Arroyo Burro Beach
This beach hike can rarely be done in its entirety because of the tide, but it can be done in pieces or with variations that allow you to do it entirely.
Because there is parking at each end of the hike you can do a one-way car-shuttle. Or just take the bus back. (Some combo of Lines 11, 6 or 24, and 5. Get info from the MTD.)
One special thing about this hike is the one stretch between More Mesa and Goleta Beach where you are likely to see seals on rocks in the water, or right on the beach. Don't touch the animals or try to get them back in the water—it's a criminal offense. If you are worried about them you can call the Wildlife Care Network.
Also be forewarned about the possibility of nudists along the way. They like More Mesa beach. It's not legal, but the beach is pretty secluded.
If you hike the entire distance described, round trip is approx. 10 miles.
Old-timers know it as Hendry's Beach, but it's now Arroyo Burro Beach.
This hike can start at either beach, but I'll describe it from Arroyo Burro since if you don't go the whole way you at least can get much further with less worry about the tide than if you started at Goleta Beach.
Start out at the restaurant and go to the right. There are usually lots of people at this beach. To the left is the dog beach.
You will walk along the beach the whole way, so there isn't much to describe to keep you from getting lost. There is a rocky point about a mile or more past the start where you won't be able to get past if the tide is high. So that might be as far as you get.
Eventually, continuing down the beach, you pass a structure built right on the sand. Past this you come to a somewhat private beach for the people of Hope Ranch, which is a wealthy enclave of Goleta. The beach isn't private, just the parking lot is.
Continuing past this, coming around the bend, you will be at More Mesa, the local nude beach. It's a really nice beach, especially in summer. Not everybody goes nude, though. There are some steps leading up the cliff. If you climb the steps you are on More Mesa, which is now a local nature preserve with many trails.
Continuing down the beach, the cliff becomes more steep and foreboding. The beach feels lonely and remote. You may see some seals sunning themselves on the beach here. Eventually you will reach a rocky point that is difficult to get past except in the lowest of tides. There is a path sometimes above the rocks right where they meet the base of the cliff. Or you can climb around along the rocks to get through.
Once you pass this part, the beach is easy to walk on again for quite a while. Now it's really remote and there should be lots of seals on the rocks out in the water.
Eventually you pass several points of ropy, wavy, black asphaltum rock. The Chumash used the natural tar here to make their baskets watertight. In the hot sun, the tar will be soft and melted. By the way, if you have gotten a lot of tar on your feet along the way, baby oil will take it off quite well.
Two more obstacles will be in your path before you reach the parking lot at Goleta Beach. The first is one of the rocky points. One in particular is especially hard to get around if the tide isn't low. The second obstacle is the Goleta Slough. The river running from it can sometimes be quite wide and deep. And cold. You can usually walk through it, but sometimes it does look a bit too swift. It never seems to be easier to walk in the ocean, although some people do that. It's not bad in summer, but in winter that water is very cold!
Alternate route: If the tide is high and your heart is set on getting all the way to Goleta Beach you can follow the trails on More Mesa instead of the beach. Just try to make sure you continue westward. It's a good idea to use you mapping app so you can find your way to the bike path that leads to Goleta Beach and UCSB.
It's about 5 miles one way.