Walk Along Beach From Summerland to Montecito

One might guess that Summerland was named for the weather, but the name was taken from spiritualist literature--something to do with the Second Heaven of Spiritualism. A century ago, spiritualists pitched their tents on the tiny lots in this coastal area just south of Santa Barbara.

In the waters here, the first offshore oil platform in the Western Hemisphere was erected in 1896. Soon, more than 300 wells were pumping oil from Pleistocene rocks at depths of 100 to 800 feet, an insignificant depth by today’s standards.

Oil attracted far more people to Summerland than spiritualism, and t he air was heavy with the smell of gas and oil. It was said that free illumination came easy--one simply pounded a pipe into the ground until reaching natural gas and lit a match. Liberty Hall, the spiritualists’ community center, glowed with divine light, and for a time Summerland became known as the White City.

This walk travels due west along sandy Summerland Beach (parts of which are popular with the clothing-optional set), rounds some rocky points and concludes at the narrow beach in front of the famed Biltmore Hotel. Summer is a fine time to stroll along Summerland.

Directions to the trailhead: From U.S. 101 in Summerland, take the Summerland exit and turn oceanward to Lookout County Park.

Consult a tide table. This beach walk is easiest and most enjoyable at low tide.

The hike: At Lookout County Park is a picnic area and a monument commemorating the first offshore oil rig. A well-marked ramp leads to the beach. From Lookout (Summerland) Beach, a sea wall extends three-quarters of a mile west to Fernald Point. At high tide, you may wish to walk atop it, but you’ll have to battle some brush. You soon pass a pretty little cove, bounded on the far side by Fernald Point, formed by a fan delta deposited at the mouth of Romero Creek.

Around the point, as you approach Montecito, you’ll see the higher parts of the Santa Ynez Mountains on the north skyline and the overturned beds of sandstone located near the peaks. There are no official public beaches in Montecito, but most of the shoreline receives public use: Fernald-Sharks Cove is the first beach you travel, then Miramar Beach below the Miramar Hotel. “Miramar-by-the-Sea” has been a popular watering place since the completion of the Southern Pacific railroad line in 1901. The hotel, with its finely landscaped grounds and blue-roofed bungalows, used to be a passenger stop.

In another quarter of a mile, you’ll begin hiking across Montecito’s third beach, Hammonds, popular with surfers. Hammonds Meadows on the bluffs above the beach is a former Chumash habitation and a potentially rich archeological dig. Although it was placed recently on the National Register of Historic Places, it’s been bulldozed for development.

Up-coast from Hammonds you’ll pass a number of fine homes and arrive at narrow Biltmore Beach, frequented by the rich and beautiful. Opposite the beach is the magnificent Biltmore Hotel, built in 1927.

Summerland Trail

Lookout County Park to Biltmore Beach; 5 miles round trip