Santa Cruz Campground

Sunset cruises along this beautiful beach are just one of the ways cyclists can enjoy Carpinteria State Beach. There are several bike-in campsites, as well as trails that lead along the beach and through the surrounding countryside.

Motorboats are not allowed to be brought in here, but if you want more information on boating in Carpinteria, check out the kayaking & canoeing section below.

How does wading into the surf, rod in your hand, hot sun on your back, and the entire afternoon stretched before you like a wide expanse of beautiful state beach sound? Pretty amazing? Yeah, we think so too. Check out what’s biting and be sure to get your fishing license, then get ready for a perfect afternoon trying your luck in the beautiful waters of Carpinteria State Beach (you can find the local fishing report here). The absolute worst thing that can happen is you’ll have to watch the sunset having caught nothing, which, if you ask us, is worth the time anyway.

This park is more known for its expanses of white sand than hiking, but in addition to a lovely walk along the Pacific Ocean, visitors can also enjoy the Carpinteria Bluffs Trail, an easy hike (read: round trip and flat) that takes you to the nearby seal sanctuary (you know that sounds fun!) If you are looking for a little bit of variety to the seashore camping experience, this is a nice way to mix it up.

Carpinteria State Beach is home to pretty much every fun activity you can do in the water, and that, of course, includes paddling your way around the deep blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. The beautiful beach makes launching a breeze, and there are rentals and lessons available at nearby Carpinteria City Beach. Delightfully, seals, whales and dolphins often join canoers and kayakers as they move through the waters, and adventurers who venture a quarter of a mile or so will be treated to a shallow rocky reef, perfect for exploring!

Although technically the best time to surf in this county is in the winter, we are betting that you are going to find the sun-soaked beaches and inviting surf pretty hard to resist in the summer months. Expert surfers tend to gather along Rubicon Point, while Santa Claus Beach and Carpinteria State Beach create some nice waves for those at the beginner or intermediate level. Don’t know how to surf, but can’t resist the pull of the ocean? There are lessons about a mile away (we’ll see you at Rubicon Point next summer!).

Getting into that gorgeous water is really what this park is all about. Known as one of the safest swimming beaches along the California coast, an offshore reef means waves break further offshore and a gently sloping bottom makes swimming easier and reduces the likelihood of rip tides. The park’s sunsoaked location in Southern California also means that those looking to darken their tan line (or simply warm their bones) get the chance to bake on the sparkling shoreline. Add that to the pretty much endless opportunities for beach volleyball and sandcastle competitions and we think you can go ahead and cross “fun-in-the-sun” off your list.

The coast always provides ample opportunities for wildlife spotting. Lucky paddlers have been visited by whales, seals and dolphins, while gulls and shorebirds roam the beach looking for their next meal. There are also hundreds of small frogs that love to get to singin’ around dusk, and a small lagoon near the beach makes a nice spot to check out mallards, egrets, herons, coots and other birds.