From the Mission, corner of Laguna and Los Olivos Street in Santa Barbara...
Get on US 101 going northbound by taking Laguna St. to Mission St. (toward the ocean).
Turn right on Mission St.
Follow Mission St. to the freeway and take US 101 north.
Travel about 30 miles northbound. Take the Refugio Exit.
Turn left and park under the freeway overpass. Parking here is free. You can park inside the campground, too, but it is not free.
If you wish to start at El Capitan State Beach, the exit for this is two miles sooner than Refugio.
When you exit there is parking inside the park for about $3 - $5 day use. There has been free parking along the frontage road sort of straight ahead and up the hill a bit after you exit and come to the first stop. I am not sure if that is still the case. However, if you do park here, you will need to walk all the way down under the underpass and railroad underpass and on through to the State Beach kiosk. It's pretty far.
Santa Barbara Hikes has introduced many people to our front country trails and wilderness areas. Unfortunately, this may have contributed to an increase in littering and vandalism. Please accept the promise not to trash our wilderness, and tell your friends to do the same.
Thank you.
Diane ~ Santa Barbara Hikes.
Is now a book!
My trail journal from Santa Barbara to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail
My trail journal on the Pacific Crest Trail