To get there, well, ah, find your way to the 101, whether headed north from Santa Barbara or headed south from Solvang. The park is directly off the 101. It took me about three hours from Bakersfield. I had originally intended to hike Gaviota Peak, but there was some shady-looking dude starting the trail right behind me and after digging around in my pack and realizing I didn't have my pepper spray or my knife, I decided to see what other trails I could find and got the heck out of there. That's honestly the first time I've ever done that. It was worth it though; I think the trails I did find had much better views.
The trail I hiked takes off from an upper parking lot; the right fork that you would take immediately after entering the park (I'd advise going to the left and paying for parking first - $8). The Beach-Backcountry Trail begins right near the water and, after following a service road for a bit, winds back up through the hills around sandstone outcroppings. It looks like this area burned a few years ago - there are few trees but the brush was almost up to my elbows at some points. The trail is well-cut and easy to find. I'd say it's a rather moderate hike - easy to hike up to some of the lower neat outcroppings/caves with kids but harder as you go further on. There are gorgeous views of the ocean pretty much the whole way, especially as you climb higher. The map indicates this trail eventually passes through a hiker tunnel under the 101 and can connect with the Gaviota Peak trail, if you wanted to hike beach-peak all in one shot. I didn't get that far.
All in all I'd give this trail a 9 for difficulty and scenery, the well-marked trail and accesability. The 1 point marked off is because you are in sight/sound of the freeway most of the way, though it is muted and fades out for the mostly.
State trails website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=25118
Some photos:
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