Give Me More Mesa
Stairway walk to beach in Santa Barbara
A typical beach routine: Drive to a parking lot, haul out your cooler, traipse across the asphalt to the sand. Want more out of the experience? Then head to More Mesa and its view-filled stairway to the sea! Named for the pioneering More brothers, who built a wharf on this stretch of coast in the 1880s, you’ll traverse the bluff tops and at the mesa’s edge descend 172 steps on the More Mesa stairway, an irregular sand ladder constructed from eucalyptus limbs.
When your toes hit the sand, head left for a long stroll to Hope Ranch Beach and beyond, or go right to a series of secluded coves. This beach is unofficially clothing optional, so expect a few birthday suits!
Park your car at the north end of Mockingbird Ln. near Puente Dr. and Vieja Dr., then walk south on Mockingbird Ln. to the trailhead. Walk straight south for a half-mile to the staircase and the beach. (Side trails lead west across the mesa if you want a longer walk.) Dog-friendly!
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