More Mesa

Santa Barbara, CA Print   Leave a comment

Description

Walking along More Mesa, you discover a new, pretty vista around every bend! You are on gorgeous sandstone cliffs high above the sea, walking a thin sandy trail amongst wildflowers and tall golden grasses. As you peek below, you see couples and nudists who have come to be alone in this unknown area of Santa Barbara. Looking out across the tall grasses on the mesa, you see the Santa Ynez mountains. There are steep paths that lead down to the beach. To walk from the Patterson side to the Hope Ranch side on the clifftop trail takes about 45 minutes.
There is a tire swing by the stairs that lead down to the beach, closest to the Mockingbird Lane entrance to More Mesa.
This amazing land in the middle of Santa Barbara was bought by Thomas More, a rancher, in the mid-19th century. It is undeveloped because a protected species of owl comes to nest here.
If you're hungry or thirsty, check out Java Station, a dive coffee shop at 4447 Hollister Avenue, east of Puente Drive, where you can sit by the fireplace or look out the big windows at the tall trees that line the creek across the road. It is three minutes drive away.
For a toy store nearby, check out Bennett's Toys & Educational Materials. They have a train set your kids can play with while you look at their toy and book selection.
Or you could have lunch at Crushcakes, in a cute craftsman house with big windows and a back patio with flowers, or at Old Town Coffee which has outdoor seating with strung lights, or Dean A Coffee Shop which has large windows, outdoor seating under umbrellas, and good egg sandwiches. There are many coffee shops around here!

Photo Gallery

View from the west side of More Mesa.	Cactus flowers in a nursery on the west side of More Mesa.	Cliffs at More Mesa.
Thin golden grasses and the Santa Ynez mountains in the background.	Looking down at the ocean from the bluffs.	The path that leads from the beach stairs to Mockingbird Lane.
Stairs down to the beach.	A tire swing!	Yellow and purple wildflowers.
Horse riding!	Two horses on the trail.	View toward UCSB.
View toward Hope Ranch.	Pretty flowers along the trail.	Purple flowers with mountains behind.

Directions

The trailhead is at Orchid Dr and Shoreline Dr, Goleta CA 93110.
From Highway 101, exit at Patterson Ave and turn toward the ocean. At the end of Patterson Ave the road veers left and becomes Shoreline Drive. You will see a big yellow sign with an arrow. Park along the road here. Walk along the road a little until you come to the second pathway on the left. This pathway follows some barren land to the sea.
You can also access More Mesa from the dead end of Mockingbird Lane. There is no parking on Mockingbird Lane so you have to park at the bottom of the hill on Vieja Dr and walk up. For your GPS use the address 1095 Mockingbird Lane, Goleta CA 93110.
Java Station, 4447 Hollister Avenue, call (805) 681-0202.

This is an interactive map, you can zoom and move it.

Overall Visitor Rating:

Gail 03/12/2021 11:46	Hikers should know that all of More Mesa is privately owned and not maintained by the County of Santa Barbara. The County owns the entries to More Mesa off Shoreline Drive, not Patterson Drive or Orchid Drive, which is a private road. There are no public restrooms so go to the bathroom before you head for the trails. There is no park services so pack out your trash, including your full doggie bags, to the trash can at the corner of Shoreline Drive and Orchid Drive. Be respectful of the homes and the residents when on the trails. Leave zero trace. Thank you.
Kristina 11/05/2009 22:49	I love this one....we were at this spot last month..keep them coming
Katie 10/06/2009 14:30	Top beach! Woohoo!
Rich 07/29/2006 16:41	wow, cool, yes, more cities please!