SeaGods USA continues to sweep across the coastal nation with our paddleboarding destination recommendations for California. To date, we’ve covered Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Los Angeles County, Orange County, and San Diego. We now focus our attention on “The American Riviera” known as Santa Barbara County.
Santa Barbara is most famous for its Spanish-style architecture and for being a rival to Napa Valley as a world-class viticultural Mecca (there are more than 275 wineries in the region). However, it also boasts one of the most stunning coastlines on the continent. As a paddler, you know what that means - there are a bounty of idyllic locations to launch your inflatable sand-up paddleboard (ISUP). Which of these should you add to your itinerary? Find out by referencing the best places to paddle board in Santa Barbara below!
Top 4 Paddle Boarding Destinations to Bring Your Sea Gods ISUP to When in Santa Barbara County CA
Santa Barbara Harbor
Skill Level: Beginner and up
Both beginners and intermediate/advanced paddlers looking for a casual day on the water love SUPing marinas. There is nary a better one in the state of California than the Santa Barbara Harbor. What a beautiful place!
To begin with, it’s very accessible, given that the Santa Barbara Train Station has a stop at the harbor. That means you can embark upon your paddle-boarding adventure from anywhere along the famed Pacific Surfliner coastal rail as long as you have your Sea Gods ISUP packed and ready to roll. View the Surfliner schedule here. But whether day-tripping or staying in SB, the harbor offers calm waters and impeccable surroundings, with the Santa Ynez Mountains providing a backdrop that demands you arm your ISUP with a mounted action camera. Cautious paddlers can stay within the embrace of the harbor where the community’s higher-income watercraft are docked. We recommend the Sea Gods Elemental Wave CX ISUP for this spot. Meanwhile, the slightly more adventurous can venture into the Santa Barbara Channel for a close peek at the wide-open Pacific.
West Beach at Stearns Wharf
Skill Level: Beginner/Intermediate and up
Southernly adjacent to Santa Barbara Harbor is West Beach at the famous Stearns Wharf. It’s the longest deep-water wharf between San Pedro and San Francisco, which is fun for those who find comfort and enjoyment paddling along pier pilings when in open water. West Beach’s position between the wharf and harbor offers added protection. In the map view below, you can see that the wharf and Point Castillo act as arms that hug the West Beach shoreline. This mitigates vulnerability to winds coming from either direction and keeps the water calmer when compared to other area beaches.
The après-SUP scene is also ideal. The wharf features five eateries (we like Longboard’s Beach Bar & Grill) and a number of merchants and specialty shops for delectable snacks, souvenirs, works of art, clothing, and accessories. There is even a small aquarium. Paddle-boarding West Beach is truly a full and immersive Santa Barbara experience.
Arroyo Burro Beach Park
Skill Level: Intermediate and up
Further north and around the bend of Santa Barbara Point is where you’ll find Arroyo Burro Beach Park (aka Hendry’s Beach). Launching your Sea God’s ISUP along this expansive stretch of beach that fronts picturesque bluffs is fairly seamless on calm days. The shoreline water is somewhat protected from southwesterly onshore winds thanks to Channel Islands National Park, Santa Rosa Island, and San Miguel Island, which you can spy on a clear day when paddling along Arroyo. That being said, it is still the open ocean, so monitor for pure west winds and swell (which the beach is most vulnerable to). We recommend our Carta Marina CX Kraken Inflatable SUP for this particular destination.
Beginners can still enjoy this beach when conditions permit, so be sure to monitor the local surf report and/or talk to an on-site lifeguard before paddling out. There is a small creek Arroyo Burro for full-on beginners and children paddlers to enjoy while more experienced members of the party stroke along the outer shore. Lastly, beachcombing adds to the before-and-after paddling experience at this Santa Barbara beach.
Butterfly Beach
Skill Level: Intermediate and up
Spread your wings at Santa Barbara’s Butterfly Beach. It’s a local surfing, swimming, and sunbathing spot located in the chic and communal village of Montecito that is also great for intermediate to advanced paddlers as conditions allow (view here). Its proximity to the Channel Islands also brings a variety of sea life, including migrating Humpback whales who pass through the channel with their offspring. Bring your Sea Gods Carta Marina, or Skylla CX Cross-Touring ISUP (pictured below) for this excursion.
While there are no public facilities at Butterfly Beach, Coast Village Road is a 5-minute stroll from the sand and has a number of dining and retail options to enjoy when finished with your paddling session/s.
Be sure to invest in a new Sea Gods inflatable stand-up paddle board along with essential accessories as you prepare for your Santa Barbara experiences. If you have any questions about our products, shipping, and warrantees, feel free to contact Sea Gods USA at any time.