2018 Map of Goleta

About this map

The Santa Ynez Mountains rise sharply above the coastal shelf, defining the dramatic geography of this Santa Barbara County coastline. The Los Padres National Forest occupies the high ground to the north, while the lower elevations are shaped by the development of Goleta and the sprawling campus of the Univ of California-Santa Barbara. The presence of the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport and the complex wetlands of the Goleta Slough highlight the intersection of mid-century infrastructure and sensitive coastal ecosystems. Along the shore, landmarks such as Mescalitan Island and Goleta Point separate the student residential area of Isla Vista from the upscale residential estates of Hope Ranch and the open space at More Mesa. This period shows a landscape deeply connected by US Highway 101 and the Union Pacific railroad corridor.