Honestly one of the coolest ways to get down to the beach. Especially after a run, this spot has been such a great place to decompress or enjoy watching the waves during high tide! Just be careful when others are coming down the steps, it's been raining, or if there's a lot of mist in the air. I've definitely slipped a couple of times and it is not pretty if you fall all the way down. read more

Very misleading beach. I honestly think it's not safe for kids. There was no beach parking and had to park far in the neighborhood. There were about 6 flights of wooden steps going down. Lots of locals had their dogs unleashed and one of the dogs was not friendly which caused extra stress. Upon reaching the metal steps we realized the cliffs are very close to the high tides. There wasn't a beach for kids to play on. We only saw surfers. We decided to leave and it was difficult carrying all our beach gear up all those flights of stairs. We saw pretty views but it's honestly not worth it. read more

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Geat place but the steps are alot of work so be ready to put your legs to work.. Its so nice its a very Clean and great to go for a walk..my kids had a good time until we had to walk back up to the top.. read more

This is Local fave access to beach! Check tides to plan for sand or rock landing off stairs

Don't show your face here if you're not a local. Don't even paddle out. If you're not here constantly then don't stop by. If you want to use a beach go to Hendrys beach with all the other tourists. Also not a good beach to learn how to surf you will get regulated and cussed back to shore. If you don't think this is true I brought a friend to test my hypothesis. He came out on his boogie board on a good day. He snaked about 4 people multiple times including myself. I had it up to here with him and when I was about to tell him to paddle in some local cussed him out, threatened him and gave him the finger! He told him to paddle in and not show his face again here! I was relived he was on the on the shore and so were all tge other locals. He spent the next 2 hours watching me embarrassed with his actions. Then we drove home. I told him to not come there again too. He was pissed but I told him that's what happen when you don't grow up surfing there. read more

Mesa Lane Steps - What will happen if you paddle out. - Beaches Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Mesa Lane isn't your vacation surf stop, and it definitely isn't a surf school. If you don't surf here all the time, do yourself a favor and keep driving. Every summer the lineup gets flooded with beginners, soft tops, and people who have no clue what they're doing, and it ruins the session for everyone. If you're dropping in, paddling straight into the peak, or snaking people because you don't know better, don't expect anyone to be nice about it. Around here, respect is earned, not handed out. People will call you out immediately, and if you can't handle getting yelled at, this isn't the place for you. There are plenty of mellow beaches where you can learn--go there instead. The locals are tired of spending half the session dodging tourists who think every wave belongs to them. Show up without etiquette, and don't be surprised if you're told to paddle in. Mesa Lane has never been a beginner-friendly spot, and nobody out there is interested in turning it into one. I also know of some guys named Mateo and Drew who went here as some kooks and got completely bullied and regulated by a local named Jonah. They were so sad and embarrassed that they quit surfing altogether. read more

241 steps that take you down to a beautiful stretch of beach? It's lovely. A bit of exercise up and down and then the beach! And the beach is so pretty - rocky, mossy, but beautiful! Lots of dogs enjoying walks and people enjoying walks, too! It felt less touristy than a lot of Santa Barbara - not sure if it's more locals than tourists, but it's definitely more secluded and quiet and less frequented! A pretty spot in Santa Barbara! read more

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Folks needs to keep their dogs leased on steps. There was a lady brought 8-10 big sized dogs and they were off leashed and made a chaos . Very unpleasant situation. read more

Mesa Lane Steps - Per the regulations they are supposed to be leashed. - Beaches Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

My man and I were here last weekend and we saw a small tiki spot. We asked multiple locals if it was private and they all said it was for public use, and so we hung out there. Then there's this old white surfer dude who just went into the spot and was straight up being rude and racist to us, claiming it was his spot. Would like to get clarification if that spot is actually private or for public use, would've appreciated it if there was a sign or some notice. The beach was nice but that man really ruined our weekend. read more

These are some of my favorite views when I workout at the Mesa steps and walk along the beach. read more

Mesa Lane Steps - Mesa cliffs to the ocean - Beaches Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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This beach is great for walking but I wouldn't consider it a very pleasant beach for spending the day at. Especially when there are far more better beaches like Santa Claus Beach and Carpinteria State Beach. First of all, the stairs are a great workout. It feels like it's about 5-6 floors worth of stairs. But the main issue is there is A LOT of dogs and a lot of dog poop on this beach. The beach itself is very rocky with lots of washed up seaweed. There are some cool tree trunks and other rock formations that look cool. Then there is the wind factor. Since the beach is surrounded by cliff sides, it gets pretty windy here. We arrived at 4 pm which seemed to be a pretty popular time to arrive as parking in the residential neighborhood was still difficult. It's a short walk to arroyo burro beach where you will find more dogs. read more

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For Earth Day I had to review one of my favorite places to relax and take in the views. There are lots of steps to the beach and free public street parking for a quick afternoon stop to see the islands on a clear day or a nice long afternoon with a walk down the steps. One thing to not forget is to check the tide ahead of time if you plan to go to the beach since a high tide will prevent you from having too much area for towels on a nice day. Most locals use this beach as a walking option for themselves or the dogs. I'd highly recommend just a stop to check it out! read more

These stairs are a great workout located in a residential area of Santa Barbara. Parking is always easy and the area is clean and safe. The beach at the bottom is clean and a great walk for after your workout. Dogs are allowed off leash for most of the beach and are welcomed by all. Downtown is about 10 minutes away and it's an easy drive here. Whenever I'm in town for vacation we prefer to come here rather than the hotel gym. Enjoy! read more

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The steps were manageable and as expected. But the beach didn't have much space and the water was horrendous. One of the nearby oil rigs must have had a spill because we all got covered in thick back oil. When we noticed it on our bodies we looked around and saw it all over the rocks. It's been impossible to clean off and is incredibly sticky. What a crappy beach read more

Thank you thank you thank you for existing and connecting, in an indirect way through a residential street, Douglas Family Preserve and Arroyo Burro Beach. It's existence makes for a nice long looping walk from beach to preserve, to residential and then back to beach instead of having to double back and see the same thing on the way back to where we came from. And the different view... AH-MHAY-ZING! read more

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The Mesa Lane Steps is a great workout. There are around 243 (I counted) steps here to get down to the beach. They start in a residential area and wind down to the beach below. The beach is a dog beach. There are always lots of dogs running around and playing with each other. I spent everyday at this beach during my trip to Santa Barbara and always enjoyed watching the dogs run around. The beach is a bit rocky, but still beautiful. The bottom of the stairs is also great place to watch the sunrise in the morning. Enjoy! read more

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Being a UCSB alum and not wanting to return to IV (I'm old now and can't hang like that's anymore), I was in the hunt for a place that would give me the same vibes as Campus Point. This place was it. It was a 3 min drive/8 min walk from our airbnb in the Mesa. When you get here, there's a long walkway, followed by lots of stairs. It reminded me of thousand steps beach in Laguna Beach in Orange County. The view is amazing though. My husband and I went around sunset, and it was beautiful. There were a lot of surfers catching big waves and not a lot of sand to stand in, so we stayed on the stairs, but it was beautiful nonetheless. I highly recommend coming here if you're a sucker for SB sunsets and beaches like me. Also, the stairs was a great workout before our dinner reservation! read more

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Why I've never reviewed this I can't tell you.. It has been my go to spot for running, exercising, romantic long walks on the beach, and bringing visitors/tourists to since I moved to SB years ago! Why Mesa Lane? While it's sturdy and aesthetically beautiful stair structure will have your calves and glutes screaming on the way up, it's a wonderful workout and with a view unlike any other - also makes for great pictures! The street parking is always substantial. It's right next to a dog beach (Hendry's) so you get to see adorable puppies running around. The sunsets are visible until the end and make again for great photos. And when tide is low the tide pools are fun for the whole family. I would recommend this spot to any and all fitness junkies up who love running and climbing stairs. Would also recommend to tourists looking for a nice stroll along a beautiful beach with nice sunsets and adorable pups. read more

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10/10 most amazing beach Ive ever been to watch sunset. We went at around 7:30pm for sunset which was perfect. The waters started going high tho so we had to leave after around 40mins. A few surfers on there too waiting for the waves. read more

Mesa Lane Steps - left side view - Beaches Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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A hidden gem in Santa Barbara, although not too hidden since it's already on Yelp. Not much sandy beach, even less at times depending on the tide. The cliffs block out the wind making this beach perfect even on low 70s day (my perfect beach weather is 76-84 degrees Fahrenheit). Never too crowded, whether because it's unknown to some or because the steps to get down deter some, either way I always find a spot to claim. The beach itself isn't too clean with dried up kelp and seaweed everywhere. But I've learned this is the SB way. My favorite beach to relax at and not deal with crowds or parking. read more

Mesa Lane Steps - A gorgeous late September day - Beaches Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Excellent stair walk with short walk over beach and rocks . Short but fulfilling stair climb, lost count at about 240ish.

I walk from Henry's beach to this one. And I finally decided to climb up the stairs to see if they had a trash for me to toss my dog poop, since he likes to poop in the middle of our beach walk. The steps down is not bad at all but the steps going up is a cardiac arrest hill to hell. They have benches for you to rest on but be warned! Nice beach but leaving it is hell. read more

Such a neat beach! It's an interior designers fantasy and I am not even kidding. With all the natural color combinations within the rock formations, you can discover endless color palettes here. It's natural beauty heaven. The rock walls and the layers are what geologists dream of (I'd think!). The strata is so neat to see along the high bluffs. The tar from the naturally occurring offshore oil is present in the rock formations- I've never seen anything like it. There's tons of colored rocks, striped and some speckled for those who like to collect. The250 steps down is worth it and are surprisingly well maintained. If you are into detail photography, this is spot is ideal. Natural beauty abounds. read more

Steps upon steps, upon steps. The namesake does not lie. In order to access the shore, one must walk down from street level a good 300 or so steps. These steps are old but fairly sturdy and do offer hand rails which is quite helpful. There are also a number of landings if you need to take a little breather. There is the singular stairwell for those going and down - and as the beach is popular, you will likely encounter people headed the opposite direction so prepare to squeeze a bit. The bottom of the steps opens up to a true oasis. The tide is usually on the higher side so there isn't always a ton of sand to stretch out on, but the area is ample enough to congregate without feeling too close to those around you. The ocean is calm and it's a great, clean section to wade along the water. This little beach doesn't have private parking and is in a residential neighborhood, so you must take what you can get in regards to street spaces. While the trek may be strenuous, the end result is quite worth it. read more

This beach is one of my favorites when I'm looking to have a nice beach walk. The beach stretches for a while and when there is low tide there is so much more beach to explore. There is lots of beach to walk and tide pools to see when the tide is low. There is a very sturdy stair structure to help you get down to the beach which makes it easy to get down. There are alot of steps which makes you feel like your getting your workout in. and I think there is around 250 steps. Coming back up is a bit harder and will have your calves burning on the way back up. This beach is great for photos and always has the most amazing sunsets that always last till the very end. I love coming here in the summertime for the sunsets because they last so long. This beach has great street parking making it easy to access from the neighborhood it's near and is sort of hidden which makes it special. I love coming to Mesa Lane! I will continue coming here for the sunsets along with my beach walks every week! :) read more

A beautiful beach! We had a lovely picnic here. The beach felt very secluded & private. Not crowded at all. Lots of steps to get down, so be prepared! Absolutely beautiful sunset! read more

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Such a beautiful place and well worth the steps afterwards. Not too crowded and parking was pretty easy to find on a holiday weekend. read more

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My boyfriend and I really enjoyed this beach! We found this serendipitously while driving around Santa Barbara on a beautiful sunny day! There was plenty of free parking in the residential area nearby. There were about 242 steps down to the beach. You get an awesome view of the coastline from the top of the stairs. This seemed like a private beach used by locals. There were lots of couples, families and dogs! So cute! Good place to go for a stroll, play frisbee, or lay out in the sun. FYI, there are several rocks and trees that have fallen down in the area. Overall, a good, quiet beach that isn't too crowded. You can also get a great workout going up and down these steps! read more

The steps were fine, however the people on them were ganged up surfer types that almost wouldn't let us pass. It also must have been high tide because when we got down to the beach it was just rocks and waves crashing down on them. Scary experience! read more

If I lived nearby, I'd be here every day! Mesa Lane Steps provides you with a BEAUUUTIFUL view of the ocean & also a GREAT WORKOUT! There's tons of steps to take before you reach the beach, so be prepared. Parking here is easy to find (its in a residential area) and the beach isn't crowded at all. Besides getting a good workout, it also makes a wonderful place to have a picnic, read a book, or watch the sunset. Absolutely beautiful here! read more

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The Quick: There are a LOT of steps! But if you're in Santa Barbara you might as well wear comfy shoes and walk down to the beach. Great photo opp on the stairs overlooking the cliffs, oceans, and California beauty. read more

I love this Santa Barbara beach. You do have to go down and up the stairs(250?), so no good if any knee issues. The beach is beautiful and clean. Great for surfing ‍. Dogs seems ok. Parking (streets)is not an issue. Great for long walks. Stunning views. read more

Love this beach as it feels private and not crowded. You see locals surfing there but for the most part it's secluded and the steps are a fantastic workout. You can also walk to Hendry's beach and the Boathouse restaurant during low tide. Beautiful place and the Best Sunsets ever! read more

Very pretty. Steps are hidden by homes in a residential part of town. More for surfers than beach loungers. Perfect photo opp and great exercise. You'll probably spend 15-20 minutes at most here. Parking is easy read more

Mesa Lane Steps - Beaches Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

This is a legally off-leash beach. However, a warning to those of you with small dogs: whomever it was who designed the lower, metal grid part of the steps deserves a slap upside the head. It's great that the lower steps were built to resist storms and battering by high tide waves. What's not "grate" is that the design of the metal grids on the lower steps is not the least bit accommodating for tiny dogs. Whenever I take my small dog, I must scoop him up and carry him up/down those metal grid steps, otherwise he might break a leg or two on those damnable gaping squares of Swiss cheese holes. No big deal, I suppose, but what a lameass goof. read more

Wonderful few and those steps will kick your butt on the way back up! Nice little work out, thank heavens for those benches ;) read more

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One of the beaches in SB that isn't crowded on a weekend. Probably cause it's tucked in the neighborhoods. Entering the beach is through some stairs. "1000 steps" so I read. You'll come across some people heading up, out of breath wishing good luck. Lol. The beach it's self appears inviting than most cause there's no one around. You'll get a good walk depending on the tide without a lot of distractions. It's also dog friendly. The walk back up the steps... well, if you don't workout regularly, you'll break a sweat and call it your workout of the month. Worth the visit. read more

Mesa Lane Steps - Beaches Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

One of my two favorite beach spots to hang out, especially for a picnic. Beautiful, and hardly any other people, and mostly just locals. There's always plenty of parking in the surrounding neighborhood and you get an awesome thigh, calf and tush workout when you head back up the steps:) read more

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I was visiting Santa Barbara looking for a non conventional beach that wouldn't be crowded. This was it!!! It feels exclusive and hidden. Parking was easy, (not sure because it was Tuesday) parking is in residential area. You walk to the end of the street where you will find the most beautiful staircase down to the beach. There was surfers and a few people lounging, and a few dogs too. The tide seems to come out as it gets closer to sunset. I was there until 8pm and there was still space to be on the sand. This beach is ideal to relax lay out and enjoy one of the most beautiful sunsets you will see. On the way back I ran up and down the staircase a few times for a quick workout! I absolutely love this beach. read more

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Stay the F away from this beach it's not safe there are millions of tourists crowding the narrow stairs and narrow beach. No social distancing possible and the locals hate the tourists. read more