Life's a Hidden Beach!

Camp at Jalama Beach

You want your California beach camping to be off the beaten path? Just add Jalama! Tucked away in Lompoc, about 60 miles west of Santa Barbara, Jalama Beach County Park has a hidden beach with 119 campsites, 7 cabins, and an old- fashioned storefront, slinging burgers and breakfast burritos, and offering anything you forgot from home (firewood, beer, deodorant…). Because it's tucked between Vandenberg Air Force Base and other private properties, this is one secluded slice of paradise. Try to nab one of the beachside sites on the horseshoe around Abalone Point (see PDF map) where you can set up camp right on the sandy shore. Even if you don’t end up with a front-row view, there's really not a bad site: they're all located mere steps from the sand. Rather go for the wood cabins? They're located a short walk up the hill and are equipped with a full kitchen, electricity, and even satellite TV (ahhh, nature! Tip: the best show you can watch is the stellar ocean views from your cabin porch). The waves at Jalama Beach make this campground a surfer's dream, but for those who prefer to hang out rather than hang ten, it's also a great spot for kicking back, breathing in the fresh salty sea air, and admiring the gorgeous ocean sunsets.

Heading north on HWY. 1, make a left on Jalama Rd. and drive for 13 miles until you dead-end at Jalama County Beach. Sites and all cabins can be reserved; 16 sites are first-come, first-served. Dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View
  3. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View
  4. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Two kayakers on Upper Klamath Basin on tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures

    Zen & the Art of Kayaking

    It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures.

    View
  3. A Rose in the Pines

    A crackling fire, a bottle of wine, a bubbling Jacuzzi tub with a waterfall … now the big question: Marvin Gaye tunes or not? In the morning (ahem) it's breakfast in bed and a leis

    View
  4. Alex Villicana, Villicana Winery and Re:Find Distillery

    Locals' Feature: Alex Villicana

    Tech booms, AI revolutions, okay that’s all fine, but you wanna know what else is really cool? Being a pioneer in a world-famous industry that—in Paso Robles—remains solidly down to earth. When Alex Villicana established Villicana Winery in 1993, he clearly had grape expectations...

    View