Hiking to the Gaviota Wind Caves near Santa Barbara

Gaviota Wind Caves

The Gaviota Wind Caves are a sandstone formation located a mile from the Pacific Ocean in the Santa Ynez Mountains west of Santa Barbara. The hike to the wind-swept caves is 2.5 miles round trip with 600 feet of elevation gain.

Click here to see more photos of the Gaviota Wind Caves

One good thing about the Gaviota Wild Caves is that they are easy to get to from the 101. In fact, the wind caves can be seen from the freeway. The bad thing is that the freeway can be seen from the wind caves, and the sound of passing traffic follows hikers for the entire trail. The other unfortunate thing is that the first half of the trail is paved, which is not the preferred surface for hiking. Past the pavement, the trail becomes a single track that climbs rapidly to a ridge running down from the caves. This part of the hike is much more pleasant and the Gaviota Wind Caves are a great place for exploring and enjoying the view of the mountains and sea.

Looking down on the lower Gaviota Wind Caves

From the trailhead, start north on the paved trail running parallel to the 101. An eighth of a mile before the pavement ends, turn left on the narrow dirt path breaking off through the high grasses. Look up and you can trace the trail up the ridge and to the west toward the visible wind caves.

Just beyond the first wind caves is a larger upper set of caves. Atop this formation is an eyelet in the rock. Inside the cave on the other side of that window is a registry canister. A path around the west side of the rock leads up to the top. Have a seat here and enjoy the fine view.

Purple Nightshade growing above the wind caves

Linger a while, climbing around the wind-carved caves, before returning the way your came. No fee or permit is required, so get out and enjoy!

The adjacent Gaviota State Park campground has 39 campsites at $35 per night. For more information and to reserve a site, visit the Gaviota State Park website.

To get to the trailhead: From Santa Barbara, travel west for 30 miles on the 101 Freeway. Take the Gaviota Campground exit (just before the rest area and the Gaviota Tunnel en route to Los Olivos). Just before the campground entrance, take the road up the hill to the right. Almost immediately, Gaviota Beach Road turns to the right and there are gravel turnouts on both sides of the road. Park here. The trailhead is on the right next to a mountain lion warning sign.

Use the map below to create your own directions:

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