El Capitan Resort: Escape to Forest and Sea

Just 20 Miles North of Santa Barbara

By Larry Taylor

Enjoy the peaceful outdoors but balk at driving long distances, setting up the tent, dealing with camping equipment?

Looking for a place that is in the wilderness, yet close to home? A spot where it is possible to hike through woodlands to points that offer unfettered views, with a stream running through a scenic canyon?  A destination where the family can relax among groves of trees, and children can romp in grasslands?

If your answers are “yes” to the above, there is such a retreat close-by–El Capitan Canyon, just 20 miles north of Santa Barbara, offering luxury cedar cabins and canvas safari tents, built on raised wooden decks. Just unload the car, lie back and breathe in forest air.

Upon entering the canyon, you have that “getting away from it all” feeling. Besides being in the Los Padres National Forest, the beach is only a 10-minute walk under Hwy. 101, a very lovely stretch that goes all the way to Refugio Beach, three miles away. During our recent summer stay,  the weather was warm, the sea temperate and the waves  good–we’re beach-lovers. Needless to say we spent a lot of time on the sand.

In the canyon, a mile-and-a-half deep, there is a lot to do. Hiking leads through the oaks and sycamores up to mesas, offering great views. Also popular, a trail takes you along a ridge toward Refugio. By the way, bicycles are available for guests to use free of charge.

In 1979, El Capitan Canyon opened as a rustic campground across from the state beach.  In 2001, new owners transformed the area into a rural retreat with luxury amenities, including complete spa services.

Guests are given the choice of staying in cabins or tents, a decision that is often based on the size of the party, whether it’s a couple, a family of four or eight, or even a larger group. It is the perfect location for a family reunion (or business meeting) as larger meeting spaces are also available.

We stayed in a Creekside Cabin, complete with  king size bed, kitchenette and bathroom (which included a Jacuzzi tub, no less). Below the cabin’s wide porch (great for sitting out and viewing the sunset) was a fire pit with grill for barbecuing. We put on a couple steaks one night and cooked foil packs the next. (Recipe note: Foil packs, known to many scouts, start with a: thick slice of onion on the bottom, then meat [pork chops in our case] potatoes and apples on top, but any vegetable will do. Finally, seal all this tightly in aluminum foil and put directly on the coals.)

After 20 minutes, you know by the tantalizing aroma that everything’s done. For dessert, of course, we made S’mores. In the evenings, many families sat around their campfire and told stories. All the fun of camping out.

For those who don’t want to cook, meals are available at the Canyon Market and Deli, which stocks everything from food to fine wines. The Deli serves delicious breakfasts and, for lunch or dinner, sandwiches and an array of salads, gourmet burgers and pizza for lunch and dinner. Diners eat on tables on the shady lawn area in front.

On Saturdays there are concerts and barbecues. The Saturday we were there the fare was tri-tip and chicken, with music provided by the Cadillac Angels who specialized in oldies but goodies.

Each day we took walks along the beach. First day we saw a pod of frolicking dolphins, as close to shore as we’d ever seen them. Swimmers and kayakers went out to give a personal welcome.

If you get bored with just relaxing, the resort offers plenty of activities: swimming in the large pool, star-gazing, guided nature hikes, kayak trips, and, popular with the kids, walking out to the herd of llamas and goats for a little interacting with the animals. As well, guests can arrange for horseback riding, mountain biking, wine-tasting tours and whale-watching.

At the end of a strenuous day, remember this–you can call the front desk and have someone come to your room or tent and give you a soothing massage. Camping was never like this before. 

There are 108 cabins available from $185 night; 26 tents beginning at $125.

Rates are lower during the off-season, December through March.

Nearby, El Capitan has recently opened an up-scale RV and tent campground with hookups for everything from Wi-Fi to cable and with a swimming pool. Rates start at $35 a night.

For information on everything offered at El Capitan, call (866) 352-2729 or go to www.elcapitancanyon.com.

by Gail Taylor