Santa Barbara Section 5

Since it takes a very low tide and summer beaches full of sand to walk the shoreline east from Refugio State Park, the CCT follows the paved Aniso Hike and Bike Trail to get to El Capitan State Park. It not only affords a break from sand and tideline walking, but also offers views of the surrounding countryside. Aniso is the Chumash word for seagull.

The paved trail starts just east of Refugio Creek near the spot where the campground road forks. Follow the level track east along the edge of the campground. By ⅛ mile you pass the last restrooms and leave the campground. Follow the paved trail as it climbs onto the marine terrace, offering a good view west across the flat around the mouth of Refugio Creek. The Santa Ynez Range rises to the north, the westernmost portion of the Transverse Ranges that run east-west through southern California. On the clearest days you can see the Channel Islands 25 miles offshore, yet another spur of the Transverse Ranges.

The paved path contours through coastal scrub paralleling the railroad tracks on your left. Pass a palm tree on your right at ½ mile and get a glimpse of the sandy beach below. Ascend a gentle hill around ⅝ mile. At the top of the hill you gain a good view of the coast to the east, all the way to Coal Oil Point on Santa Barbara Section 6, perhaps even beyond.

Descend to a small pocket beach around ⅞ mile-it's Corral Beach of El Capitan State Park. (Crucial low tide passages lie along the shoreline both west and east of Corral Beach.) The paved trail climbs back onto the marine terrace by one mile, with a view of Canada del Venadito to the north.

Soon the Aniso Trail/CCT descends, passing just above a beach. You can take side trails on the right at either 1¼ or 1⅜ miles to descend to the beach and walk the tideline east at all but high tide. Our described route, however, stays on the paved Aniso Trail. Beyond 1⅜ miles it ascends to the blufftop. By 1⅝ miles you're within sight of the highway sign, "EL CAPITAN STATE BEACH - 1 MILE." The path continues beside the railroad tracks to 1⅞ miles, then bends right.

Immediately after the bend, you enter the large, pleasant campground of El Capitan State Park. Aniso Trail passes the four choice hike/bike sites-yours for certain if you reserved in advance. If they're vacant, you can still inquire at the park's entrance kiosk. Then the paved track winds along the bluff's edge beside the campground. After a restroom beyond 2 miles, your trail dips through a gully. Pass the park's lifeguard headquarters around 2¼ miles which has a great view up the coast. Continue along the blufftop through alternating wooded and coastal scrub vegetation, passing several spur trails to the beach.

Both this section and the paved trail end at the day-use parking lot at 2½ miles. If you are continuing on Santa Barbara Section 6, turn right and walk 150 feet past the El Capitan store, then take the path that descends to the beach.

ALTERNATE ROUTE: At very low tides in summer, you may be able to walk the shoreline between Refugio and El Capitan.

SUGGESTED ROUND TRIPS & LOOPS: Walk or bike the paved path from either end and return, an easy 5 miles round trip.