Ellwood Bluffs Walk

Santa Barbara, California, United States

Description

Ellwood Bluffs are a wide expanse of land criss-crossed with dirt trails. There are four types of terrain to explore: forest, open land with grasses and wildflowers, clifftop trails with stunning sea views, and the beach below. In February, purple and yellow wildflowers burst into bloom all over the bluffs. From November to February, monarch butterflies flitter happily about in the shards of sunlight that pierce the eucalyptus forest. On weekends families skip cheerfully along the clifftop trail looking down on the beach below. Dog-lovers enjoy the open spaces and let rover run free. Remote-control enthusiasts swoop their planes into the air. College students make bonfires at night on the secluded beach. The clifftop trail opens up to a wide gravel trail down to the driftwood-strewn beach. This is a rugged, natural area that can be foggy.
Don't wear nice sneakers here because they'll be covered in fine dirt.
If you're hungry, drive over to Anna's Bakery for a treat and to warm up on the wide-open brick outdoor area.

Photo Gallery

Blossoming tree on Santa Barbara Shores Drive, where there is another entrance to the trails.	Trail in the forest, before you get to the open bluffs.	February wildflowers and a strand of trees on the bluffs.
Purples and yellow- aah bliss!	Yellow flowers with the sea behind- what more could you ask for?!	Remnants of a bonfire beside the sand.

Directions

This is an interactive map, you can zoom and move it.

The parking lot for Ellwood Bluffs Walk is called Goleta Butterfly Grove Parking and is located at 7559 Palos Verdes Dr, Goleta CA 93117.
From Highway 101, exit at Glen Annie/ Storke Rd and head toward the ocean. Turn right on Hollister Avenue. Drive for 2 miles and then turn left into the large parking lot across from Ellwood Elementary School. Parking is free.