Campus Point Webcam – UCSB Surf Cam in Santa Barbara

The Campus Point Webcam looks down a sandy access path to the beach beside Campus Point, the rocky headland on the University of California, Santa Barbara campus. The path runs through low coastal scrub past a lamp post and a bench to the sand, where a shallow channel of water can cut along the beach. On the right, a small block building with a railed deck stands at the foot of the bluff, and waves break along the rocks of the point beyond it. The Santa Barbara Channel fills the rest of the frame, with the Channel Islands faint on the horizon on clear days. The stream’s own title is Campus Point Surf Cam, and it is the quickest way to see how the sets are breaking, how busy the beach is and how clear the horizon is before heading down.

About Campus Point

Campus Point is the local name for Goleta Point, a peninsula with a beach cliff about 9 meters (30 feet) high, 4.8 kilometers (3 miles) southwest of the city of Goleta and 10.5 kilometers (6.5 miles) west of Santa Barbara Point. From 1870 to 1890 it held a whaling camp worked by Italian and Portuguese crews. The land later became a Marine Corps air station, and the University of California bought it in 1950. The point now sits inside the UCSB campus, which is where its everyday name comes from.

The point is also said to have one of the best surf breaks around Santa Barbara. It is a right-hand point break that works best on a west swell with a light northwest wind blowing offshore, usually around low tide. Winter brings the biggest and most consistent swells, and February is typically the most reliable month. When a big west or northwest swell wraps in, the right can turn long, fast and hollow, the lineup fills up quickly, and rips and rocks are the hazards to watch for.

The water off the point is protected as the Campus Point State Marine Conservation Area, which took effect in 2012. It covers 27.2 square kilometers (10.51 square miles) along the coast of UCSB, Isla Vista and the university’s Coal Oil Point Reserve, taking in kelp beds, surfgrass, rocky reefs and sand.

Weather and Climate at Campus Point

Campus Point has the mild climate of the Santa Barbara coast. At nearby Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, January averages a high of 18 C (64 F) and a low of 5 C (41 F). April reaches 20 C (68 F) by day, and July averages 23 C (73 F) with nights near 15 C (58 F). October is just as warm as July in the afternoon, at 23 C (73 F), with cooler nights around 11 C (51 F). Rainfall totals only about 438 millimeters (17.25 inches) a year, most of it in the winter months.

On the Campus Point Webcam, the seasons show up as much in the water as on the beach. Winter is surf season, when west swells bring the most consistent waves and the point can be busy from first light. The warmest afternoons run from July into October, the season for swimming rather than surfing. On the clearest days the islands stand out sharply across the channel, while on hazy ones the horizon disappears entirely.

Things to Do Near Campus Point

The point itself is a place to watch the surf and the shorebirds that work the beach below the cliff. About 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) to the west is Coal Oil Point, home to the university’s Coal Oil Point Reserve and the Devereux Slough, and the protected area along this shore is known as one of the best places to see the western snowy plover. East of campus, Goleta Beach County Park is home to the Goleta Pier, a popular fishing spot.

In winter, monarch butterflies gather at the Coronado Butterfly Preserve in Goleta, described as the largest overwintering grove of the monarch. The city of Santa Barbara lies about 13 kilometers (8 miles) east of Goleta along the coast, and Leadbetter Beach there has a camera of its own on this site.

Similar Webcams You Might Like

More surf and beach cameras from the Pacific coast:

• Leadbetter Beach Webcam
• Morro Bay Webcam
• Cox Bay Webcam

Frequently Asked Questions

What can you see on the Campus Point Webcam?

The camera looks down a sandy path to the beach beside Campus Point, with the rocks of the point and a small building with a railed deck on the right, the surf breaking across the bay and the Channel Islands on the horizon on clear days.

Is the Campus Point Webcam on YouTube?

Yes. The Campus Point surf cam is broadcast live on YouTube by the GRIT channel, and it plays directly on this page without opening YouTube.

Where is Campus Point?

Campus Point, also called Goleta Point, is on the coast of the UCSB campus next to Isla Vista in Santa Barbara County, California. It lies 4.8 kilometers (3 miles) southwest of Goleta and 10.5 kilometers (6.5 miles) west of Santa Barbara Point.

When is the surf best at Campus Point?

The point break works best on a west swell with a light northwest wind, usually around low tide. Winter brings the most consistent waves, with February typically the best month. Expect crowds when it is good, and watch for rips and rocks.

Can you fish at Campus Point?

No. The water off the point is part of the Campus Point State Marine Conservation Area, where taking any marine life is prohibited. Swimming, kayaking, diving and snorkeling are all allowed.

Can you see the Channel Islands from Campus Point?

Yes, on clear days. The islands sit on the horizon across the Santa Barbara Channel, and haze can hide them completely on other days.

Why is it called Campus Point?

The headland is also known as Goleta Point. It sits inside the UCSB campus, on land the University of California bought in 1950 from a former Marine Corps air station, which is where the name Campus Point comes from.

What is the weather like at Campus Point?

Mild all year. Average highs run from about 18 C (64 F) in January to 23 C (73 F) from July to October, with only about 438 millimeters (17.25 inches) of rain a year. The weather bar under the player shows the current conditions.

Source: GRIT