The park is bisected by U.S. Route 101, which turns north from the coast at Gaviota, passing through the Gaviota Tunnel and Gaviota Pass, a deep canyon cut entirely through the southern branch of the Santa Ynez Mountains.[3] Gaviota State Park consists of two units, one on each side of the highway. The western unit includes the beach and a campground, which receives most of the park's visitors.
Adjacent to the park on the west is a large region of private ranches and ranchettes known as Hollister Ranch, which extends for almost the entire distance to Point Conception (where the California coast turns to the north). Access to this portion of the coast is tightly secured, and possible only by water for non-residents.
Climateedit
The park is subject to a Mediterranean climate, with mild, rainy winters, and sunny summers, commonly with morning clouds. Temperatures below freezing are rare, and summertime high temperatures rise with increasing distance from the coast. Because of the topographical peculiarity of the region, a single deep canyon cut through the mountains, at certain times of year, most frequently in late spring, winds blow through the canyon with great force. These winds, known as Sundowners, are common all along the south coast of Santa Barbara County, but are frequently most violent in the Gaviota area.
Much of the park vegetation was burned in a large brushfire in June 2004, with wildfire being a natural part of the chaparral ecosystem.[citation needed]
Mountain lions have been encountered in the park, and warning signs are prominently posted. The park was closed for a month in 1992 following a near-fatal attack by a mountain lion on a 9-year-old boy.[5]
Facilitiesedit
Campgroundedit
The park includes a beach campground, which contains 39 campsites for RVs (up to 25 feet for most sites) and for tents. Additionally there are eight picnic sites.[2]
Both sections of the park contain trails for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking.[6] The most heavily traveled trail is a short dirt road leading to a popular hot spring on the eastern side of the highway. A more substantial trail beginning at the same trailhead leads out of the park to the summit of Gaviota Peak, the highest mountain in the vicinity at 2,458 feet (749 m). The isolated peak has expansive views in all directions; on a clear day, much of Santa Barbara County is visible as well as the coast as far south as the Santa Monica Mountains. Trails within the park total 34 miles (55 km) in all.[2]
^"Gaviota State Park". California Department of Parks and Recreation. 2012. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
^ abcCalifornia State Park System Statistical Report: Fiscal Year 2009/10 (PDF) (Report). California State Parks. p. 18. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
^Meares, Hadley (August 20, 2015). "The Gap: Gaviota State Park, the Wild West of Southern California". KCET. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
^Coastal Ranches Conservancy (February 2016). The Gaviota Creek Watershed: A Restoration Plan Update (Draft) (PDF) (Report). Retrieved December 26, 2020 – via County of Santa Barbara.
^Mader, T.R. (2011). . Abundant Wildlife Society of North America. Archived from the original on April 1, 2003. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
^McCaslin, Dan (November 23, 2023). "Gaviota Wind Caves a Moderate Hike for All Ages". Noozhawk. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
External linksedit
Official Gaviota State Park website
April 12, 2024
gaviota, state, park, other, uses, gaviota, state, park, california, united, states, located, southern, santa, barbara, county, california, about, miles, west, city, santa, barbara, three, state, parks, along, gaviota, coast, extends, from, pacific, coast, cre. For other uses see Gaviota Gaviota State Park is a state park of California United States It is located in southern Santa Barbara County California about 33 miles 53 km west of the city of Santa Barbara 1 One of three state parks along the Gaviota Coast it extends from the Pacific coast to the crest of the Santa Ynez Mountains and is adjacent to Los Padres National Forest The 2 787 acre 1 128 ha park was established in 1953 2 Gaviota State ParkGaviota State Park from the Gaviota Peak TrailShow map of CaliforniaShow map of the United StatesLocationSanta Barbara County California United StatesNearest cityGoleta CaliforniaCoordinates34 29 25 N 120 13 45 W 34 49028 N 120 22917 W 34 49028 120 22917Area2 787 acres 11 28 km2 Established1953Governing bodyCalifornia Department of Parks and Recreation Contents 1 Geography 1 1 Climate 2 Ecology 3 Facilities 3 1 Campground 3 2 Trails 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksGeography edit nbsp Gaviota BeachThe park is bisected by U S Route 101 which turns north from the coast at Gaviota passing through the Gaviota Tunnel and Gaviota Pass a deep canyon cut entirely through the southern branch of the Santa Ynez Mountains 3 Gaviota State Park consists of two units one on each side of the highway The western unit includes the beach and a campground which receives most of the park s visitors Adjacent to the park on the west is a large region of private ranches and ranchettes known as Hollister Ranch which extends for almost the entire distance to Point Conception where the California coast turns to the north Access to this portion of the coast is tightly secured and possible only by water for non residents Climate edit The park is subject to a Mediterranean climate with mild rainy winters and sunny summers commonly with morning clouds Temperatures below freezing are rare and summertime high temperatures rise with increasing distance from the coast Because of the topographical peculiarity of the region a single deep canyon cut through the mountains at certain times of year most frequently in late spring winds blow through the canyon with great force These winds known as Sundowners are common all along the south coast of Santa Barbara County but are frequently most violent in the Gaviota area Ecology editPlant communities in the park include chaparral in the upland regions oak woodlands elsewhere and both native prairie and non native grasslands They are part of the California coastal sage and chaparral ecoregion The portion of Gaviota Creek that passes through the park includes one of the highest quality riparian habitats remaining in southern Santa Barbara County and it receives strict environmental protection 4 Much of the park vegetation was burned in a large brushfire in June 2004 with wildfire being a natural part of the chaparral ecosystem citation needed Mountain lions have been encountered in the park and warning signs are prominently posted The park was closed for a month in 1992 following a near fatal attack by a mountain lion on a 9 year old boy 5 Facilities editCampground edit The park includes a beach campground which contains 39 campsites for RVs up to 25 feet for most sites and for tents Additionally there are eight picnic sites 2 Trails edit nbsp Trail through Oak Woodlands plant community in Gaviota State ParkBoth sections of the park contain trails for hiking horseback riding and mountain biking 6 The most heavily traveled trail is a short dirt road leading to a popular hot spring on the eastern side of the highway A more substantial trail beginning at the same trailhead leads out of the park to the summit of Gaviota Peak the highest mountain in the vicinity at 2 458 feet 749 m The isolated peak has expansive views in all directions on a clear day much of Santa Barbara County is visible as well as the coast as far south as the Santa Monica Mountains Trails within the park total 34 miles 55 km in all 2 See also editList of beaches in California List of California state parksReferences edit Gaviota State Park California Department of Parks and Recreation 2012 Retrieved January 21 2012 a b c California State Park System Statistical Report Fiscal Year 2009 10 PDF Report California State Parks p 18 Retrieved January 21 2012 Meares Hadley August 20 2015 The Gap Gaviota State Park the Wild West of Southern California KCET Retrieved March 1 2022 Coastal Ranches Conservancy February 2016 The Gaviota Creek Watershed A Restoration Plan Update Draft PDF Report Retrieved December 26 2020 via County of Santa Barbara Mader T R 2011 Mountain Lion Fact Sheet Abundant Wildlife Society of North America Archived from the original on April 1 2003 Retrieved January 22 2012 McCaslin Dan November 23 2023 Gaviota Wind Caves a Moderate Hike for All Ages Noozhawk Retrieved November 25 2023 External links editOfficial Gaviota State Park website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gaviota State Park amp oldid 1186818271, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
