Cachuma Lake Santa Barbara, CA

Cachuma Lake
2225 Highway 154
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Cruise info (805) 688-4515
(805) 686-5054 Recorded Info
countyofsb.org

Lake Cruises are around $15 person. Car entry fee is around $10 to the park.

One of the best places to get up close and personal with the birds of the Central California coast is Cachuma Lake in Santa Barbara County. Located a short drive outside the city of Santa Barbara, the lake features boat tours with a docent who points to the birds and provides narratives as you go, looking around the remote portions of the lake for the birds that blend easily into their environment.

The Central Coast is rich with birding opportunities but this is a trip that offers a relaxing tour without a hike, letting you focus on the information and sights, perfect for photographers with gear!

Operated by the Santa Barbara County Parks system, there are park naturalists who really know their birds, and also know where the birds hang out as they direct the driver (or sometimes guide the boat, themselves) during a 2-hour Lake Cruise aboard the Osprey.

The boat is a 30-passenger pontoon boat that glides along the lake located off Highway 154 between Santa Barbara and Los Olivos. The mountains and hillsides are beautiful to see, and include thriving habitats for wildlife and birds. A special treat during the fall & winter includes resident and migratory Bald Eagles and waterfowl from November through February. When you go, take your binoculars to look up close as the boat heads near the shore for closer observation of rare birds in the trees. What a rush!

Winter Eagle Cruises Summer Wildlife Cruises November through February March through October Friday 10 am to Noon & 2 to 4 pm Friday 3 to 5 pm only Saturday 10 am to Noon & 2 to 4 pm Saturday 10 am to Noon & 3 to 5 pm Sunday 10 am to Noon only Sunday 10 am to Noon only (All Hours and Days are Subject to Change!)