California – Exploring the Gaviota Wind Caves near Santa Barbara
The Gaviota Coast is a largely undeveloped rugged coastline that features exposed rock and cliffs into the ocean. It’s gorgeous. A section of the mountains dips down, which the highway goes through. Since it is a low point on this mountain range, wind squeezes through this canyon, and it is often windy, creating wind caves in the soft surrounding sandstone. The Gaviota Wind Caves hike takes you to these natural formations and a fun circular window through the stone.
The Gaviota Wind Caves hike is relatively short – clocking in at about 2 miles. However, don’t be fooled by this short distance – there are some steep sections of exposed trail where I worked up a sweat. However, the payoff is exploring the caves with views of the Gaviota State Beach Park, bridge, and ocean beyond.
Something to note: since this hike is near Highway 101, you will see it throughout the trek. At the same time, I only recall hearing the traffic on the first paved section. Once I began to climb, I don’t recall hearing the traffic.
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Gaviota Wind Caves
The Gaviota Wind Caves hike starts on pavement. Once you enter the gate, there is a long downhill paved path. Enjoy this downhill as it is the last you’ll get on this hike! You’ll be walking along the hillside away from the Gaviota coast and toward a large hill, where you’ll be able to see the path deeply engraved in the grass. An information kiosk designates where you should turn off the paved road and onto the trail. Good luck trying to read the information kiosk – it is clouded over with writing/graffiti on top. Not long after you turn onto the trail, you will begin the climb!
This first climb is probably the steepest, but I don’t know if I just think it’s the most vertical because I can see it easily. The other parts of the trail are covered with bushes, so it’s hard to tell how steep they are. After the first ascent, you will be on top of the hillside and have a fantastic view of the Gaviota bridge. You’ll also be able to see over to the next ridge, where you can see many wind caves!
Catch your breath because the next section of trail climbs the ridge, then there are a series of switchbacks, some of which are on uneven rocks. Eventually, you’ll reach a turn to the left, where behind a tree there is your very first wind cave! It’s an interesting cave because it’s facing away from the coast. I liked the natural shapes and multiple levels in this wind cave compared to the others that you’ll see later on. Explore this little area for a bit before moving on to the main caves and circular window.
At a Glance:
- Rating: 3.5 (out of 4) stars, would go again
- Intensity: Hiking shoes, athletic clothes
- Location: On the Gaviota Coast “north” of Santa Barbara, near the Gaviota State Park Beach
- Cost: Free!
- Restrooms: You could potentially walk down to use the bathrooms at the Gaviota Beach State Park (I haven’t tried this, so I’m not sure if you need to pay if you are walking into the state park)
- Timing: 2-3 hours
- Distance: 2.0 miles
- Elevation Gain: 492 ft
Highlights:
- Exciting caves and circular window to explore
- View of the Gaviota coast and ocean from the caves!
- A beautiful 30-minute drive from downtown Santa Barbara
- Relatively short hike, with some steep sections for a good workout
Lowlights:
- It’s a well-known trail, so you’ll likely see people on the trail, especially on the weekends.
- Graffiti in the form of carving into the sandstone.
Things to Look for at the Wind Caves
There’s another climb to the next set of caves, so catch your breath again before moving on. When you’re ready, tackle the next set of steep inclines. The trail splits a couple of different times in this area; I recommend taking the most used path – the largest/most worn – but all of the trails will typically lead you where you want to go. I decided to check out the lower large caves before heading to the top.
Big Caves
It’s kind of shocking how big these caves are. They’re like a wide-open mouth with smooth sidewalls and ground. At one point, I leaned against the sidewall and realized how soft the sandstone was, as it crumbled away in my hands with just a gentle touch. With that in mind, please be careful not to stress delicate areas of the wind caves. I primarily checked out the first wind case, but it looked like there were paths to the other nearby large caves.
It also seems like birds nest on the cave roofs. I surprised a bird while setting up my tripod and moved after a few minutes. Whoops! I did my best not to disturb the birds too much during my visit.
Top Circular Window
To head up to the very top, where you can see the circular window in the rocks, continue to climb on the left side when facing the caves. The path is generally pretty straightforward, and I found it easier to go around to the back of the circular window area rather than trying to access it from the side facing the ocean.
This top circular window cave is by far my favorite. You kind of have to crawl down to it, and the angle is facing the ground, which was super tricky to photograph. However, after some gymnastics with my tripod, I captured the sunset colors and the ocean. Since there was a large hill in the way, I knew I wasn’t going to catch the sunset through the window. However, it is still a phenomenal place to look out at the ocean!
Public Lands: Graffiti
As you can see in my photos, there is graffiti all along the Gaviota Wind Caves hike. There were only a few spots with actual spray paint graffiti, but in its place were hundreds of carved initials and dates into the sandstone. Although it is a little less obvious than spray paint, this seems even more destructive as it chips away this incredible viewpoint. Also, it looks terrible. Please remember to leave no trace and pack out any trash. As far as I can see, this trail is not regularly maintained, so it’s up to each of us to keep it pristine!
The Return Trip
After exploring the wind caves and circular window, it’s time to head downhill. I recommend going down the exact way you came up and NOT creating a new path down the grassy hill. Be careful going down as the rocks can be kind of slippery with a layer of sand on top. The trail is undeniable, so if it seems small or complicated, you’re probably going the wrong way. Once you’ve made it back to the pavement, it’s smooth sailing back to the trailhead.
Gaviota Wind Caves – What to Bring with You
Since there are some steep sections and a lot of sun exposure on the Gaviota Wind Caves trail, I recommend bringing plenty of water and other essentials in a small backpack, such as:
- Download the Alltrails Map
- Day Pack – I used a small 16L backpack from Amazon. Consider the Gregory May 16 or small Osprey pack.
- Water bottle – You cannot go wrong with a handy dandy Nalgene
- Light layers depending on the season, it was chilly before the sun rose
- Sunscreen – I use this sunscreen for my face, and this one for my body
- Snack to keep you going!
- Small tripod for photos
Getting to the Trailhead
The trailhead is on GoogleMaps, and I would buffer 30 – 40 minutes to get there from downtown Santa Barbara. The views going “north” on Highway 101 are truly delightful, so be sure to soak that in as part of your hike. I added some quotes to “north” because the highway from Santa Barbara to Gaviota State Park is actually going west (and a little bit north). Of course, the highway continues north after turning away from the Gaviota coast and towards Solvang/Buelton/Santa Ynez Valley.
Careful when making that left turn from the highway onto the road to the state park – it is a bit hairball with people on the highway. As you approach the State Park entrance kiosk, take the road to the right that leads up the hill and away from the entrance kiosk. Make the right at the top of the hill, and the trailhead will be on your right with large green gates.
Overall Thoughts: Gaviota Wind Caves
I’ve done the Gaviota Wind Caves hike several times over the years. It’s a great way to get out of town and appreciate the Gaviota coast. The caves themselves are fun to take photos with (especially the window at the top), and it’s a good little workout. The photos were from when I did the hike in early February 2022, and I think winter and spring is the best time to visit with cooler weather, blooming bushes, and the possibility of green grass. Also, the trail does not have much shade, so be sure to bring plenty of water with you, and let me know if you end up doing this hike while in town!
Other hikes on the Central Coast: (I’m slowly adding to these!)
- Santa Barbara – Lizard’s Mouth Sunrise Hike
- San Luis Obispo – Bishop Peak Hike
I moved to Santa Barbara in 2012 but have barely covered the area on Moderately Adventurous – how sad! But with this post, I am slowly changing that. What other activities would you like me to cover in Santa Barbara? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Travels,
Hanna
