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Santa Barbara · The American Riviera
All SB Parks & Beaches
🌿 Preserve
Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve
Guadalupe
📸 Scenic
💎 Hidden Gem
🌅 Sunset Views
🦭 Wildlife
A wild dune beach at the mouth of the Santa Maria River — towering sand hills, snowy plovers, and zero crowds.
At the end of Main Street in Guadalupe, the road runs out at the Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve — part of the larger Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes complex, the second-largest coastal dune system in California. Endangered snowy plovers nest here. The dunes themselves are massive, photogenic, and almost always empty.
🌟 Why Locals Love It
Walking a quiet beach at the foot of giant Sahara-like dunes — and you're only 90 minutes from downtown SB.
💡 Good to Know Before You Go
Snowy plover nesting closes parts of the beach March through October. Check signage.
Practical Info
Main St / W Hwy 166, Guadalupe, CA 93434
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