Photo: Ray Ford

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BEACH WALK INFORMATION

Distance—2.5 miles west to the Loon Point beach access; 1.5 miles east to Carpinteria State Beach (accessible only during minus tides)

Topo—Carpinteria

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DIRECTIONS

From State Street, follow Highway 101 east for 8.5 miles to the Santa Claus Village turnoff. Continue east on the frontage road towards the Village. There is plenty of beach parking for the next half mile.

A CAUTION

Please be respectful of private property rights.

THE WALK

The beach near Santa Claus Village is wide and long, with plenty of space for sunbathing, picnicking, or long walks. It is a favorite spot for surf fishing and claming as well. During minus tides you can walk to Carpinteria. If you can get around the first rock outcropping at lower tides, the walk to Loon Point leads past a mile of beautiful beach front homes.

A long stretch of huge granite boulders hides the main part of the beaches from view, but once you clamber over the rocks you will discover the perfect place for an afternoon at the beach with the kids. Even at the highest tides there is always plenty of soft, white sand to pitch a tent or shade yourself with an umbrella.

You can walk in either direction, though, depending on the tides, you may not be able to get too far. Rock jetties will block your way in either direction at higher tides. I always come here at super low tides when it is easy to get around these points. To the east a half mile of beach leads past a very strange Middle Eastern sort of house, painted all white with tall fluted towers poking out above the jetty. If the tide is low enough you can get around the point. There is just one you will need to get around and after that it is easy walking all the way to the state beach.

To the west, once you are past the first obstacle, it is a very pleasant mile walk to Loon Point. The cove is crescent-shaped and as you curve gradually around it you will spy some of the nicest homes to be found in the Summerland area. There are plenty of rocks to poke around at Loon Point, and if you can get this far you can make it all the way to Lookout Park if you want.

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