Ocean Beach Park

This park recently got a facelift with a new playground for the kids that includes the soft rubbery floors (don’t know what it’s called), updated restrooms, and some new landscaping. I live on the west side of Lompoc and this is very convenient for us, still about a 10 min drive but worth it. It’s peaceful and quiet. Our kids love the playground and seeing the Amtrak occasionally pass by. Access to the beach is typically restricted between March 1^st and September 30^th (minus the 1 star). You still have a nice view of the Santa Ynez river estuary year round. There are picnic tables and bbq grills but not much shade (we use hats and sunscreen most of the time so that’s not an issue for us). Cell phone reception is poor, even with Verizon which is probably the best in the area. When access to the beach is open you are in for a treat, miles of unspoiled beach with few people around. It can get warm but it’s usually on the cool and windy side so wear layers so you can adjust according to the temperature.

Surprising find this ocean park while we were on. Road trip. Simple park that any nature photographer will love. They have birds like egrets and ducks flying there. They offer clean restrooms and amble parking too. There is a gazebo with a telescope so you can see any birds up close. Upon walking you will see a landing posts, old railroad track and sand dunes. Really a hidden find. It is peaceful, simple and serene even. Check it out if you want to get away from noise.

They close the beach all the time. This time for sharks? Never seen one on the beach.

I’m not a geologist but I think «Ocean Beach» is probably a misleading name. Sure, it’s near the beach but the park it self isn’t on, or facing a beach as you would normally understand the word beach to mean.
There was some birds around. The telescopes were free so that was cool. The place seemed pretty deserted. If you drive further to shore and get to «Surf Beach» it is a closed off beach and there is a train station. What’s cool is if you look carefully, you can see sharks swimming around in the ocean. That was the highlight of my day in Lompoc.
Very interesting to read Keith H.‘s review on 6÷9÷2014 below about the history on this place.

A rich history basically ruined!
Ocean Park had a rich history of camping and recreation for the people of Lompoc for a long time. Records of camping, fishing, hunting, bb’qing, beach combing, swimming (in the lagoon), water skiing. There was a weekly column in the Lompoc Record newspaper about going ons out there at the park. The land was purchased by the County of Santa Barbara from private ownership in 1913. This park and it’s recreational uses were enjoyed by visitors as far away as Los Angeles. Then Camp Cook Army Base basically kicked everyone out in 1940, and took over the park as part of the war effort. Cabins were torn down. Recreation was denied. When Vandenberg AFB took it over, recreation was further denied. For the last 10 years the beach/​surf has been closed to the public from March to October, to protect the Snowy Plover (bird). There is no trespassing in the lagoon. No fishing, hunting, boating, kayaking, swimming allowed. (But you can go down the coast 5 miles to Jalama to walk among the Snowy Plovers) Now the park contains a parking lot, a restroom, some dilapidated bbq areas in the shadow of the railway tracks, and an estuary viewing platform.
It’s beautiful out there. Lots of birds. Cold a lot. There’s a hiking trail from Beach to Surf.
The park opens at 8:30 am closes at about 8:00pm. Sorry, no beach bonfire parties and beer allowed! You get in serious trouble with the military if caught on the beach when it is closed to the public. I read that the Military spends $ 500,000 a year on keeping tresspassers off the beach. They pay people to watch!
Sad that no one really cares about the loss of recreation at that park. It’s a shadow of it’s former self!
(Sources: Lompoc Valley Historical Society)

I found this county park while exploring on my motorcycle. If you ever get the chance to head west out of Lompoc on Hwy 246, make sure you stop here.
From the County of Santa Barbara website:
Midway along the coast between Point Arguello and Point Sal, the Santa Ynez River reaches its end by emptying its freshwater into the Pacific Ocean. Wind-​capped waves crash against the river’s current; driftwood scatters along the sandy beach. This wild and remote environment is a county park, Ocean Beach Park.
Located 13 miles from the City of Lompoc, Ocean Beach Park’s 36 acres is made up of several habitats: salt marsh, freshwater marsh, dunes, coastal strand, and riparian habitat. Plant species indigenous to this saltwater freshwater marsh environment include salicornia, suaeda, distichlis, and frankenia. The endangered Western Snowy Plover and California Least Tern nest at this popular park.
During summer weekend days, the park is busy with surf fishers at the ocean shores, birders hiking along the sandy riverbank, and families at the park’s picnic and playground facilities. Although remote and wild, Ocean Beach Park has many recreational opportunities for the residents of Lompoc.