Enjoy A Long Walk At This Underrated Coastal Park In Southern California

From mountains to deserts to beaches, Southern California has ample opportunities to get out and enjoy the great outdoors, marvel at natural beauty, and get a little exercise at the same time. I have explored a lot of these places (not as many as I want to!) and one of my favorite places to take a long walk is a coastal park in Goleta, CA, which combines forest, tall grass-lined paths, and awe-inspiring ocean views. If I lived closer to Santa Barbara Shores Park, I would spend a great deal of time here.

Santa Barbara Shores Park is park of the Ellwood Mesa Open Space preserve in Goleta, located on a wide grassy bluff along the gorgeous Santa Barbara coast.

The official trail, known as Ellwood Forest Park Loop, is a loop around the park, but there are multiple paths that crisscross through the park.

About a half-mile of trail runs along the edge of the bluff with little spots to step off the path and soak in the breathtaking views. The park is popular with locals, especially on the weekend, but there are many times that I have been here and seen very few people the entire time I was there.

Toward the east end of the park, a rugged trail leads down to the shore. With few visitors, this is a wonderful place to walk along the water and feel the sand in your toes.

The uplifted rock layers that form the cliffs make a stunning backdrop for the long narrow beach.

A couple of the paths lead between the beach overlook at the Eucalyptus grove that borders the park - a grove where monarch butterflies roost during their winter migration along the coast.

The park is not just a great place for humans to walk - your leashed fur-babies are welcome to join you!

The park is open year-round and beautiful to explore any time of day. Enjoy a quiet morning stroll, a relaxing afternoon trek, or an iconic SoCal sunset over the sea.

If a easy trails, fresh air, and awesome views - sans crowds - sound good to you, head to Santa Barbara Shores Park for a bit. Have you spent time in this lovely coastal park in Goleta? Share your thoughts with us in the comments. Is there another place you love in SoCal for a nice long walk? For more outdoor inspiration, discover more of our favorite Southern California trails!