Emma Wood State Beach’s North Beach to Temporarily Close Starting Aug. 25
Contact:
Kate Wilson, Planning Chief
Katharine.wilson@parks.ca.gov
VENTURA – California State Parks today announced the temporary closure of Emma Wood State Beach’s North Beach beginning Monday, Aug. 25, for an essential roadway improvement project. The closure is expected to last through June 2026, with intermittent traffic control continuing through December 2027.
Over the years, State Parks has undertaken multiple maintenance projects at North Beach to address ongoing coastal erosion and storm impacts. These efforts included rip-rap reinforcement in 2010 and 2014, sinkhole mitigation in 2016 and 2025, and storm damage restoration in 2017. Despite these interventions, recent severe storms and extreme weather events, including king tide events in February 2024, have accelerated damage to the area. As a result, a more comprehensive and long-term roadway repair is now required.
The project will occur in three phases:
- Phase 1 – Roadway Repairs: Full closure of North Beach, expected to last from Aug. 25, 2025, through January 2026.
- Phase 2 – Highway 1 Overpass Demolition (led by Caltrans): Full closure of North Beach, expected to continue through June 2026.
- Phase 2 – Highway 1 Overpass Demolition (led by Caltrans): Full closure of North Beach, with work expected from January through June 2026
- Phase 3 – Intermittent Traffic Control: Day-use access will resume with traffic controls in place, expected to last from June 2026 through December 2027. State Parks continues to address road safety issues within the campground area, which must be resolved before camping operations can resume.
This multi-agency effort reflects State Parks’ ongoing commitment to protecting public access while ensuring the long-term resilience and safety of critical coastal infrastructure. For more information on this project, please contact the Channel Coast District at channelcoastinfo@parks.ca.govor call (805) 585-1869.
The remainder of Emma Wood SB including Group Camp will be open to the public,and visitors can access the beach area from Solimar.
Emma Woods SB is popular for its spectacular swimming, surfing and fishing, and visitors can also explore the Ventura River estuary located at the mouth of the Ventura River at the southeast end of the park. It attracts a variety of wildlife including raccoons, songbirds and great blue herons and the occasional dolphins can be seen just offshore. The state beach also features the crumbling ruins of a World War II coastal artillery site. These activities can all be accessed throughGroup Camp, which remains open.
Top pic: View of North Beach, which will be under a temporary closure. Bottom pics: Storm damage from February 2024 king tide events. Photos from California State Parks.
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