Welcome to Refugio State Beach

Refugio State Beach covers 938 acres and offers excellent coastal fishing, trails, and day-use picnic sites. Iconic Canary Island Date palms along the shoreline and near Refugio Creek make the beach and camping area picturesque. The park includes both hiking and biking trails. Other day-use activities include swimming, windsurfing and surfing, kayaking, exhibits and family programs, and geocaching. Overnight facilities include 67 family campsites, three group campsites, hike and/or bike campsites, and RV sites. Visitor facilities at Refugio State Beach include a camp store, restrooms, showers (indoor and outdoor), basketball court, playground, and a campfire center. State Parks leases and manages a 750-acre underwater park  at Refugio State Beach that is very popular with divers, fishers, and educational groups.

Refugio State Beach ©2014, California State Parks

Several State Parks facilities are located at Refugio State Beach, including staff residences, operations (law enforcement, interpretation, vehicle storage, visitor services), and the junior lifeguard program headquarters.

Refugio State Beach’s habitats include coastal sage scrub, marine habitats, and riparian areas.

Refugio State Beach includes known significant archeological, tribal, and historic resources, including buildings and palm trees from the Rutherford Ranch era.

Adapt, Renew, and Preserve

To ensure a sustainable future for Refugio State Beach, the general plan update will identify and address land management and operational challenges.

Current site conditions and challenges at Refugio State Beach, as of Spring 2024, include the following:

  • Access throughout the park is vulnerable to damage, does not meet accessibility standards and is unsafe in some areas.
  • Aniso Trail, which connects Refugio SB and El Capitán SB is closed due to hazardous conditions
  • Wildfire threatens infrastructure, averaging 1,00 acres burned in the vicinity every 2 years.
  • Utility systems (water, sewage, electricity) are at capacity and vulnerable to damage and outages.
  • Beach erosion and flooding damage infrastructure and limit access.
  • Drainage systems are inefficient and contribute to flooding, especially during storms.
Photo of crumbling asphalt trail, with eroded edge falling steeply away to the beach far below.
Refugio State Beach (c) 2023, California State Parks
A group of palm trees is reflected in a pool of standing water in the Refugio parking lot. The asphalt is littered with storm debris and large surf is visible in the distance.
Refugio State Beach (c) 2023, California State Parks
Photo of large palm trees that have fallen into the ocean. A large exposed root ball is in the foreground, with an eroded cliff edge visible along the shoreline.
Refugio State Beach (c) 2023, California State Parks
Photo of beach debris, including large amounts of driftwood, piled on the beach at Refugio State Beach. Storm clouds and storm surf are visible in the distance.
Refugio State Beach (c) 2023, California State Parks

Learn More

For additional information about Refugio State Beach, visit the Park Website.

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Refugio State Beach ©2018, California State Parks.