1000 Steps Beach

Perfect for a walk on the beach. Tips: Go at low tide. Not a great place to camp out for the day. Too rocky and beach is very narrow. Parking at the steps is nonexistent. Park off of main road.

We discovered this Santa Barbara beach as a result of a recommendation from a hotel clerk. It wasn’t the easiest to reach, but it was totally worth it. Located at the end of Santa Cruz Blvd. off of Shoreline Drive, you can park for free on Shoreline Drive and just walk down to the stairs. Don’t let the name fool you though, there are only about 250 steps to get to the bottom, but wear a good soled shoes because it does get slippery on the steps the farther down you go. You should also check the daily tide before you head out because during high tide you can’t even get down there. We went at 11am which was low tide and you could easily bring stuff and enjoy a few hours as high tide was not expected at 4:23 that day. The beach itself is a bit unique as the photos will show. Not a ton of shells, but loads of unique rocks! And so many lobster and crab shells so clearly it’s a good location for predator food! The sand was ultra soft and its even, making it extremely walkable which is what we did! Yes it was a bit tiring going back up the stairs, but you can take your time and we thought it was worth it for the stunning views and unique opportunity to walk down the cliffs and check out a gorgeous beach with very few visitors! We will definitely be back and plan to stay longer next time!

Same name as the one in Laguna. But not as same good as the one in Laguna. It was not bad though If you are just tried of the familiar environment, and want get-away in not a far distance. 1000 Steps Beach in Santa Barbara is a secluded and picturesque spot perfect for those seeking tranquility and natural beauty. Despite its name, the beach is accessed via a steep staircase with fewer than a thousand steps, but the descent adds to its charm and sense of adventure. The beach itself is a serene stretch of sand, bordered by dramatic cliffs and the soothing sound of crashing waves. It’s ideal for relaxing, beachcombing, or catching a quiet sunset. Low tide reveals tide pools teeming with marine life, making it a favorite for nature lovers. Keep in mind, amenities are minimal, and the steep climb back up requires some effort. However, the peaceful atmosphere and stunning scenery make it well worth the trip for those who appreciate a more private coastal experience.

What a beautiful beach! Excellent for Rock hunters! Make sure you pay attention to the tides because at high tide it comes right up to the bottom of the steps! Not a lot of parking. Dog friendly 🙂

A must visit if you are in the Santa Barbara area. This place is so beautiful and peaceful!

Great destination for a run! Off of a nondescript road with little signage, difficult to find without a map app but also then few people when you get there. If you run the ups, be prepared to run up a seaside rise for 1.5 miles before reaching the entrance.

Beautiful place to visit! Definitely check the weather for high tide as we were not able to enjoy the beach even though the view was beautiful! Parking is limited at the end of a dead end street, the time of day we went was close to 1:00 p.m. and We were the only ones there. I can't really rate the beach itself since we weren't on it but the views are astounding!

What a wonderful feeling, feeling like you're the only one on the beach with all that beauty in front of you🌊🐚

When the world gets too noisy and chaotic, I always make a trip by the water. After finishing a delicious meal at the Honor Bar, I looked up a place near the water that had a catchy name and discovered one thousand steps beach. I was a little disappointed that it actually wasn't a thousand steps to get my steps in but it's ok because the final destination was beautiful, peaceful, and serene. Santa Barbara will always be my favorite place to find peace and quiet.

My wife took me here for the first time and I see why she kept saying she wanted to show me. It's a nice path to get to the beach and the landscape is really cool. It was a nice path to walk over your down the stairs too. I would come here again because my kids liked it. Tip make sure your kids use the restroom before going down all those steps.

This place is definitely a local spot. If you are in the Santa Barbra area check it out. The parking is tricky. There is plenty of parking in the neighborhood. But I here you can't park in the cul de sac where the entrance is. Read the signs carefully. I parked in the cul de sac with fingers crossed. I wasn't planning on staying to long anyways. Nice view of the ocean from the top. Even better when you get down to the bottom of the steps. Nice view from the bottom of steps. Looks like people hang out by the rocks just to the right of the steps. Careful going down and coming up the steps are wet. If your not used to climbing so many steps you might be a little winded once you get to the top. You'll be happy when you get to the car.

Fun easy quick activity for all. FYI: It's 152 steps...not 1000. We were disappointed for the lack of challenge, used to steps at Zephyr Cove Presbyterian Conference grounds.

Originally constructed in the 1920s, the stairs have never been restored and are marked by aged patina and slow decay. The lower you go the more pools of water are gathered on the steps but the stairs are so well worn there are uneven surfaces with more grip. Steps go right up to the water. My wife tried counting and lost track but it's definitely not a thousand. It's easy going down when excited but after roasting in the sun the climb back up will have you sweating. Check tides for the day, at 1:30pm it was pretty high and it would be a bummer if you visited and there was nowhere to walk or you end up walking too far and had to slog through water on the way back. It's a narrow beach but not too many people come here so very peaceful. Google maps will take you right to where they are but you can't park on the cul de sac where the stairs are loc-lactated, plenty of street parking can be found close by.

During my mini getaway to Santa Barbara, I noticed this on my map and decided to make an early morning walk to see this beach, and it was stunning! I went early morning so it was high tide, and the water was all the way up to the steps, but I didn't mind. I would suggest checking when high/low tide is if you plan on walking along the beach. The view from the top of the stairs was breathtaking. It was super quiet. I only saw 1 other person coming down to see it, but I went at dawn. The next day I went at dawn, I saw someone doing stretches/yoga at the top of the stairs. While it wasn't exactly 1000 steps, there are plenty of steps, a little slippery from water. You'll definitely feel the burn in your legs as you make your way back up the steps. Parking is super limited as it's entrance is a small street in a residential area. Would I come again? Next time I'm staying in Santa Barbara.

Cute beach where you can walk a long way along the shore. However, it's highly recommended you check on the tides since high tide can come really far up the shoreline. Luckily, I came on a low tide day, and the water was receding into the ocean. I peeked into some of the tide pools, but only saw a lot of kelp. It was overcast and rare super foggy day in Santa Barbara (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=Jrqc-oYBw0Ua8cgkFtjwoA&userid=76vIFZcC7owykCBjMfGVXg, https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=5uUXjhjYjJESkysRXKdxzQ&userid=76vIFZcC7owykCBjMfGVXg) and a lot was obscured by fog, but it was still relaxing to watch the waves and the ocean. There aren't 1,000 steps to walk down to reach the beach (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=O6KO9CdKcL44ae1iRzyveg&userid=76vIFZcC7owykCBjMfGVXg), and it's more like a few flights of stairs. The steps are really wet halfway down, and you'll need to be careful walking down since it's slippery. The last step is also super high off the ground, and a small jump for me to reach the beach. However, I thought the effort was worth it, and I really enjoyed walking along the beach. Parking in this area can be tough, but there was street parking available in the residential area.

Was looking for some good stairs in the area to keep up my exercise routine while away and wow!! These are such a fun alternative!! I'm so glad I found them and will definitely be back! So, the name is a tad misleading - there aren't one thousands steps - there are around 150 stairs down to the beach....still a decent amount! Up at the top is a nice viewing area that has safety fencing. The entrance is obvious and marked with a sign as well. There's a decent sized platform about halfway down...but be cautious bc it was at about that point where the stairs were absolutely soaked with water all the way down. They weren't terribly slippery but it's definitely an issue if you're trying to exercise. You can't go at any kind of fast pace. I was there right at high tide and the waves were crashing on the bottom couple of stairs, so it's definitely a good idea to check the tide tables before going - plan ahead. I went ahead and visited during high tide bc the timing of low tide was crazy for me. But you can tell there's a really nice beach at low tide! The top half of the stairs and the midway platform are shaded nicely ...but the bottom half of stairs are exposed to full sun. The shade is provided by some lovely trees - such a nice area! The entrance is in a rather residential area and parking is all street parking but I had no issues finding a spot right by the entrance - however I was there on a Wednesday morning. I imagine weekends/holidays get packed.

Hola yelpers: hoy me vine a tomar una birra y quería ver la playa la cual no se puso debido a la neblina así que ni se pudo, pero el lugar para platicar está muy rico un delicioso aire para los días de calor así que anímate trae tu bebida y a disfrutar Saludos yelpers y gusto en saludar

Came here on a Sunday early morning (Around 7 am). Quiet, peaceful, beautiful walk down the stairs & along the beach. Very unique shells if you like to collect! Highly recommend to check it out even if it's a short walk!

Beautiful beach, easy to get to. Perfect orientation for both sunrises and sunsets. A short walk or run from the marina or Sterns Pier. Relaxing and beautiful. Watch the tide reports however, as the waves may be close to the steps (not really one thousand) at high

Summary: Not actually 1000 steps, nice beach with great view but not the typical amenities of a bathroom, shower, etc at beachside. Direct your GPS to the address on Yelp, and you'll have no issue finding this little beach. First things first, it's NOT REALLY 1000 STEPS, so don't be deterred from coming here based on the name. Parking is easy as well, I just parked on the residential street. I went on a rainy day, so there was no crowd at all, I'm not sure how it gets on a nice day. It was a bit later in the evening, so it was fun watching the tide get closer and closer to me. At high tide, the water seems to rise above the steps, so there is some erosion at the very bottom, making the steps somewhat slippery. It's a wonderful place to watch the sunset!

1000 Step Beach that is not really a 1000 steps, LOL, but is definitely worth the trip to walk and explore. It is beautiful, clean, peaceful and not a lot of people (at least the day we went). Here's a couple helpful hints that may be useful. 1) A MUST, check when High tide and Low tide are, because you can't get walking access on the beach when it is high tide. 2) If you miss the street to turn down to park OR if you can't find parking because it is residential street parking, just drive down the road to Shore Line Park which is beautiful too, and park for free in a lot. There is also step access down to the beach near the bathrooms. My friend and I missed the 1000 stair street, drove to Shore Line Park, parking area, walked toward the bathrooms, found stairs down to the beach, walk on the beach to the 1000 stairs and walked up the 1000 stairs back to the car. Just simply beautiful!

This beach is kind of a hidden find under the arch, in the middle of Shoreline Park. There's tons of parking in the two lots that frame Shoreline Park and street parking available in the neighborhoods across the street, as well. Once you park and walk to the center you will see a tall wooden arch with about 100 something cement stairs going downwards - You have arrived. This beach is great for long walks on low tide days, tide pool adventures on very low tide days, shell hunting, beautiful ocean pictures, sunsets, watching the sail boats, and running both north and south when the tide generally allows. I wouldn't recommend it as a great beach for swimming or fishing as it is very rocky and the currents tend to be rough. I personally love stopping by this beach at the end of the day on my way home from work to have a quick walk with some fresh air. I love how easy parking is, how it's never that crowded, and the sunsets are usually to die for. If you're looking for another close romantic sunset spot check out the Shoreline Park Yelp page and view the pictures of the picnic benches overlooking the ocean and sunset!

It was nice. I would say close to 1000 steps Whew! I went down once to look. Came up to get my chair and drinks. Went down again and stayed around till sunset. Beautiful view lot of doggies too. Parking after 4 is probably more available. No bathrooms here so be sure to do your business prior.

Nice little beach to visit, but nothing in particular to do there. You walk down the 150 steps and...there's the beach. I read that I should come at low tide to see tide pools, and according to the internet I was there at low tide, but I didn't see any tide pools. A nice beach for kids to run around at... quiet, no sunbathers, etc.

If you haven't been to this historical area then I suggest you bookmark it and make it a point to visit! Just because it's called One Thousand Steps Beach doesn't mean there are that many steps so don't be discouraged. It's a little over 100 steps. My suggestion would be to wear shoes you don't care to ruin but are sturdy enough to withstand the mossy, slimy, wet steps as you venture down to the beach. The steps are slippery so be careful! Once you get to the end of the steps you will have to be extra cautious and use your balancing skills to get down. There's a ton of rocks below that you can step on so take your time and don't injur yourself! Don't mean to scare anyone here just keeping it real but I've seen grandmas trek down the steps onto the beach so if they can do it anyone can! The location is at the dead end of Santa Cruz Blvd just off Shoreline Drive but the parking is very limited on this street so I recommend parking on Shoreline Drive where there is plenty of street parking. If the tide is high you won't be able to get down to the beach but if you're lucky to go at low tide then you will be able to explore everything this hidden beach has to offer. Tide pools, sea shells, beautiful rocks, star fish, crustaceans and much much more! There aren't many people who sunbathe here but that's not to say you couldn't. You will see lots of dogs here but they are happy dogs running along the beach enjoying themselves just as we do. Overall this beach is definitely a hidden gem and great place for taking pictures. Bookmark it!

This beach is great for exploring and taking a walk. The address on Yelp is more accurate than the one Trip Advisor uses. 2 Santa Cruz Blvd is actually someone's house...oops! The entrance of the beach is next to this house. There are some parking spots in this cul de sac, but there is not much space. The best parking is probably at the nearby park or on the street. There are actually not 1,000 steps leading to the beach. I counted only 150. It rained the night before my visit, so the steps were extremely slippery and muddy. I'm so glad I wasn't barefoot - it is really gross and mossy. I saw many dog owners with their pets on this beach, but it was empty for the most part. I didn't stay late enough for sunset, but I'm sure it would have been beautiful. The beach is very rocky and full of small pebbles. I worried about high tide prohibiting me from exploring the beach, but it was not bad. There's a bunch of small pools and enough rocks to walk on if you don't have sandals.

Not much of a beach, nor much parking, but street parking is easy to find. There are about 100-150 steps to get down to the strip of sand. It was a shame I came during high tide and there was a wedding happening when I arrived so I waited until the ceremony was done before heading down. Check the tide tables before coming! It does get super crowded on the weekends so don't expect much of this place.

Great small beach to chill, get a tan, or walk your dog. Parking is scarce, but just look around the neighborhood.

Cool little gem in SB. Street parking, so parking can be tricky. Goes right down to the beach! Has a pretty view!

This beach is worth the walk down the steps. Once you find the beach, which Google Maps will take you to if you plug in "2 Santa Cruz Blvd, Santa Barbara," just head down the steps. The steps can be slippery -- as they were when we went. Many of the steps were wet and muddy and slick. And the steps at the end that lead you onto the rocky beach are crumbled/eroded. I wish I had sneakers instead of flip flops because I slid on the rocks. BUT, it is a gorgeous beach to walk. Many dogs running around. Kids LOVE it. There are tide pools and a spectacular sunset. Not crowded at all. It's not 1000 steps as other Yelpers have said & definitely pay attention to the tides or you'll miss out!

Google maps will take you straight to the entrance. First of all, don't get intimidated--there aren't really 1,000 steps. Probably a little less than 100. Secondly, the steps leading to the beach are uneven so please be careful. And lastly, the view on the steps is HEART EYES EMOJIS for days. I'm so glad we got to the beach early because it was completely EMPTY. I would highly recommend doing the same. It was SO quiet and relaxing. All you hear are waves.

The name is deceiving... There's only 150 steps. Or 300 if you count going down then climbing back up... (I counted). Nonetheless, it's worth every heart-pumping step. One Thousand Steps Beach is one of my favorite secluded gems in Santa Barbara to take visitors for a sandy stroll. You have the beautiful Mesa bluffs covered in sprawling plants and vines with a direct view of the Channel Islands in the distance. If you walk all the way east, you can also see downtown Santa Barbara given that it's very low tide. Hints & Tips: -To find it, head up the Mesa and turn toward the ocean onto Santa Cruz Boulevard. You can only park on the right side of the cul-de-sac street (three cars worth), so if it's already full, park on Cliff Drive instead. Look for the wooden sign and stairs. -Be sure to check the tide schedule. If it's high, the beach barely exists. -Bring solid shoes in the steps and rocks are very slippery. -You come here to stroll, not to swim, unless you're an experienced swimmer or surfer.

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous beach!!! Don't be fooled its really not a thousand steps however it would be a nice workout if it was but no its not. Maybe like 100 steps. The sucky part is that midway down the steps its all wet and muddy omg there is so much mud its kinda gross especially for those who are wearing sandals or walking barefoot. This was my only pet peeve! Other than that when we came here this place wasnt too packed. There were a lot of joggers, walkers walking their dogs but they let their dogs loose. I didn't see anyone holding their dog on the leash. They were some dogs barking at each other but thankfully no dogs attacking humans. Because mind you I'm scared of dogs!!! :( The water was nice the sand was pretty the beach was pretty. I definitely would come back. Not the best beach I've been to but definitely one I enjoyed and so did my son. Seeing him for the 1st time actually playing in the water was the greatest thing for me to watch. He really enjoyed himself and that makes me sooo happy!!! You can get some killer pictures of the sunset and just the overall beach too.

It's worth it going down the steps but take a towel and chairs if you plan to hang out for any length of time.

Awesome beach!! Beautiful sights! Lots of rocks. The steps aren't nearly a thousand, so pretty easy to traverse. Had a picnic here with the family and worth the stop. Park on street before cul de sac where steps are located. Sign says the stairs closing later on in April for maintenance.

Cool spot. Thankfully the steps are not actually one thousand but there are several long flights ( for those who may be physically limited). Makes for great pictures. Beach immediately near steps is narrow and rocky, though there may be more space further down. Generally though Id say this is a spot for pictures and a short walk, not for an actual beach hang out. Tip: steps are eroded and wet so be prepared and step carefully.

One Thousand Steps Beach isn't the beach you should head for when you want to take a swim; swimming is far too dangerous here! Also, you really need to be careful if you come here at high tide. That said, if you want to see an incredible sunset, this is totally the right place to go! The vistas at any time of day are World Class, too :-) Whether you grab a little bite here on a lunch break, come for a walk, or just to watch the sunset, it's a beautiful place to enjoy the wonders of nature and to see the ocean at it's best. Tip: Sometimes you can watch whales and dolphins from the steps :-)

I was on an adventure. A Mini-Adventure. I didn't have much money, but yet I wanted to see something new and fun. So, I plotted a trip out to Santa Barbara to see a beach. This one was way cool. Especially the trek down to it from the parking area. I had been poking around downtown Santa Barbara when I suddenly decided I wanted to walk in the water. I plugged "Beach" into Yelp and the nearest one was this one. I drove the short distance, and managed to find a parking spot just over the stairs leading doward. I took a moment to enjoy the vista from this high point, and then began to carefully climb down the stairs. Carefully. They're slick. They're wet. There's fuzzy moss that covers some of it. It's a challenge for sure. My foot slipped out from under me at one point, and for a split second, I saw myself comically falling down the complete length of the staircase bonking and owing my way down. Thankfully, I landed solidly on my butt. Where there was enough padding and square area to secure myself from taking a long and painful tumble. (this is where the star falls off....because Owtch!) I carefully and cautiously regained my footing, and resumed the descent on the thousand steps to the shoreline below. The steps do seem ancient; and their base has been eroded by however many decades of ocean waves lapping at it. I got down to the bottom and looked around. This beach is nice! It's not very long, and there are barely any people at it. I was greeted by a pair of young beauties in skimpy bathing suits, and I asked if they could help me out with a photograph. But beyond them, I only ran into a few more souls down here. There seemed to be natural lil alcoves formed by erosion and wear on the rocks. How fascinating! I walked along the waters edge for a lil while and admired the scenery. The water washing my feet every few moments, the creatures that scurried about, the salty smell wafting in the air. It was a good time. Relaxing. Serene. After an hour or so of walking along the short beach, I returned to the stairs. I carefully stepped up them. One at a time. Careful. Being extra careful on my ascent back up to my car. Climbing up took more time, but once I got back up to the top I took another moment to enjoy the view. This beach is super cool. I had a ton of fun exploring it. If you're in the area, I highly suggest you check it out. And remember to be careful on those steps down!

Wow! It is beautiful down there! Very few people so no mass gatherings. My wife and I enjoyed the sunset and the walk on the sand. It's false advertising as there was only 151 steps! What's that 15.1% of the stated total! But not fret as the view and exercise () going up was all worth it! It's at the end of Santa Cruz blvd. Easy to locate. We then walked to Shoreline park a few blocks away. Breath taking or maybe it was the stairs or both!

Nice hidden private beach area located right after the Shoreline Park. Look for the sign and thats where the steps start! Not really a thousand steps but its close to a hundred. As you get closer to the bottom the steps get more slippery so be careful. Very clean and dog friendly area.

Nice place to visit. Check the tide schedule. We were there when there wasn't much beach. Still it was a nice little cardio boost to start your day.

Lovely spot. Not a workout at all...our two year old walked it. 149 steps to be exact but a fun experience anyway.

I came here to eat some poke and drink green tea for lunch and it was perfect. There wasn't a lot of people, but the people that were there all brought their dogs!! So I thought that was great. Oh and it's not really a thousand steps, so don't get intimidated! :)

This place is magical. Once you find parking (tip - arrive early to get one of the few spots on the street directly connected to the staircase) the staircase is easy to find and the walk down is quick. In my opinion, the staircase is smaller than some of the other cliff side beaches. It's important to note that the staircase can be slippery when wet. The actual beach itself is immaculate and the view is stunning. Many people come here to walk their dogs and let them play so do not be surprised of the leash less friends.

1000 steps beach was one of the prettiest beaches I've ever been to. It's not actually One Thousand steps so the views at the bottom were well with it!

When I was 14, my sis and my cousin and I went down the steps to the beach. We weren't even thinking about the tide. We walked quite a ways down the beach, then noticed the tide coming in. We hurried back, and by the time we reached the steps, the water was hitting the cliff. That was 64 years ago, I've always wondered how deep the water gets at high tide, and if we might have drowned if we hadn't noticed the tide when we did. BTW, we didn't count the steps, but the locals called it 100 Steps, not 1000.

Beautiful beach to walk on. Very quiet and not a ton of people. 152-ish steps down. The parking was less than to be desired, no marked parking, had to park on busy neighborhood street in front of a house. Otherwise I would visit again.

It's a nice, secluded place to spend some time relaxing. I saw little to no trash scattered on the beach. People say to wear shoes when walking on the beach, but we were able to walk, and even run a little bit while barefoot! There were lots of smooth stones to skip. The waves weren't too high, but the tide was so we didn't get to see the tide pools (if there were any.) Saw lots of dead lobsters that were probably eaten by other animals too! Pretty cool if you like those types of things.

This place is such a cute quaint find if you're in the Mesa area! We came when there was high tide so we didn't get to walk on the beach, but the views from the bottom are absolutely stunning. I wouldn't say there are 'one thousand steps' but there are quite a bit ~ maybe 200 or so. Be careful though! These steps are pretty wet esp with the surfers walking up/down. This place is truly a hidden treasure! I'm so glad we went!

This is a nice little trek to take on a sunny California day at low tide. It is accessible from a side street off Shoreline Drive ( Santa Cruz Blvd). There are a few parking spots on this side street dead end but it might require a walk. The pathway down isn't 1000 steps. Though I didn't count, I'd say maybe 150 and the lower 50 can be slippery as they are wet and covered with moss. At the end however you are rewarded with a deserted beach and a great quiet spot to enjoy the view. We went at low tide and there was a huge expanse of sand. We walked toward Santa Barbara and around a bend found a Princess cruise ship docked just off the nearby marina. Only one other group was on the beach; it was very peaceful! I really enjoyed this hidden treasure!

This place is a lil hidden get away! Very nice sight seeing.. it's great my kids loved it- a definitely must visit!!!

Not sure if it was one thousand steps, but there sure was a lot. Going down the stairs is easy, a bit slippery so be cautious. Going back up was a mission for some of us, but kids enjoyed it. It's a private little section and kept well cleaned. This is why we liked it a lot.

This was a great hidden gem to find! I don't think this is a popular beach especially since there is barely any sand to lay and relax. The ocean meets the shoreline pretty close. Street parking is available and free! My friends and I went during sunset and it was beautiful! The "thousand" steps are to your left (when facing the ocean) and once you reach the bottom, the ocean is literally right there. We found a spot to the right after walking over many rocks and leaned back and enjoyed the sunset.

Love this beach. Not too many people. Stairs going down to the beach were slippery and needs repair.

Great workout just go up and down a few times and they should do it. Not really a thousand steps. Definitely a good workout and you have the ocean to cool off in

It is not literally "One Thousand Steps" it was pretty short... This beach was pretty empty when I went on a Tuesday during Spring Break. It's a very clean beach with a lot of rocks & pebbles. Parking is located in a neighborhood so it's free.

Not a swimming beach, and be careful about high tide. However... sunsets from here are amazing, and the views during the day are simply world class. I've gone here for lunch breaks, breakfast walks, sunset, everything. It's just incredible. I've watched whales, dolphins, etc from the steps. Seriously- very very beautiful. Just go and have a walk. You'll be happy you did. You'll leave relaxed.