Anyone who has traveled along the iconic Gaviota Coast has passed both the El Capitan Canyon Ranch and State Beach Park. Named after the El Capitan Canyon they occupy, this area has a creek, oak woodlands, coastal scrub, and working rangeland, not to mention a fantastic beach and both a private glamping outfit and state beach campground.
Acres:
450
The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County holds a conservation easement on the approximately 450-acre El Capitan Canyon Ranch and Campground. This property is a privately owned and publicly accessible campground with tent and RV camping, yurts, and cabin accommodations. There is also organic farming, pastured livestock operations, and hiking on adjacent state park land via the Bill Wallace Trail and easier trails on the beach side of the park.
Recent winter storms caused extensive damage at Arroyo Hondo Preserve, impacting trails, roads, and infrastructure. For safety reasons, the preserve is currently closed while the land continues to shift and recovery efforts begin.
Our stewardship team is actively assessing conditions and planning the careful work ahead. We’re sharing updates and photos as recovery progresses and inviting the community to support this effort.