Gaviota Wind Caves - A Hidden Gem Near Santa Barbara, CA

Located just west of Santa Barbara, Gaviota Wind Caves are interesting sandstone formations that can be seen as you drive along Highway 101. These wind-sculpted caves are nothing short of spectacular, especially when you get closer to them. The hike to the Gaviota Wind Caves is short, only about 2.5 miles round trip, but quite steep. You will be gaining almost 600ft in just over 1 mile. However, it was definitely worth the effort. We had so much fun exploring the sand caves, and the coastal views from the top are beautiful.

Note: Please make sure to respect this beautiful place and the surrounding areas. Always practice LEAVE NO TRACE. This means no loud music, no graffiti, no taking artifacts or fossilized items, and pack out what you pack in! Please help us protect this place for generations to come!

Stats

Where

Gaviota Wind Caves Trailhead
17620 Gaviota Beach Rd, Gaviota, CA 93117
Coords: 34.471764, -120.229748

Parking

There are parking on both sides of the road, right in front of the trailhead.

Restroom

There is no restroom

Fee

Free

Ideal Time

Since there isn’t a lot of shade, it is best to do this hike in cooler weather or early morning. Also, the trail can get very slippery when wet so we don’t recommend hiking this trail after a big rain.

Distance

2.5 mi R.T.

Elevation Gain

600 ft

Level

Moderate to strenuous, especially if you want to climb up on some of the caves.

Time:

2-3 hours

Pet-friendly

No pets are allowed.

Weather

Video

Getting to the Trailhead

The trailhead for Gaviota Wind Caves is located inside the Gaviota State Park Beach & Campground. From Santa Barbara, take US-101 North toward Gaviota. About 32 miles, turn left onto Gaviota Beach Road. Once you pass through the guard booth, keep right to stay on Hollister Ranch Road. As you round the corner, there are pull-outs on both sides of the road that you can park. The trailhead for the Gaviota Wind Caves is on the right-hand side, at the metal gate. You should also be able to map your way there using the address above.

The Paved Section

The start of the Gaviota Wind Caves trail can be deceiving. It starts out on a paved trail with little incline. But don’t let that fool you, this trail gets very steep and slippery. In fact, it’s considered semi-strenuous. Therefore, we highly recommend wearing hiking shoes with great traction. We love our La Sportiva shoes (Vy’s version, Dustin’s version). They have so much traction! Also, don’t attempt this hike when it’s too hot out, and bring lots of water. If you’re hiking this toward the evening, bring a jacket. The temperature can drop significantly toward the evening. If you look back from this paved trail, you can see the railroad bridge crossing above the Gaviota campground and beach.

Turning Onto the Dirt Trail

After about 0.6 miles, we came upon a wooden informational kiosk on the left. There is a small dirt trail right next to it. We turned left onto this dirt trail to follow our way to the wind caves. The trail was quite overgrown when we went. As the Gaviota Wind Caves trail winds around the tall weeds and overgrown bushes, it also gains elevation quickly. Don’t forget to look back to look at the views behind as you climb higher.

Ascending the Hill

As we ascend the steep slope, the trail also gets rockier and quite slippery. If this trail is wet, we could see how it could get extra slippery. We were quite thankful for our La Sportiva shoes. After gaining the ridge, we could see the exposed pocked sandstone. It was the same formation that we saw as we drove along US-101. This is your destination, by the way. There are a few other trails in the area, however, as long as you keep your destination, the pocked sandstone in mind, you won’t get lost.

The Lower Group of Wind Caves

Along the way, there is a lower set of wind caves. Don’t forget to explore them. They were super interesting to see. However, please don’t carve or paint anything on the wall. Please keep the area the same if not better when you find it!! Once you finish here, head toward the main sets of wind caves.

The Main Wind Caves - The Eyelet

There are multiple paths that lead toward the main group of wind caves. So explore at your own risk. If you want to get on top of the pocked sandstone formation, where you can see a small hole (eyelet) in the rock, the easiest way is to follow the path around the west side. So where is the west side, you ask? If you’re facing the formation, go left, all the way to the left. The trail will lead you all the way up to it. There is no climbing involved. However, the trail itself is steep, very rocky and slippery so please be extra careful. From the inside of this eyelet, you can see the beautiful coastal view below. This is the perfect spot for a quick break.

The Main Wind Caves - The Lower Caves

Now, if you want to climb or scramble around, you can do so at the lower caves. However, do so at your own risk. To get up to the bigger caves below, it can be quite strenuous and slippery. In fact, it is easier to climb up than down. So make sure to weigh your decision carefully before attempting it. Once you’re done, head back the same way you came from.

If you love wind caves, there are some other wind caves near Anza Borrego. If you’re looking for more interesting things to do along Highway 101, we recommend checking out the Davenport Swing, Shark Fin Cove, and Cayucos Shipwreck.

These are the gear that we personally use and find them helpful for this particular adventure. Don’t forget to check out our Recommended Gear section as well.