Rhodes Fleming Coastal Trail – Tar Pits Park loop from Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve

Hiking trails & Routes

Santa Barbara County

Carpinteria

Rhodes Fleming Coastal Trail – Tar Pits Park loop from Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve

Easy

hikers

Rhodes Fleming Coastal Trail – Tar Pits Park loop from Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve

00:59

3.66km

50m

Hiking

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 19, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

253 m

Rhodes Fleming Coastal Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

This trail, lined with eucalyptus trees and coastal scrub, runs along the Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve, which spans 52 acres of open space with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and the Channel Islands. The preserve is home to a harbor seal rookery, one of only four along the Southern California coast. It's a fantastic place for a day trip, and if you're here in the evening, a great place to watch the sunset over the ocean.

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854 m

Anne & Al Drasdo Memorial Grove

Forest

1.86 km

Tar Pits Park

Highlight • Natural Monument

Tar Pits Park features some of the few natural asphalt lakes in the world. These tar pits, formed by ancient petroleum seepage, date back to the Pleistocene epoch and have preserved fossils of prehistoric creatures. Historically, the Chumash people used tar to waterproof their boats and tools. The park has been preserved and restored to its natural state, with a great path that winds throughout the grounds, popular for hiking and biking. There are several picnic tables, plenty of benches with fantastic views, a harbor seal sanctuary, and a lovely stretch of beach. Tar seeps out of the ground along the trail, beach, on the bluffs, and throughout the park and can get on your shoes. It's a good idea to bring footwear that you don't mind getting dirty when you come to explore this beautiful area.

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2.46 km

Seal Sanctuary Viewpoint

Highlight • Viewpoint

This is a known spot for spotting seals lazing on the beach, sometimes in the hundreds! Whales and dolphins have also been spotted in the water from here, too.

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