Point Sal State Beach
Encyclopedia
Point Sal State Beach is a beach
on the Pacific
coast of California
, located near the city of Guadalupe
, in the northwestern part of Santa Barbara County
. There are approximately 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) of property and only 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of ocean frontage. This beach is at risk of landslides as there are rocky shorelines and extremely steep slopes.
Among the most popular activities are fishing, beach combing, hiking, nature study, photography, picnicking and sunbathing. However, swimming is not recommended due to dangerous rip currents, absence of lifeguard service, and occasional shark sightings. Camping is prohibited due to security concerns involving Vandenberg Air Force Base
and anyone caught camping can be subject to citation, arrest, and eviction by the Park Rangers and/or Air Police. There are also no recreational facilities (toilets, picnic tables, etc.)
During the winter of 1998, portions of the access road to the beach were washed out by winter rains. The road has not been repaired and remains closed to vehicles. Point Sal State Beach is accessible only to visitors who mountain bike or hike to the beach. One way is to travel west on Brown Road from its junction with Highway 1
approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) south of downtown Guadalupe, park your car at the trailhead, and hike approximately 9 miles (14.5 km) to the top of the cliff overlooking the beach. Visitors should allow sufficient time to return to the trailhead on Brown Road by sunset.
Alternatively, the strong hiker can trek 12 miles (19.3 km) (round trip) to the state beach from Rancho Guadalupe Dunes County Park located to the north of Point Sal. The entrance to the park is accessed by driving approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) west on Main Street from Highway 1 in Guadelupe. Note that park closes at 7:30 pm, well before local sundown in the summer.
The route involving going through Casmalia
using Point Sal Road is no longer accessible to the general public since it requires traversing Vandenberg Air Force Base.
Beach
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
on the Pacific
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
coast of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, located near the city of Guadalupe
Guadalupe, California
Guadalupe is a small city located in Santa Barbara County, California. According to the U.S. Census of 2010, the city has a population of 7,080. It was incorporated as a city on May 19, 1946...
, in the northwestern part of Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County, California
Santa Barbara County is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California, on the Pacific coast. As of 2010 the county had a population of 423,895. The county seat is Santa Barbara and the largest city is Santa Maria.-History:...
. There are approximately 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) of property and only 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of ocean frontage. This beach is at risk of landslides as there are rocky shorelines and extremely steep slopes.
Among the most popular activities are fishing, beach combing, hiking, nature study, photography, picnicking and sunbathing. However, swimming is not recommended due to dangerous rip currents, absence of lifeguard service, and occasional shark sightings. Camping is prohibited due to security concerns involving Vandenberg Air Force Base
Vandenberg Air Force Base
Vandenberg Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base, located approximately northwest of Lompoc, California. It is under the jurisdiction of the 30th Space Wing, Air Force Space Command ....
and anyone caught camping can be subject to citation, arrest, and eviction by the Park Rangers and/or Air Police. There are also no recreational facilities (toilets, picnic tables, etc.)
During the winter of 1998, portions of the access road to the beach were washed out by winter rains. The road has not been repaired and remains closed to vehicles. Point Sal State Beach is accessible only to visitors who mountain bike or hike to the beach. One way is to travel west on Brown Road from its junction with Highway 1
California State Route 1
State Route 1 , more often called Highway 1, is a state highway that runs along much of the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California. It is famous for running along some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, leading to its designation as an All-American Road.Highway 1 does not run...
approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) south of downtown Guadalupe, park your car at the trailhead, and hike approximately 9 miles (14.5 km) to the top of the cliff overlooking the beach. Visitors should allow sufficient time to return to the trailhead on Brown Road by sunset.
Alternatively, the strong hiker can trek 12 miles (19.3 km) (round trip) to the state beach from Rancho Guadalupe Dunes County Park located to the north of Point Sal. The entrance to the park is accessed by driving approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) west on Main Street from Highway 1 in Guadelupe. Note that park closes at 7:30 pm, well before local sundown in the summer.
The route involving going through Casmalia
Casmalia, California
Casmalia is a census-designated place in Santa Barbara County, California located just outside the borders of Vandenberg Air Force Base about southwest of Santa Maria. The ZIP Code is 93429, and the community is inside area code 805. The population was 138 at the 2010 census.-History:Casmalia is...
using Point Sal Road is no longer accessible to the general public since it requires traversing Vandenberg Air Force Base.