Carpinteria Bluffs

BEACH WALK INFORMATION
Distance-1 mile from the end of Bailard Road to the Chevron Oil Pier
Topo-Carpinteria
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DIRECTIONS
From State Street, follow Highway 101 east for 12 miles to the Bailard Road turnoff. Turn right and park in the turnout just across Carpinteria Avenue where Bailard ends on the Carpinteria bluffs.

A CAUTION
The Harbor Seal Preserve is closed to entry from December 1 through May 31. Please observe the closure. Dogs and seals make a bad mix. If you bring yours with you make sure it is on a leash when you are anywhere near the Seal Preserve. Please be extremely careful when you are anywhere near the railroad tracks.

THE WALK
The Carpinteria Bluffs are now preserved as open space, thanks to the many local citizens who contributed so saving them. I always enjoy my walks here. Getting off the freeway, there is almost always a catering truck nearby where I can get a snow cone or drink before heading down to the beach.

The walk down to the bluffs leads through quiet, open meadows and a long row of stately eucalyptus trees. It is easy walking along the bluff edge to the Chevron Oil Pier, where you can observe harbor seals on the beach.

There is access to the beach just east of the pier, leading down to a long sandy beach where you can enjoy a mile of secluded walking down to Rincon Point. To the west you will need to walk through the Chevron parking lot to reach more of the Carp bluffs. These will lead you along a very pleasant set of overlooks and eventually down to the ocean’s edge. From there it is a bit more than a mile to the state park.