El Capitán State Beach
| El Capitán State Beach | |
|---|---|
El Capitán State Beach looking east | |
| Location | Santa Barbara County, California |
| Nearest city | Goleta, California |
| Coordinates | 34°27′38″N 120°1′27″W / 34.46056°N 120.02417°W |
| Area | 2,634 acres (10.66 km2) |
| Established | 1953 |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
El Capitán State Beach is a protected beach in the state park system of California. The most easterly of three state parks along the Gaviota Coast, it is located about 20 miles (32 km) west of downtown Santa Barbara, in Santa Barbara County. The beach is named for José Francisco Ortega, who retired from the Spanish Army in 1795 with the rank of captain and received the Rancho Nuestra Señora del Refugio as a land grant.