Best Surf Beaches in Santa Barbara

Soft point/inside reef near the harbor with longboard-friendly lines.

A rarely surfed reef break accessed via 240 steep steps, Mesa Lane offers both lefts and rights over a rocky bottom and works best on a rising tide with a west swell. Local surfers favour this spot after work and school.

When a strong west swell wraps into this secluded point, El Capitan can produce 300-yard right-handers with barrel sections, but it's fickle and often flat. The take-off is steep over boulders and reef, making it best for experienced surfers.