Santa Barbara’s Best (Tucked-Away) Picnic Spots

July may be National Picnic Month but here in paradise, AKA Santa Barbara, it’s almost always time for a picnic. But finding the best and coolest picnic spots may be a little harder than you think. Everyone knows the obvious choices: Leadbetter Beach with its numerous tables, Tucker’s Grove with its family amenities and also numerous tables, Shoreline Park and such, so I scoured the beach, the mountains, and parks to find five less known but still classic Santa Barbara picnic places with diverse views but which are more secluded. So pack your picnic basket and discover some al fresco undercover gems of Santa Barbara.

 Andree Clark Bird Refuge

What was once considered a viable place to build the harbor in the 1920s has become something of a rarely visited respite. Set in a riparian woodland there are three small wood platforms with benches on them jutting out over the water, the last one being over a small bridge near the Santa Barbara Zoo. These wood platforms are accessed by a flat path that circumscribes part of the lake. You can sit directly above the water; the cool breezes from East Beach washing over you and you can have a modicum of privacy and quietness though these are not shaded. As the water laps up at your feet you’ll probably see diverse birds here including white pelicans on occasion. Located close to Coast Village Road in Montecito, food and restrooms are a short drive away.

Elings Park

Though it’s a popular spot for weddings, Cedric Grove atop Elings Park has easy car access, not to mention serene views back towards the city. There are restrooms nearby, plenty of picnic tables and a circular lawn surrounded by large mature oak trees. There is no food available here and they charge for parking on weekends, though weekday parking is free. Take the road all the way to the top and turn left on George Bliss Rd. The Wells Fargo Amphitheater offers the best views of the city not to mention plenty of graded seating. There are benches that flank both sides of the hill one to the city and other with views towards the park and out towards the ocean.

Lookout Park

   























You probably drive past this spot all the time and may not know it’s here. Located in Summerland right off Highway 101, Lookout Park is a small grassy bluff above the beach. There are benches, picnic tables and barbecue stands across the narrow park with plenty of parking available. The grass however is very uneven so watch your step. There is also a children's play area with swings and slides, a volleyball net on a sand base, restrooms, horseshoes and beach access. Dogs are allowed but must be kept on a leash. This is an ideal spot for a family picnic or large groups. Lillie Avenue is just two blocks away should you need to purchase food.

Sand Spit

Located at the termination of the breakwater at the harbor, there are a few whale tale benches in which to sit and watch Santa Barbara splayed out in front of you. You can also bring your own chairs and head across a short rock outcropping directly to the sand itself. To the right is Sterns Wharf, to the left are the boats moored in the harbor, in front of you is the city, and behind you is the majestic Pacific; it’s the best of all worlds. Take it all in, feel the gentle ocean breezes and hear the sea lions on the green buoy marker, but bring a hat as there is no shade. Restrooms, food and parking are all at the main buildings at the harbor. 

Franceschi Park

For the absolute best views of the city, this under the radar park located on the Rivera has unsurpassed vistas to downtown, the harbor, the ocean and islands, and is flanked by large eucalyptus trees. Part botanical garden, part city park, this is fairly secluded and quiet, set in a residential area and there is no food available near here. There are a few picnic tables and a few benches facing the ocean, and you also have the dilapidated but wonderfully odd Franceschi house nearby with its unusual embellishments, though the house is not open to the public. The park is open sunrise to sunset; there is limited parking and a restroom on site.  

Hiking Santa Barbara

Easy paths at the Carp bluffs

Santa Barbara presents a diverse topography for hikes, from ocean bluffs to front country to the rugged back country. These three hikes give you assorted scenic vistas, a moderate workout and great photo ops. Plus none are too far from downtown. A note on hiking here in Santa Barbara, and all along the Central Coast: Yes, we have poison oak so always be cautions when going off trail. It’s called poison oak but it can’t kill you but rest assured, as a native Californian and having had my share of it – it ain’t fun. Even as of this writing I contracted some on my left leg while hiking in Big Sur. Always bring water, hat, cell phone, and sunscreen when you hike. My small pack also includes a knife, and nuts for protein, just in case. So get packed and get going!

The views from the bluffs

Coastal

The Carpinteria Bluffs and Seal Rookery is less hike and more easy stroll on soft dirt paths, and the bluffs are a great beach excursion across eucalyptus-studded groves heading to the water. It’s only a mile out and a mile back, but this coastal walk is perfect for any age and fitness group, in fact the elevation gain is like 2 feet. The scent of chaparral meets you as you pull into the parking lot with low grasses and shrubs in front of you. There is also access down to the beach, however part of the beach is closed off December 1 through May 31 during birthing and nursing season for the harbor seals who seem to think mating in public is just fine (showoffs). While there, they are noisy but fun to watch. Located right off the freeway this is immensely easy to get to and gets you to views of both the ocean and the mountains and gets you to the water’s edge while still feeling like you’re in a preserve. That feeling is briefly interrupted by crossing the train tracks, but as long as there are no actual trains in your way, it’s all good. You might see whales and dolphins, certainly plenty of sea birds (not on the train, on the hike). To get there exit Bailard Ave. from Highway 101 north or south and head to the ocean. There’s a small parking lot right in front of you.

The views from Tin Can Meadow

Front Country

Rattlesnake Canyon is one of the more popular hikes and is fairly easy, and no, you won’t come across any rattlesnakes since it was named for its serpentine canyon. This is a well-marked trail and is less than 4 miles in total. You’ll pass by pools, streams and eventually come out the top of a small hill with panoramic views to the ocean and the Channel Islands. From Los Canelos Road near the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden it’s just over 1 mile to the second stone bridge where there is ample parking before and after the bridge on the road pullouts. Starting on the trail it feels like you’ve been jipped – it’s hot and dry and uninteresting. After 10 minutes on the trail there’s a short incline where you encounter two oak trees - go left (going right is a short trail, nothing exciting). 

Never know what's  you'll find on Rattlesnake trail

You soon hook up with the creek in a wooded area then cross the creek and head up into sheer diversity. You'll likely see grey squirrels and wild bunnies (not mean, just wild). It will take you 40 minutes at a moderate pace to reach Tin Can Meadow, which is a great turnaround point. There’s a flat rock there where you can sit for a while, surrounded by tall grass and absorb the beauty before heading back. There is a terrific diversity of stuff here from multiple stream crossings to wooded areas to open narrow trails, moss covered boulders, pine and oak trees, low scrub and thick trees. With an elevation gain of 900 feet it’s also a decent workout.

The rocks, ocean and Islands from Lizard's Mouth

Back Country

Lizard’s Mouth (West Camino Cielo Road) For a completely different experience, head to Lizard’s Mouth, so named for the unusual sandstone outcroppings – though not sure how a lizard affected this. On the south facing slopes of the mountain with panoramic views of all of Santa Barbara and Channel Islands (and quite possibly China…well maybe not) this a sea of wondrous boulders, curvilinear smooth sandstone, as if sculpted by hand, windswept and eerie. Take Highway 154 up from Santa Barbara 7 miles to West Camino Cielo and turn left. Follow the road 4 miles to the Winchester Gun Club entrance. Turn around here and on your right had side, about 100 yards back down the road you’ll see a graffiti sprayed brown wooden sign, about 20 feet off the road. There are no real paths here you just wander in between large boulders and on top of sandstone flats. Some boulders you can walk underneath and you swear they might collapse on you. It almost looks like a movie set and Lizard’s Mouth has an otherworldly moonscape feel to it. It’s easy to get lost so keep an eye on where you came from. Small trails head out to, and in-between, the rocks, some with small crevices and near cave-like entrances. It’s pretty much rock hopping out here. It's a little disconcerting to hear the gunfire from the Winchester Gun Club up the road at first, but you're perfectly safe. Weekdays are better as it’s less crowded.

 

For a totally different hike, check out my post about the Arroyo Hondo Preserve

Hiking Arroyo Hondo