JAUNTS : A Scenic 5-Mile Walk Along Edge of the Sea : Sierra Club naturalist will lead way along coast from Santa Barbara County line to Carpinteria State Beach.

If you want a break from those sweaty hikes in the hills and mountains, here’s a cool, easy-on-your-feet stroll along the beach. The Sierra Club’s Tom Maxwell is leading a beach walk Sunday from Rincon Park near the Santa Barbara County line to Carpinteria State Beach and back.

It’s about a five-mile trek over the sand--a stretch of coastline that is majestic. A bluff towers over the smooth, sandy beach, sheltering it from the wind and providing a sense of privacy.

In fact, a spot near Rincon Park is a favorite for nude sunbathers. On an exceptionally warm, sunny weekday recently, there were a dozen or more soaking up the rays. So, if you’re a little squeamish about that, either stay home or hope for an overcast day.

With Maxwell leading the hike, there will be plenty to look at. A retired anthropology professor at Cal Lutheran University, he is not only active in the Sierra Club’s Conejo group, but also the Conejo Valley’s Audubon Society.

He knows birds and can point out the godwits, willets, plovers, san pipers, whimbrels and cormorants that skitter across the beach.

He also knows Chumash history and where two Indian villages once thrived near the route. Along the way, he’ll take walkers on a little detour to see some juncus reeds, the kind the Chumash used to weave their baskets.

In this area, oil seeps up from underground naturally--a sight walkers will see. A handful of oil platforms are visible from the beach, and the route goes under the private pier owned by Chevron. Near the pier are the ruts from an old stagecoach route that once ran along the coast.

The group will also pass a portion of the beach that is normally closed from January through June, Maxwell said, to give harbor seals some privacy for the birth of their young.

At one spot, they’ll also see some Monterey pine trees, a rarity for this area. Mustard, New Zealand spinach, Russian thistle and ice plant will also be in view.

The walk begins at 2:30 p.m. and, if the tide is low enough, tide pools will be visible, Maxwell said. If the tide is too high, there may be a spot or two where the group will have to walk along the bluff.

Details

* WHAT: Five-mile walk from Rincon Park near the Santa Barbara County line to Carpinteria State Beach and back.

* WHEN: Sunday, beginning at 2:30 p.m. Return about 5:30 p.m.

* WHERE: Meet at the picnic shelter at Rincon Park. Take the Bates exit off U. S. 101. Go under the freeway and turn right into the park. (No parking fee.)

* FYI: Wear shoes for walking over rocks. They likely will get wet. Bring a jacket and water. There is no cost for the hike.