El Capitán Entrance Improvements Project

Latest update: May 11, 2023

History
California State Parks acquired the land that now encompasses El Capitán State Beach between 1953 and 1967; and the State Parks Commission classified El Capitán State Beach in June of 1962. The park and campground developments remain in the original 1978 configuration, thus the park suffers from outdated and inadequate facilities.

The Project
The El Capitán Entrance Improvements Project will adapt to park access patterns by widening the entrance road to reduce wait times and increase public safety, replacing an existing culvert with a more effective bridge and removing a fish barrier, and replacing two separate antiquated park entry buildings with one functional park entry kiosk. Additionally, to safely accommodate the pedestrian traffic now accessing the State Park entry, an improved ADA trail will provide an enhanced park experience.

Progress
The entrance trail renovation has begun and is expected to be completed by September 2023. This will result in trail detours and A-Loop being closed through September 2023.

It is anticipated that the remaining Entrance Improvements Project components will begin January 2024, fully closing camping at El Capitán State Beach for approximately one year. During this time there will be pedestrian access to the beach; however camping will not be available.

Camping at El Capitán State Beach is expected to reopen in August 2023 and go through December 2023. The entrance trail renovation has begun and is expected to be completed by September 2023. This will result in trail detours and A-Loop being closed through September 2023. It is anticipated that the remaining Entrance Improvements Project components will begin in January 2024, fully closing camping at El Capitán State Beach for approximately one year. Information about camping at El Capitán State Beach will be updated as soon as we have specific dates.

Pedestrian access for day use will be available throughout the project. The entrance road ingress lane will be intermittently closed with traffic controls through December 2022 during trail construction.

Construction dates for the trail are as follows:

  • 10/26/22-11/2/22
  • 11/9/22-11/16/22
  • 11/30/22-12/7/22
  • 12/14/22-12/21/22
  • 1/25/23-2/1/23
  • 2/8/23-2/15/23
  • 2/22/23-3/1/23
  • 3/8/23-3/15/23
  • 3/22/23-3/29/23
  • 4/5/23-4/12/23
  • 4/19/23-4/26/23

Expect that access route and location may be fluid to avoid construction areas. Please visit the El Capitán State Beach Facebook and Channel Coast District Instagram pages for the most recent updates on access.

If you have any questions please contact the Channel Coast District at ChannelCoastInfo@Parks.Ca.Gov

Project Goals

  • Remove fish barrier along El Capitán Creek
  • Improve public safety
  • Improve accessibility and coastal access
  • Improve stormwater quality per Santa Barbara
    Project Clean Water guidelines
  • Adapt to current and future access needs at
    El Capitán State Beach

Project Components

  • Widen road by 4 feet or greater along entire length
  • Rehabilitate existing pavement with a mill & overlay
  • Construct new bridge to replace existing culvert (fish barrier)
  • Increase capacity of existing secondary, high flow channel culvert with an additional culvert
  • Rehabilitate trail and construct sustainable, accessible trail in its place
  • Construct accessible entrance kiosk
  • Stormwater treatment and BMPs per Project Clean Water guidelines
  • Native American consultation (2017-present)
  • State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) 
    • Section 106 consultation completed
    • Public Resources Code (PRC) Sections 5024 and 5024.5 review and concurrence issued
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) 404 Nationwide Permit (NWP) 14 
  • United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) - Biological Opinion (BO) issued
    • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) - Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7(a)(2) Concurrence Letter issued
    • Approved jurisdictional determination (AJD) issued
    • NWP 14 and reverification of permit issued
  • Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) 401 Water Quality Certification  (WQC)
    • Permit issued
  • California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) 1602 Lake and Streambed Alteration (LSA) Agreement
    • Permit issued
  • Coastal Development Permit (CDP) through Local Coastal Program (LCP) - County of Santa Barbara
    • Permit issued

Project documents can be found on the Santa Barbara County Planning & Development website.

 

For questions and comments contact:
channelcoastinfo@parks.ca.gov
Join the Project Mailing List at:
Project Mailing List – Sign-Up