire distance toPoint Conception (where the California coast turns to the north). Access to this portion of the coast is tightly secured, and possible only by water for non-residents.
The park is subject to aMediterranean climate, with mild, rainy winters, and sunny summers, commonly with morning clouds. Temperatures below freezing are rare, and summertime high temperatures rise with increasing distance from the coast. Because of the topographical peculiarity of the region, a single deep canyon cut through the mountains, at certain times of year, most frequently in late spring, winds blow through the canyon with great force. These winds, known asSundowners, are common all along the south coast of Santa Barbara County, but are frequently most violent in the Gaviota area.
Plant communities in the park includechaparral in the upland regions,oak woodlands elsewhere, and bothnative prairie and non-nativegrasslands. They are part of theCalifornia coastal sage and chaparralecoregion. The portion of Gaviota Creek that passes through the park includes one of the highest qualityriparianhabitats remaining in southern Santa Barbara County, and it receives strict environmental protection.[4]
Much of the park vegetation was burned in a large brushfire in June 2004, withwildfire being a natural part of the chaparral ecosystem.[citation needed]
Mountain lions have been encountered in the park, and warning signs are prominently posted. The park was closed for a month in 1992 following a near-fatal attack by a mountain lion on a 9-year-old boy.[5]
The park includes a beach campground, which contains 39 campsites for RVs (up to 25 feet for most sites) and for tents. Additionally there are eight picnic sites.[2]
Both sections of the park contain trails forhiking,horseback riding, andmountain biking.[6] The most heavily traveled trail is a short dirt road leading to a popularhot spring on the eastern side of the highway. A more substantial trail beginning at the same trailhead leads out of the park to the summit ofGaviota Peak, the highest mountain in the vicinity at 2,458 feet (749 m). The isolated peak has expansive views in all directions; on a clear day, much of Santa Barbara County is visible as well as the coast as far south as theSanta Monica Mountains. Trails within the park total 34 miles (55 km) in all.[2]
An update to the 1979 General Plan which included an inventory of wildlife, historic, and archeological assets and an outline of issues and concerns was started in 2024.El Capitán andRefugio State beaches will be included in the recommendations for modernizing the infrastructure, adapting toclimate change impacts and providing sustainable recreational opportunities.[7]