Adjacent to each other, Goleta Beach Park and Goleta Slough Ecological Reserve offer a full spectrum of activities, from great picnicking and beach activities to terrific walks and bird watching in important coastal salt marsh and other habitats.

Goleta Beach is known for its large BBQ picnic areas, its secluded beach at the eastern part of the park, horseshoes, and its 1,500 foot pier where you can fish or just walk to the end for terrific views. For big events, large picnic areas can be reserved.

Before or after visiting the beach, it is fun go directly north of the parking lot to explore the many diverse habitats in the Goleta Slough Ecological Reserve, including: salt marsh, riverine, palustrine wetlands, coastal sage scrub and Southern coastal oak woodland. There is abundant wildlife, especially herons, ducks, rails, shorebirds, raptors and even weasels.