Beach guide
Goleta Beach County Park and Goleta Pier
Goleta, Santa Barbara County, CA
Overview
Goleta Beach County Park is a 29-acre Santa Barbara County day-use park on Sandspit Road, bordering Goleta Slough and UC Santa Barbara. It's known for its long fishing pier and wide sunbathing beach, and it's a regular stop for cyclists on the area's paved bike paths.
The pier today
Storms in January 2023 damaged the Goleta Pier and its boat-launch crane. The pier reopened to foot traffic in August 2023, and it has been closed at times since for storm and flood-control work. We could not confirm its current status or the crane's repair status, so call County Parks at (805) 967-1300 before you go, especially if you hope to launch a boat from the pier.
Who comes here
Families picnic in the park, kids use the playgrounds, and anglers fish the pier for halibut, surfperch, rockfish and bass. The beachfront restaurant reopened as The Ellwood in February 2025.
Protected waters next door
Goleta Slough empties at the park, and the slough is a no-take State Marine Conservation Area that is home to protected species such as the endangered tidewater goby. The pier is outside the protected area, so fishing from it is allowed. Further west along the UCSB coast, Campus Point State Marine Conservation Area is also no-take.
Getting there & access
Driving and parking
The park is at 5986 Sandspit Road in Goleta, next to UCSB. Parking is free at the foot of the pier and in front of the restaurant; follow on-site signs, since storm repairs have closed some lots at times.
By bike or on foot
Paved bike paths lead to the park from Goleta, UCSB and Santa Barbara, making it an easy ride-in beach.
Launching from the pier
The pier's boat-launch crane was damaged in the January 2023 storms. We could not confirm whether it has been repaired, so call County Parks at (805) 967-1300 before bringing a boat.
Kayaks and paddleboards
If you paddle here, remember that Goleta Slough, which empties at the park, is a no-take marine protected area: don't take or disturb anything inside it.
Amenities
- Fishing pier — Long public pier; open to pedestrians, no license needed
- Restrooms — In the park
- Picnic areas — Day-use picnic tables in the park
- Playgrounds — In the park near the beach
- Restaurant — The Ellwood, beside the pier
- Snack bar and store — Convenience food near the pier
- Swimming area — Beach in front of the park
Rules & official resources
- No fishing license is needed to fish from a public pier such as Goleta Pier, but minimum sizes, bag limits and seasons still apply
- Goleta Slough State Marine Conservation Area is no-take: it's unlawful to injure, damage, take or possess any living, geological or cultural marine resource there
- Goleta Pier lies outside the Goleta Slough SMCA boundary, so pier fishing is allowed
- Campus Point State Marine Conservation Area, along the UCSB coast to the west, is also no-take
Common boat service needs here
Trailer-boat engine care
Small boats launched off the Goleta coast run in salt water and are stored on trailers between trips. Regular freshwater flushes and outboard service keep cooling systems and lower units healthy.
Find Marine Mechanics & Engine Service providers →Moving boats to the water
With the pier crane out of service, many owners trailer to the Santa Barbara Harbor launch ramp instead, and some hire transport.
Find Boat Transport, Towing & Delivery providers →Guides & FAQs
Nearby providers
No providers listed near this location yet — check back soon.
Sources
- dbw.parks.ca.gov
- countyofsb.org
- wildlife.ca.gov
- wildlife.ca.gov
- wildlife.ca.gov
- noozhawk.com
- countyofsb.org
- keyt.com
Last verified October 8, 2026