This beach is long, wide sandy beach with easy access from the paved parking lot, although it is a bit of a hike. The beach does face the open ocean so the surf here can be very large at times with resulting riptides. There aren't any lifeguards and there usually isn't very many people visiting so swimmers need to be very experienced.
Vandenberg Air Force Base borders it, so there aren’t any amenities at the park beyond picnic tables and a bathroom facility. Due to the usual westerly wind conditions found on this stretch of coastline, the park planners protected the picnic tables from the ravages of the wind by placing all of them on the East side of the raised railroad tracks and then recessing them as well behind earthen berms.
Lompoc is the closest city, about 5 miles away.
Surf, Tides, Climate, Water Temp:
Since there aren’t any barrier islands, or anything else for that matter, hindering swells coming from the east and this area of coast sees nearly constant big surf conditions. Rarely ride-able because of the high winds common to this area, still worth a trip to see and experience Mother Nature. Bring a sweatshirt or a windbreaker in case it’s colder than expected! Water temperature varies between 50 and 58 degrees; wetsuits are mandatory for swim times longer than 5 minutes!
Beach Activities:
Beachcombing, sunbathing, fishing, surfing and bird watching are the most common activities that this beach is known for. Hundreds of pieces of driftwood are between the parking lot and beach, which makes for some very fun, searching for decorative pieces of wood. This beach is home to the threatened Western Snowy Plover and is closed to the public during breeding season from March 1st to September 30th. The beach itself is accessible from
Surf Beach which is about a mile south during breeding season. There is also a small play area for kids near the picnic tables.
Scenery and Wildlife:
Bird watching is very easy here, with many different species calling this part of the coastline home. Loons, pelicans, herons, snowy plovers are just a few of the birds that one can observe in a short amount of time. The scenery is spectacular as there are very few man-made structures to obscure the view. No large trees grow here, mostly shrubs and other low-lying plants as the wind takes a toll on anything that stands up straight for too long, although there are a few pine trees in the picnic area giving it a go. Their windblown shapes are mute testimony to the power of the wind here.
Bring your binoculars and cameras!
