⚠ You are offline. Changes cannot be saved until your connection is restored.
About
ⓘ Some details here were drafted automatically and haven't been verified yet — double-check fees and hours with the managing agency before you go.
LocationSolvang CA
SizeSmall — a few hours or less
Acres20 acres
Good forWildlife Viewing
Refugio State Beach (Chumash: Qasil, "Beautiful") is a protected state beach park in California, United States, approximately 20 miles (32 km) west of Santa Barbara. One of three state parks along the Gaviota Coast, it is 2.5 miles (4.0 km) west of El Capitan State Beach. The Refugio oil spill occurred just north of the park in 2015 when a pipeline carrying crude oil ruptured. The spill went into a culvert that ran under US 101 and into the ocean. The spill spread over 7 miles (11 km) of coastline, including Refugio and El Capitan state beaches. The parks were closed during the clean-up, including during the typically busy Memorial Day weekend. The pipeline which caused the disaster is no longer in service. An update to the 1979 General Plan which included an inventory of wildlife, historic, and archeological assets and an outline of issues and concerns was started in 2024. El Capitan State Beach and Gaviota State Park will be included in the recommendations for modernizing the infrastructure, adapting to climate change impacts and providing sustainable recreational opportunities.
Links
These open a search on each site for this park's name and location — the exact page isn't stored, so double-check it's the right place.
Your Notes
🔒 Login or create an account to see visitor ratings and track your own visits, priorities, and reviews.