Bacara Resort Beach

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Description

Wildflower Path
Bacara Resort Beach is in a beautiful area. The hills are covered in strands of tall wonderful trees. Wildflowers abound. It's really nice to walk the short hard-packed path from the beach access parking to the beach. Here you will find fancy resort restrooms and a few picnic areas amongst wildflowers and small palms. There isn't any shade.
The Beach with Pebble Music
The beach itself is covered in huge pebbles and there is no sand. The sound of the ocean clacking the pebbles together as it swishes on the shore is lovely. Because there's no sand though, one can't go for a walk anymore (though you can take the path to the beach further east and there is sand).
The Pier, White Cliffs, and Resort
To the west one looks toward the picturesque pier and dramatic white cliffs that catch the afternoon light. The resort looks like a Spanish village cascading down the hillside. A steep path leads alongside the resort. There you can take in sweeping views of the beach and pier and find little wildflowers of all colors along the way.
Loop Trail
A loop trail leads beside high impressive white cliffs to the east. Little white-tailed bunny rabbits scoot by. Fishermen hang out on the pebbly beach below. An impressive strand of Monterey cypress line the tall cliffs. An estuary reaches far back into green hills. You walk uphill past the gas facility to a lookout with a great view, then back down to the picnic area.
Places to Drive Nearby
If you're hungry, drive to Anna's Bakery. which is in the Camino Real Shopping Center, east of the resort on Hollister Ave. The muffins there are so good! Kahuna Grill, near Anna's Bakery, is also really yummy, with hamburgers, kebobs, and salads. You can take your kids to the nice playground at Girsh Park or to the unique play equipment at Dinosaur Park.

Photo Gallery

The gardens near the Beach Access Parking- huge stripey cactus!	The trail, open to the public, that leads down to the beach.	The pavilion, with nice fancy bathrooms, at the public beach access.
Sunlight hitting the white cliffs on a September day in 2008.	Too bad there's no more sand.	The cliffs to the east of Bacara Resort Beach, upon which stand a long strand of Monterey Cypress trees.
The extra-steep trail that leads from the beach up alongside the hotel, where you get great views of the pier and beach below. Don't walk up it if your shoes are slippery because there's no handrail.	The resort is quite large, covering much of the hill.	Black-Eyed Susans and the pier in the distance, on a blissful winter's day.
Surfers enjoy the swell near the pier. This surf spot is called Haskells.	The trail that leads from the resort to the beach.

Directions

From Highway 101 northbound, exit at Winchester Canyon Rd. Go straight on Calle Real. When you come to the freeway onramps, turn left on Hollister Ave. Be careful to stay on Hollister Ave and not get back on the freeway by accident. Turn right almost immediately into the Bacara Resort entrance.
From Highway 101 southbound, exit at Winchester Canyon Rd. Go straight on Hollister Ave and almost immediately turn right into the Bacara Resort entrance.
Follow the hotel driveway for a while. At the bottom of the hill, turn left at the sign that says "Beach Access." There's a short hard-packed sand path to the beach.

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Visitor Ratings

Overall Visitor Rating:

Dawn 11/05/2009 21:25	most wonderful - thanks...
Courtney 10/15/2009 13:41	the beaches in goleta have a very nice feel and plenty of room without the overcrowdedness of some other beaches. The water is not crystal clear and not warm at all, but still adequate. Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt were spotted there one year when I first moved to go to UCSB, so if it is good enough for them it is good enough for me.
Rich 10/01/2009 14:40	dawn patrolling at double overhead Haskells--with only 5 guys out!
Steve 09/19/2009 20:32	Great place Quiet peaceful and good place to surf.