Pierhead's Travel Notes
Date: August 22, 2006
Location: Gaviota State Park (trailhead)
GPS: 34.47156N - 120.2299W
The last time I was at the Gaviota seawall, in June, I gave it a good
cleaning so I knew it wasn't going to require much. But I also suspected
that the pull-outs on the Hollister Ranch road leading to it needed a bit
of picking up so I thought I would begin there ... turned out to be an
understatement :)
Starting at the trailhead around 8am I worked solidly until 3pm filling
three 50 gallon contractor clean-up bags full of the usual roadside trash.
The seawall itself had only accumulated a 5 gallon bucket's worth ... mostly
beer bottles and fish line.
This is the only seawall in the county that I haven't fished. There
is little kelp in this cove but plently of offshore structure. The substratum
is layered shale slanted backwards at a 45 degree angle and heavily mussel
encrusted. The tide was around 2' this afternoon when the pictures were
taken ... I would guess the seawall would be safe to fish up to a 5 foot
tide. There is a middle section that the cliff has encroached on leaving
only a narrow 1 foot walkway but beyond it the wall widens again ending
at the beach on the eastern end.
The access is from the trailhead at the first curve on the ranch road
which runs up behind Gaviota State park from the kiosk. Park on either
side and walk towards the ocean. Turn north at the railroad tracks and
walk less than 1/2 mile looking for a red MCI cable marker (#3809) on the
left. About 20 feet past it there is a trail down to the seawall.
Be aware ... this is a very steep trail and not one to build up any
momentum on ... make sure every step you take is planned :) Probably best
not to load down with too much tackle ... travel light and stay safe.
____________
Pierhead
Proud Supporter of UPSAC
Gaviota
State Park seawall 
pierhead
- Aug-22-06 6:31pm