Refugio SB
Narrated by Russ Christoff


Refugio State Beach is located about six miles north of El Capitan.

People like to visit its tropical environment for many reasons.

This state beach has a good day use area which includes immediate beach access from the parking lot.

Scuba diving is popular with local residents, and visitors are always likely to see surfers.

The camping here is situated back from the shore with only a few of its 85 sites located on the water.

At Carpenteria I talked with a ranger, Andy, about the importance of all the state parks in the area.

RANGER ANDY: All the parks in the Channel Coast District all have a unique resource they’re protecting whether it’s a recreational resource, historical, archeological, or natural resource.

What makes them so unique is that it’s the last bastion of open space for many people.

Many of the parks are in urban settings or fairly close to urban areas.

The value really can’t be measured.

It’s a place where people can come, recreate, enjoy natural resources, educate their youngsters, and pass the legacy on to future generations.

I think that is what the importance of state parks is, that we’re here to preserve a resource and present that resource to future generations.

And I think in the Channel Coast District, in particular, from our furthest northern unit in all of our parks just represent unique settings in the California parks system.