2021 Map of Point Sal

About this map

Point Sal and the dramatic coastal bluffs of northern Santa Barbara County define this landscape, where the Pacific Ocean meets the western edge of the Casmalia Hills. This 2021 survey details a rugged interface of land and sea, focusing on the prominent headlands of Mussel Point and the namesake Point Sal. Inland, the terrain rises sharply toward Point Sal Ridge, overlooking the southern reach of the Santa Maria Valley and the mouth of the Santa Maria River. The map documents a network of coastal access routes, including the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Beach Route Trl and the Point Sal Trl, which navigate the steep topography. Significant offshore landmarks like Mussel Rock, Seal Rock, and Lion Rock are carefully noted, providing essential navigational data for this reach of the California coast.