El Capitan Canyon

What an Amazing experience. We were up this weekend for a girls water polo tournament and our team rented cabins here. It was such an AMAZING experience for everyone that stayed. We will be doing the same next year as well. The staff was helpful and informative. Everyone that worked there had smiles and a great attitudes. I almost forgot to mention the Deer we saw at check in. Truly a great time!!! Thank you El Captain!

Rooms were a bit smaller than I remembered but definitely cozy. Camp ground were spread apart far enough for lots of privacy. Only thing is room service is isn’t clear. Need directions on how room service/trash/towels works. Also, the shower was not user friendly. Please fix if you can. Location is perfect, staff was great, should open the market earlier. Great family spot. Great romantic spot also.

El Capitan is great experience for the family. There is so much to do from the pool and playground, to feeding the llamas at the farm, to stargazing. The kids really had a blast. My only complaint would be to maybe update the inside of the cabins a bit, especially a better ladder to climb up and down the loft but it was still nice to have fresh towels and bedsheets while still getting that camping feel. The market is so cute but a little pricey so definitely bring your own firewood and ice, but splurge on their amazing food. The pizza was so good! Thanks for the memories and we will be back.

Overall great experience. Beautiful surroundings: hiking and biking trails, beach, glamping at its best, day trip to Santa Barbara for shopping. Market was nice and food was great … and, as almost everyone else says - pricey. Clean and well maintained cabins. Kudos to the attentive cleaning staff. Comfortable beds. The only downside came in trying to decipher the billing statement (folio). Even after talking with the accountant the thing was just too clunky. And the $15 per day usage fee. … really? Why don’t they just build that into the rental cost? Coming as an add-on makes it an unwelcome irritant.

El Cap does not disappoint with their offerings! The food is solid, the cabins are nice and the service is great. Rowena at the front desk is next level amazing! My only feedback would be to bring back utensils, pots and pans in ALL the cabins and provide a better folio at the end that actually totals the vacation costs for the customer and maps out all the charges in a more clear way. The current billing system is clunky. Other than that, a fun time was had my all. Many thanks to El Cap for the amazing memories!

We rented the Safari cabin and the two Meadow cabins for our kids and grandkids. Everyone had a wonderful time and wanted to stay longer! The gang went on a nature/scavenger hunt, bike riding and then we all went to the darling Santa Barbara Zoo for a holiday light show, which was a big hit. The next day we had intermittent rain, but after a big breakfast, everyone went to see the llamas, goats, sheep & donkey. Then down to the beach to explore and back for dinner and family games. They loved roasting marshmallows for s’mores and had fun with the colored flame packs that Papa brought for the campfire. The next day was horseback riding and check out. Everyone at El Capitan were so friendly and helpful. We loved having the big cabin, as it worked perfectly for our large group during the rain. Thank you again. We will definitely come back to enjoy your beautiful cabin experience.

This is the perfect getaway for any type of outdoorsy person. They have tents for a more "traditional" camping experience. Yurts with electricity but still give you a more "offline" experience. And cabins with running water and electricity that give you more of a "glamping" experience. You can cook your own food on the wood pit outside of you accommodations or get food (breakfast, lunch and dinner) from their market on the property - and it's not outrageously priced! We opted to cook one night and the other night we purchased a BBQ kit from the market that comes with everything you need to cook on the fire pit (firewood, utensils, drinks, delicious food, and smores!). It was a really really wonderful experience for a long weekend getaway with my husband and 2 boys.

We go every year and this place is amazing! They have farm animals for the little kids and large grassy area for ball games. A great area for large groups. And the cabins are so nice!

What an Amazing experience. We were up this weekend for a girls water polo tournament and our team rented cabins here. It was such an AMAZING experience for everyone that stayed. We will be doing the same next year as well. The staff was helpful and informative. Everyone that worked there had smiles and a great attitudes. I almost forgot to mention the Deer we saw at check in. Truly a great time!!! Thank you El Captain!

Rooms were a bit smaller than I remembered but definitely cozy. Camp ground were spread apart far enough for lots of privacy. Only thing is room service is isn’t clear. Need directions on how room service/trash/towels works. Also, the shower was not user friendly. Please fix if you can. Location is perfect, staff was great, should open the market earlier. Great family spot. Great romantic spot also.

El Capitan is great experience for the family. There is so much to do from the pool and playground, to feeding the llamas at the farm, to stargazing. The kids really had a blast. My only complaint would be to maybe update the inside of the cabins a bit, especially a better ladder to climb up and down the loft but it was still nice to have fresh towels and bedsheets while still getting that camping feel. The market is so cute but a little pricey so definitely bring your own firewood and ice, but splurge on their amazing food. The pizza was so good! Thanks for the memories and we will be back.

Overall great experience. Beautiful surroundings: hiking and biking trails, beach, glamping at its best, day trip to Santa Barbara for shopping. Market was nice and food was great … and, as almost everyone else says - pricey. Clean and well maintained cabins. Kudos to the attentive cleaning staff. Comfortable beds. The only downside came in trying to decipher the billing statement (folio). Even after talking with the accountant the thing was just too clunky. And the $15 per day usage fee. … really? Why don’t they just build that into the rental cost? Coming as an add-on makes it an unwelcome irritant.

El Cap does not disappoint with their offerings! The food is solid, the cabins are nice and the service is great. Rowena at the front desk is next level amazing! My only feedback would be to bring back utensils, pots and pans in ALL the cabins and provide a better folio at the end that actually totals the vacation costs for the customer and maps out all the charges in a more clear way. The current billing system is clunky. Other than that, a fun time was had my all. Many thanks to El Cap for the amazing memories!

We rented the Safari cabin and the two Meadow cabins for our kids and grandkids. Everyone had a wonderful time and wanted to stay longer! The gang went on a nature/scavenger hunt, bike riding and then we all went to the darling Santa Barbara Zoo for a holiday light show, which was a big hit. The next day we had intermittent rain, but after a big breakfast, everyone went to see the llamas, goats, sheep & donkey. Then down to the beach to explore and back for dinner and family games. They loved roasting marshmallows for s’mores and had fun with the colored flame packs that Papa brought for the campfire. The next day was horseback riding and check out. Everyone at El Capitan were so friendly and helpful. We loved having the big cabin, as it worked perfectly for our large group during the rain. Thank you again. We will definitely come back to enjoy your beautiful cabin experience.

This is the perfect getaway for any type of outdoorsy person. They have tents for a more "traditional" camping experience. Yurts with electricity but still give you a more "offline" experience. And cabins with running water and electricity that give you more of a "glamping" experience. You can cook your own food on the wood pit outside of you accommodations or get food (breakfast, lunch and dinner) from their market on the property - and it's not outrageously priced! We opted to cook one night and the other night we purchased a BBQ kit from the market that comes with everything you need to cook on the fire pit (firewood, utensils, drinks, delicious food, and smores!). It was a really really wonderful experience for a long weekend getaway with my husband and 2 boys.

We go every year and this place is amazing! They have farm animals for the little kids and large grassy area for ball games. A great area for large groups. And the cabins are so nice!

My family and I enjoyed our stay at the El Capitan Canyon Resort. We stayed in the Corral Loft cabin which was located about a 10 min walk from the central part of the resort. I preferred this since it allowed us to be in a quieter area of the resort. If you are traveling with kids make sure to checkout the trail that leads to a llama farm, it's a fun excursion. Overall we enjoyed our stay.

Second visit and my 11 year-old-gamer- daughter already asked when we are going again! This visit stayed at CREEKSIDE CANYON QUEEN #159 Make the most of your trip and use their many: -beautiful trails ; llama, overlook trail but don't forget your water and charge your phone in case you stay out later than expected. -visit the farm Saturday 10am-12pm) -special events such as Thanksgiving and Easter (check website) -lawn games out by the market -canyon market with outside/ inside seating -bike/helmet rentals (bring ID) -pool (take your blue towels with you!) -community showers and bathrooms found in every meadow section for those in yurts (no bathroom) but available for all! Love how clean everything is. Also how easy it is to EAT, NAP, PLAY and REPEAT! The kids loved it. Lots of bonding time for everyone. Volleyball on the grass in front of the cabin was also fun. I love how much of nature you are able to enjoy but can them drive 15-20 mins to find local restaurant gems. With the money we saved by staying in a smaller room we indulged by eating locally but also ate at the Canyon Market which serves fresh pizza, tacos, breakfast, bbq kits, and sandwiches. Their breakfast tri tip hash with 2 eggs was delicious! $22 but quality and convenient. It's really fresh. The mini fridge was great to hold our juices, milk, prepackaged jello, whipped cream, and canned cold coffees. Microwave and electric kettle made cup of noodles/ramen and microwaveable Mac and cheese an easy quick meal. Don't forgot your dishware and utensils (disposable forks, spoons and knives found at the canyon market outside for everyone.) Sponge, paper towel and dish soap included in room along with coffee that is steeped like tea from a local company and was actually very good! Cars are parked in the lot after you've unloaded but it was a quick 5 min walk from the cabin. I kept the stroller in the car to save space but didn't use it for my 2.5 year old. Don't forget to check the weather before you leave, it rained heavily during our 3 night stay. We brought our umbrellas, hiking boots, bug spray, thick water proof jacket, hot hands hand warmers which I placed everywhere since my hands and bottom can get very cold. Bbq pit, wooden bench and two lawn chairs included. I also brought a lightweight picnic blanket that was nice to lay on at night to stargaze. I saw the pro campers bring canopies and additional lawn chairs. Next time I am planning on getting binoculars for bird watching. Thank you to staff who work so diligently to keep the grounds clean and beautiful.

This review is for my first experience at El Capitan Canyon. When reading this review, please consider these facts: I rarely do outdoor activities, last time I went camping probably around 22 years ago, and that now I have 3 children. I had booked reservation here, in the past, and cancelled it due to my fear of able to manage my kids in outdoor setting. But at the same time, I do want them to experience outdoor things with me, other than sleep aways summer camps. So finally I booked again for my son's 12th birthday. Our checked in experience was great. The staff was friendly and my kids got a mini bag and they could choose whatever stickers they want. Then someone drove in front of our car to guide us to our Yurt (we checked in at 9 PM). it was pitch black, and honestly I was pretty scared. But we got into our yurt safely. And this is my mistake, I did not check carefully when booking online, that the Yurt will share common bathroom, in which, I had to walk there, to use the facilities. It wasn't a long walk, but for someone that rarely went outside, my back problem, it was a factor that definitely I have to consider. So if I wanted to use the restroom at 2 AM I have to walk with a flashlight in a cold night. The positive side was the bathroom was clean and every bathroom stall had shampoo & soap. The next day was better. Everything was bright, and the kids were happy that they could rent a bike and helmet (free of charge, they just will hold on to your ID). Another positive thing was that they had a clear bike pathways for the kids, so my kids enjoyed that very much. The breakfast food were very good. Everything that we ordered exceeding expectations. Price wise, it was average to highly priced, but for the taste and quality, was worth it. They also offer a kit to bbq outside our Yurt (every Yurt had fire pit) I forgot how much exactly, but I ordered meal for two , for approx $160 and it was plenty for all of us. We still had some leftovers. these kits were good in value, it came with the fire starter, logs, the main food, two side dishes (we chose salad and beans), utensils (including carving knife etc), marshmallows, corn on the cobs, garlic bread, 2 drinks and it was all inside an efficient food utility bag. We also added the salmon. One thing though, it was about a 30-40 min walk one way, from my Yurt to the market, and we had to pick it up ourselves. We had to order online, but we need to pick it up. They did not have a delivery service. I understand this was supposed to provide a nice place to sleep after a whole day outdoor activities, hiking, etc. I just feel it would be great if I could added a delivery to it considering the price tags, my back pain, cold weather, and for the sake of convenience. Next time, I should have checked that first, before making the order online. The pool was heated to 80 degrees, but it still too cold for me. The kids and other kids were swimming though. The park was right outside our Yurt and it was convenient for the kids to just go out and play. You need to bring your own towel for the pool. We went to see the Alpacas, Llamas, goats, sheeps, and donkeys. It was a short, but steep hike to get there. After we got to the top, we still had to walk about 10 min walk. It was a beautiful walk. I called the front desk couple times. Sometimes someone will pick up, sometimes not. I ended up unable to ask for more towels for our second day. We spent two nights here. It was an experience. I would definitely get the cabin with private bathroom next time, and that would probably give me a more comfortable experience.

El Capitan was an awesome experience! My kids and I really enjoyed the Glamping ambiance! From the live music nights, the playground and pool, the beach, and lama farm! We can't wait to go back and invite more family and friends. Love how you can have multiple families rent cabins so close together. Went with my best friend and her family and we were neighbors. We were able to cook are meals together and enjoy meals outdoors.

Loved this campground. We are normally a family of tent camping and spontaneous adventure . This time we chose to stay in a Yurt. Yet another adventure to add to the bucket list. It was super cool. Staff was amazing. There was multiple things to do that catered to everyone in our family. From hikes to farm animals, to a heated pool, llamas, campfires , music , bikes available to ride , a playground and a beach nearby. we highly recommend! Super peaceful and added some zen and memories to the books.

Great location close to our home. The amenities were great and the place was nicely laid out and felt safe. All the staff members were friendly and welcoming and helpful.

Zero Unfortunately these people deserve zero star Let me tell you what to expect: 1- rude personnel especially night shift we were hanging out with our friends next to fire place and music was very low received warning of being loud 2- rude discriminatory attitude is pretty normal at this location 3- no upgrade and renovation happened over years Its been my 3rd time at this place and for sure the last time

They are owned by Sun Outdoors. Bottom Line Up Front- This place is very nice, high priced, and the restrooms are clean. Positives- The staff provides reliable information including the hiking trails (they steer you to the hikers), it is an easy 10-15 minute walking distance to the ocean and hiking trails, and there is a deli that makes a pretty decent pizza. Neutral- The trails that are dirt roads that have basically no vehicle traffic. The Bill Wallace Trail has some posts though it is continuous only because of parking lots. The East Loop Trail has no markings but is easy to follow if you have experience hiking in such an area and the view at the large picnic table is beautiful. The Overlook Trail is overgrown and is suitable for deer so if you want to pick up ticks go for it. The Llama Trail is an easy excursion and is marked. Negatives- We asked what was on the vegetable pizza and another staff member had to push her to go find out. The pizza has real stringy cheese and good dough but burned toppings, someone should have told us. We found out after we got back to our RV. The beer is double what you'd pay in a grocery store. There are so many flies around the deli at the outside picnic tables that most people take the food back to their rooms.

It pains me to write this. Our last stay here was amazing and filled with good memories. While the scenery and wildlife was still great, the cabins and the overall El Capitan experience was not. The prices doubled and there was literally no amenities other than the pool, no programs during the week, the cabins were bare-bring everything, watered down dish soap, and half empty toiletries. We won't return. Really loved the KOA in Ojai and Avila Beach and their cabin set ups and amenities. While El Capitan appears to be a "boutique" experience, it falls short.

This place needs to fire whoever writes the business customer service responses! Have you read them? They're all defensive, catty and cringe. Yikes sounds like with the new ownership El Capitan has gone downhill.

Love this place. We try to camp here once a year. It's a beautiful place to bring families. We often walk to beach and enjoyed the star gazing. Can't wait to return.

The pizza was good, it was not great and not worth $38. It was lukewarm warm even though I ordered it for a specific time it was clearly made way ahead of time.

This was our second stay at El Capitan Canyon, and our first stay post baby. We had a wonderful time, the location is perfect for a trip with kids. The pool & beach provided endless entertainment and we especially loved the llama and goat farm. The market had everything we forgot to pack, and the firewood delivery was really convenient. The staff were lovely and very accommodating in helping us stay close to our friends cabin, even though we rented different cabin styles. We really enjoyed our time and hope to make it a yearly visit.

What a lovely weekend getaway! Stayed in a creekside king cabin. Had all the basics you need. Loved having a gas fireplace inside. Small kitchenette is completely unstocked, so bring EVERYTHING you might need if you are planning to cook/prepare food. Huge bathtub! Wifi worked fine. Lots of seating outside, including 2 directors chairs (great to sit by the fire), a 2 person bench on the porch & a picnic table by the fire pit. We spent a lot of time right pursue our cabin enjoying the sounds & sights of nature. Having stayed at other glamping places like Costanoa, the store & other activities/amenities were a bit lacking for this price point. Did some hiking on their private trails, they were not marked or maintained, so it was... an adventure.

We LOVE coming here! The cabins are awesome as are the entire El Cap grounds. Both El Cap and Refugio beaches are close by and super easy to get to. The goats and llamas are fun to visit as well! We will be back again next summer

We stayed in a Creekside cabin and loved it. Know that there is no AC though! We asked to have cabins next to our relatives and they worked with us. Very quiet and relaxing, and so convenient to have the beach less than a mile away.

Great family or couples place to go to. It's a lot bigger place than we realized. Each cabin has a picnic table and fire pit. I'd suggest bringing extra chairs if you want to sit by the fire at night. This time of year weather was perfect during the day. Bring mosquito spray. They do give you a mosquito Lantern. Cabins do not have air conditioning. The lower canyon by the market, checkin cabin has more of a breeze off the ocean but higher traffic area. The heavily shaded cabins are perfect. Fun activities on the weekends. The beach is not too far for walking and 5 min drive away. $10 admission for the beach. Lots of lawn and tables with small grills if you want to bbq out there. Staff was amazing and very helpful. There were larger groups that come together and would be fun. Saturday night they had a bbq you gave to order ahead of time and had a band. Lots of tables to sit and enjoy. If you don't want to cook the market had good easy food to get.

Awesome camp location. Beautiful area next to the ocean. Easy to get to yet still feels miles away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Truly a gem. Everyone from gate check in, front desk agent, maintenance and market/delivery people were all friendly and knowledgeable. I always felt safe. The food from the market deli was so good! I had breakfast twice and lunch once and loved it. Will be back!! Thanks El Capitan Canyon!!

We've been going to El Capitan every year since 2019, one for end of school group event and one for 4th July. Aside from paying ridiculous $459 /night for a wood cabin w bare bone amenity, I don't have much to complain as it's more for the kids then adults. To be fair the complaint below is not against the or the deliver crew the front or the dudes at the gat, .both of which are professional and pleasant. Since covid greedflation has deeply rooted itself into this property. The attitude and service from the front desk staff on the other hand have progressively degenerated over the last 3 years. Never mind that for almost $500 per night that you get essentially zero service but they don't even bother dropping off essentials like towels and tp. Both our friend next cabin and i had to call multiple times to get towels only to be met w attitude. My first call for clean towels came at 4pm after returning from hike. Woman at the front desk sounded irritated and responded "our staff is getting ready to go home!" I then told her drop off in the am would be fine and her attitude improved. Here it is at 10:30 am the next day, No towels. Placed another call and Ariana (?) at front desk answered the phone. I inquired again about the towels only to receive a lecture about how we are forbade to being their precious towels to the pool. Having a hotel you lecture and forbade customers about use of towels at their own pool is absolutely insane! Esp since this property uses the cheapest standard motel grade towels So thank you El Captain for your greed to vacuuming customers cash and offering only contemptuous attitude in return. And thank you for reminding us to take our annual $3000 spending on this property else where. We'll also be sure to suggest all of our friends and school board to take their business elsewhere.

So glad I booked this back in March for beginning of summer! We got a 6 bunk cabin. Everything I must say was nice and clean! Staff was great. Mini fridge was a good size too! We checked in on a Monday, we were also able to check out the Lama and goat farm on Tuesday as well, site was nice and not packed at all! Weather was great, warm and not too hot. We were able to enjoy the pool, hike and enjoy the sun with my family! The market had a great menu, pizza and tri-tip sandwich was delicious. Even going during the week I was hesitate due to the weekends look like they have more activities but it was great! I will defiantly be back. This was much needed for us, thank you!

Really expensive glamping. Quiet hours aren't really a thing on weekends but weeknights were peaceful. Cute clean cabin. The restaurant was good. TONS of kids.​ The grounds were pretty and the bikes were fun!

This Resort stay was our first at this location. Pros: cruiser bikes available for check out, location- walk or ride to beach, plenty of hiking trails, cabin was cozy with heating, small kitchen, clean bathroom, fire pit and bench outside each cabin, heated pool on property.staff at front gate and at check in was friendly and helpful. K-cup style coffee maker, fridge/microwave in cabin. Cons: situational but during our trip the access to the state beach was closed due to a sink hole. We could still ride to Refugio state beach and watch sunset. It's a 2 mile or so ride/walk with gorgeous views( slightly hilly ride so some may need to walk the bike for uphill) Overall: I'd definitely stay here again

I have visited this facility several times, once before and a few times after the pandemic and it seems that the grounds are under new ownership. Since COVID every time we have been here we have had a rude experience we've been here. This gentleman named Richard would walk around with the most disgusted look on his face glaring at our children playing and carrying around a negative and grouchy energy with him! The grounds and facility are amazing but overall the several rude encounters, at least once every time I've been here has really caused me to question if I will ever come back. There is another facility Ocean Mesa that does RV and tent camping that has great faculties and staff. I'm excited to give that spot more of a chance next vacation.

This is honestly such a beautiful place. How did I not know about this place when I was in college? Oh right, I was busy living the IV life. We decided to stay here during our weekend stay in SB. It's located about 15 mins away from Goleta and about 30 mins from downtown SB. It's very nice and secluded. We decided to get the Canyon Loft, which sleeps 5 and there's a little kitchenette. When you check in, they have someone to guide you to your cabin. It's confusing at first but you get used to it. Parking is a walk away, but not too bad. The cabin is very clean and you have a picnic table and fire pit outside. There weren't a lot of people around us, which was nice since there's COVID-19. It makes practicing social distancing so much easier. I guess I would call this glamping. You get the benefits of camping AND your very own bathroom, bed, and heater. There's plenty of things to do, like visiting the llamas. I wish we were able to get bikes to go to the beach, but we'll go next time. Side note: there's a marketplace in the front that was the all the essentials. You can also call the front desk to have firewood and starters delivered to your cabin!

Our kids had an absolutely amazing time here. We adored our cabin; it was the perfect size for our family of five. The fire pits, picnic benches, and overall ambiance were just perfect. Not to mention the added bonus of free bike rentals and a wide range of activities to keep us entertained. We are definitely planning to come back again, but we'll have to make sure we secure a reservation early, as this place tends to get booked up quickly.

Please take into account that a new management company has taken over the day-to-day management of the resort. Their experience is running RVs. We have visited previously and had an excellent experience, however, this time the service and accommodations were subpar. The hotel no longer replenishes towels daily, or any soaps. The yurts bake like greenhouses if you keep the windows closed, and if they're open, the children walk right up to look into your yurt. The bathrooms are falling apart with visible leaks from multiple toilets. We spent $1,000.00 there for multiple nights and had such a hard time sleeping from the families drinking late and then kids waking up early. There is zero enforcement for quiet hours, even though that is advertised. On day two of no sleep, I called the front desk to complain (from my cell phone since there is no phone in the room) and asked them to enforce quiet hours. A guy named Cory, violently knocked on our door and got confrontational asking us "What do you want me to do?" As if enforcing quiet hours is our role. He was talking so loudly, there was zero discretion in all of this. He was so confrontational with us. This resort desperately needs new management with experience. We will never visit again. This place held such a special place in our hearts and it's sad to see how poorly the space is being treated.

The resort at El Capitan Canyon is a cozy home away from home. They have a variety of cabins, yurts and tents. Staff is very friendly and helpful. We had a great time and our stay was relaxing. The property has a ranch with Goats, sheep and Lamas within a short hilly hike from the cabins. There are plenty of moderate hiking trails around the resort. There is one heated swimming pool centrally located within the resort. Our cabin had two bunk beds (4 beds) and a loft with 2 additional beds. The beds were firm but comfortable. Sheets were clean. The cabin felt spacious. The kitchenette in the cabin included a half size refrigerator, microwave and sink. Cabin also has a bathroom with a Toilet, shower and sink. The cabin had a fan, lights and heat. There was plenty of hot water for everyone to use. The windows welcome sunlight during the day and view of a starry sky at night. The cabin was clean and welcoming when we arrived. Bring your own utensils and cooking items. Soap and towels are provided. Amenities depend on the accommodation you choose. Outside our cabin we had a bench and a fire pit which was perfect for cooking all our meals (even when it rained). I don't believe any cabins or yurts allow or provide stoves to cook inside. Their website is informative and provides all the information on what to bring for the stay. There are other large bathroom and shower facilities on the property with lights, sinks, soap and hot water. I counted three, there maybe more. Parking is allowed in designated parking lots away from the cabin. That could be close or far depending on where your cabin is located. Car is allowed to the cabin to unload and load your items. Beach cruiser bikes are available for check out with your ID. During our visit we made good use of those bikes. They are well maintained and a great way to visit the nearby beaches. The market on the property is well stocked with food and supplies. They also prepare food to go or to eat at the benches located around the market. There is a stream that runs through the resort. It was rapidly flowing during our stay, the rain this year has been abundant. Fishing isn't allowed. El Capitan State beach is across the freeway from the property. It was closed for repairs during our stay but still accessible by bicycle. The CCC workers fixing the washed up road and trail were friendly. Refugió State Beach, which is about 3 miles from the resort is open and accessible by bicycle or vehicles. Resort is approximately 15 miles from Santa Barbara and 20 miles from Buelton. Probably 25 miles from Solvang. Great place to experience camping without the rough feeling of being outdoors. This may qualify as Glamping.

~General Store Only~ On the Ocean Mesa side of the campground is a very tiny general store. Not enough to get items for the camper. Amenities were great, such as pool, hot tub, bathrooms, and laundry provided by Ocean Mesa Campground. While out walking around. Discovered a walking trail that connected both Ocean Mesa and El Capitan. -1 Star for not allowing regular dogs onto the property. There's a cute bridge that you cross while heading towards the El Capitan general store, with no dogs allowed unless service dog. There are plenty of spots to eat, but I suggest one not directly under a tree, as a crow did their business while we tried to eat. A stage for a band. Another side of eating area with some backyard games. The general store had two different sections. One for merchandise and one for food. The merchandise section did not have an employee, though. On top of that, it is also a tiny kitchen! They were serving a tri tip sandwich, tacos, salads, and a few other items on their menu. With also drinks and snacks all around their register. There was a separate table attached to the general store, but it was blocked off. They gave you a buzzer so you could sit and relax first. We got tri tip sandwiches, one with seasoned fries with extra sauce, sweet potatoes fries, and another one with chips. There were chicken and carnita tacos ordered, and they gave us a handful of Cholula hotsauce packets. The Carnitas were a bit dry and had to go back to ask for Pico de Gallo. The tri tips were perfect. And we can't decide if the seasoned fries or sweet potato fries were better. It's definitely a cute store.

This place is absurdly overpriced. I guess if you don't want to do actual camping, it may be an intermediate solution to try to feel like you are sort of camping but staying in a glorified shack that at least has running water. I could have stayed in a great Airbnb that I love in Santa Barbara for less than I paid to stay here, and it's not like there were amazing facilities or amenities. I would recommend either going camping for real in a tent or even a rented RV (if you are not the type that likes actual camping), or just staying in an Airbnb or hotel and coming to visit the Llama farm here if you have kids under 6 or so, and going to the beach. I only came here because a group from our kid's school has an annual trip which I mistakenly thought would have been great.

Very disappointing from the customer service here and the quality of the amenities. Yes, this is camping, but at this price, it should be "glamping" and they miss the mark on many things. Will not come back.

UPDATE the staff was very rude and did not seem to care about the rat poop only the cleaning crew actually did care and argue with the manger to clean it up but they said no

this place is fantastic. we were here for our annual big family christmas reunion and it did not disappoint. the staff was excellent. the place was as peaceful as advertized. the wifi is a little sketchy but that's a good thing. We didn't take advantage of the dining but according to the kids getting their snacks from the marketplace, the pizza slaps. would recommend this place as a nice getaway

Worst costumer service ever. That alone gets zero stars. Everyone who works here is incredibly rude or incompetent. The cabins and grounds are run down and dirty. We rented a few things, like a sleeper, for our 18 month old. The staff wouldn't let the woman in to deliver the stuff despite my calling ahead and being assured it was fine. She even commented to me about how rude she finds the staff here and she is a regular there, so this wasn't just a one off experience. When we finally got to our cabin, which was ready well after check in, the doors were open and it was clear there was a dead animal inside the walls. It was also clear the staff was aware of this as one of the side panels had been pried off with a stick and left open. The front desk was really rude about having to deal with this and sent a maintenance man to open walls. After waiting that out, he admitted he smelled the dead animal and nothing could be done. So we had to wait to be moved...it goes on and on. This place needs an overhaul of both the staff and the grounds. The one highlight is the food at the market is pretty good but our orders were rarely accurate. This place needs a complete overhaul of the staff and the grounds. New places are being developed and El Capitan Canyon won't last if they can't compete with the competition. They are lucky they've made it this long as a business.

I just stayed at this campground for the first time this past weekend with my daughter and her Girl Scout troop. Most of us stayed in small cabins that had two bunk beds, a small loft sleeping area, a small kitchenette and a small bathroom. The cabins were cozy, heated, and for me, probably as rustic as I can manage (I love nature, but prefer somewhere nice to end my day and rest). The location is gorgeous, the staff are friendly, and there are some great activities scheduled. We were able to take the native plant workshop in the serenity garden; painted rocks and made beautiful Sage smudge sticks. We also hiked to the llama farm and enjoyed the llamas, goats, and sheep. The babies were precious. Our girls were also able to bottle feed the baby goats and sheep, which they loved! I am taking off 1 star due to the market/restaurant (only one on property) not opening until 8:30am. When out camping, especially with kids, we need accessible food, and COFFEE ready to go at an earlier time. Yes, there are coffee machines in the cabin, but I also depend on the coffee fixings that are not provided. By the time 8:30 hit at the market/restaurant doors during my stay, there was a huge mob of people. Lots of tween/teen kids shoving their way to the front and then literally shoving eachother around like a mosh pit at the glass doors, to the point that an employee had to come out to attempt them to stop. It was a completely stressful experience to start the day. I would love to visit again, but please make coffee, tea, and food available earlier!

This was the second time that we have stayed here, the first being several years ago. After this visit (December 11-13, 2022) we're REALLY divided on returning again...ESPECIALLY taking into consideration the HIGH cost per night! Allow me to tell you more... There are SEVERAL very positive things to say about this resort. (Listed in no special order) The staff...GREAT! Excellent! Helpful, friendly and professional. Next, the grounds, GREAT place to get away from the world. (Read on however...) The food...GREAT! Oh the breakfast burrito is AMAZING and the other things on their menu also worthy of trying. The local "store" has a great selection of wines and beers. Nothing was too terribly expensive so that was a big plus as well! Lastly, NATURE...wow. A short drive (not too bad of a walk either, is a state breach. We were there just after a couple of rainstorm blew into the coast and the waves were POUNDING. It was...glorious! Now, let's talk about some of the other things that you'll likely remember longer than the excellent twi-tip sandwich that you had... The rooms. OK, the resort has a mixture of rooms, yurts and tents. Yeah, even in the winter time. Both times we visited we stayed in a creekside / king cabin. Let's just say that this time we REALLY started to notice where it looks like corners are being cut. Here goes... 1) BUGS! Yeah, we're here in December and the first night my wife noticed what appeared to be TINY ants crawling on her phone and in the bed! After scouring the bed and sheets, we were uncertain if we brought them in or...well, we simply didn't know. The second night...we figured out that the cabin had an ant infestation. Bathroom, kitchen area, main room...everyplace we would looks we could find them! When I told the front desk about the problem upon us checking-out, I received a very lackluster answer of..."yeah, we know". REALLY! And you're charging $375+ / night for this? Hmmmmm... Next, for the cost per night, I would expect that at least the hardware in the room would work...something simply like the blinds on the windows and the faucet in the sink! The blinds like like something that was purchased in a second-hand store and hung by someone who was half blind! Both of the blinds in the main room contained slats that did not fully close AND had multiple extra holes in them! Also, all of the cords that control the blinds are seriously tangled so now they look more like a pinecone than cords to control the blinds! Let's not forget the screens! Well, let's be honest, the things passing for screens. It's obvious that these screens have not seen any maintenance in...YEARS. Lastly, it was equally obvious that the faucet in the kitchen area was never checked by the cleaning and/or maintenance staff. Turning on the faucet resulted in multiple streams of water shooting off in a variety of directions! I fixed this by removing, cleaning and re-installing the screen. The question that I would ask is, why did I have to do this given the price-point per night? Let's include the bathroom in this review...they're in dire need of upgrades! The hot water is from a tankless system that each cabin has...the preset temperature is...something LESS than HOT... OH, the bathtub...yeah, let's not forget the "tub-o-plenty"! This thing is HUGE! Stepping over the threshold to get into the tub is an experience and exercise in balance and "how far can you stretch"! Once inside the tub, I'm convinced that you should put a medium sized horse in there! It's HUGE! If you book a room, know in advance that you can not park your vehicle outside your cabin...nope! You are directed to park in central parking lots that are scattered around the grounds. OK, I understand this policy but...know in advance that if your visit will include weather...or darkness...you're going to need to be prepared in advance! YEP! Coats and / or GOOD flashlights are an absolute MUST! OK, overall, did we enjoy our stay? YES! The silence and nature really help you to disconnect! Given the cost, I will certainly consider renting a trailer instead. Come on El Captain Canyon! Spend some $$ and update the rooms!

Had a nice and peaceful 40th birthday here with my little family of 5 in the Corral Loft. It was a nice getaway even though not all of the amenities were available during our visit. I had a few mishaps with the front desk/facility. First, I was able to book a couples massage only to find out the spa hasn't opened back up yet, they never called to tell me and I only found out because I called to change the time of my massage. I also called to ask if the pool was open and they said it was but when we came it was clearly closed and has been closed for awhile. The other mishap was planning on getting a bbq kit for dinner on the day we arrived. Sunday 10/11. The market was closed due to an "incident". I don't have a problem with that but I think they should have called/emailed and told us. The nearest store/restaurant is 20 minutes away and if you were not planning on leaving after checking in that's an inconvenient 20 minutes! Especially when you could've grabbed something on your way in if they had communicated. I also had very inconsistent service over the phone, one of the guys was extremely rude and seemed annoyed, I spoke to someone that didn't seem to know anything and was clueless or just didn't want to help and the other two people were super nice, friendly and helpful. The loft itself was nice and pretty clean. It was the perfect size for us and we really enjoyed the fire pit. The facility is well kept and very serene. I still had a great birthday getaway and would give them another try even with the bad experiences because I am hoping it was isolated.

Great first time "glamping." This is my first "outdoor" experience. It would have been much more enjoyable if there weren't covid times. I hear they have fun events and whatnot. We stayed for two nights - just the two of us in a small cabin with a queen bed and two twin in the upstairs loft. The cabin was cozy but you have to make sure to take your shoes off or you will track dirt all over the cabin. Bed was really comfy and we both slept very well. Thermostat kept the place a good temperature. Mini kitchenette with microwave, mini fridge, sink with small bottle of detergent/small sponge, and a small coffee maker. The shower is small - offers bar soap, shampoo, and conditioner. No hair dryer. Extra pool towels although the pool was closed during our stay. Note: no television or cell service. There is wifi (better plans at a cost) The market was big - sells clothes, books, outdoor gear, and all the stuff you would need to have a camp fire or make food by your cabin. The market also has a variety of alcoholic beverages and coffee and a menu. We ordered made to order lunch here. It was surprisingly good! I ordered the Cesar salad with housemade dressing with chicken and my husband ordered the beef tacos. Outstanding. Would like to return with more people and no covid.

Snagged a last-minute cancellation and stayed in a double bunk bed cabin for 2 nights last month. Our cabin was clean for the most part. We took advantage of the free bike rentals to ride around with our kids. The breakfast burrito at the market was sooooo good we had to get them again after we checked out! When we got to the pool, no free chairs but another family made room for us. During checkout, we left in a hurry and accidentally left my son's lovey blanket behind. So I called and emailed them for 3 consecutive days and they found him and shipped to us overnight! Would def stay here again. Lots of large groups so bring another family or two with you! I'll remember to book 6 months out so we can get more cabin options.

The cabins are dated. The cabins have a loft area that you climb up a ladder to get to. It is a bit scary to get to the 2 twin beds. I definitely would not be cautious about letting really small kids sleep there. Also, everytime someone steps on the porch, or climbs up or down from the loft, it is very loud. The overall place is very nice. The cabins are far apart and so it felt secluded even though the place was booked up. It was about a 15 minute adult walk to the beach. It took us 25 minutes with 4 kids. The alpaca farm next to us was a nice little hike. There is a pool and a playground. There are tents (or yurts) available. I think I'll try to go for a yurt the next time I come.

Glamping within walking distance from the beach and 30 minutes from Firestone Brewery ... need I say more? Oh wait, I forgot to mention there is a lama farm, wineries, Solvang, cornhole, and camping all wrapped up in one weekend! But, if you really need specifics to sell you on the experience, then keep reading. The Cabins: Each cabin sleeps 6 (Two bunks and a loft), unless you get the couples suite which has one big king-size bed. There is a kitchenette in each cabin which includes a coffee maker, mini fridge, microwave and sink. Each cabin comes with its own picnic bench and fire ring, and they deliver firewood directly to your cabin and clean the cabin daily. AND, each cabin has its own bathroom with a shower which is awesome because you can have your camping fun and then get cleaned up to enjoy the surrounding areas. The Campgrounds: There is a mini-mart and restaurant on the campgrounds and if you purchase the camp mug, you get free coffee for life! There is an area outside where they sometimes have live music and there are various games to play including checkers and cornhole. Sitting between the cabins is a grass area where kids can run around and play, and up the hill there is a pool at another campsite. The common bathrooms are actually clean! And I mean really clean! There is also Wifi available however, it was strongest at the common bathrooms which is kind of a good thing because it keeps people off their dang phones. There is a lama farm about a mile hike from the campsite. It is a moderate hike with switchbacks for the first part and then a flat walk for the remainder. There are not only lamas but other farm animals. We saw a live goat birth, which while it is nothing I would EVER want to see again, I can at least say that happened :-/. The beach is about a one-mile hike from camp and it is a flat walk the whole way. Additionally, Solvang, Wineries and the Fire Stone Brewery is only about 30 minutes driving from the campsite.

For the price of the cabins, I was disappointed. The water heater makes noise and can hear it all night long. The heater is super loud like a motor fan. The shower was super small and had to open the door to be able to wash. The water temperature in the shower was nearly impossible to adjust. It was either scalding hot or cold. Kids are shrieking at all hours. 10pm quiet hours are not enforced. Don't plan on renting their crappy bikes. They are all rusted and hard to ride. Many have torn seat cushions. They charge some ridiculous amount for bbq kits so bring your own food. I think it's 56$ just for hotdogs! It's a cute place and fun for kids but they could step up some things for the rates they charge. It's a really long walk if you're staying past the 250 cabins and no shuttle service. Not a good place for elderly. The spa is non existent.

Visited 8/11/2016 I've always wanted to try camping except for the fact that I would be missing all the amenities that I'm so use to! Well guess what?!?! Glamping came along!! MY KIND OF "CAMPING"!! When I first heard of el Capitan Canyon, my dreams came true. I thought to myself that I can definitely do this!! Nice drive from LA, maybe about two hours. You pass through Santa Barbara. Instead of staying in a tent or yurt, we opted to rent a cabin just for one night just in case we didn't like "camping". The other cabins were far enough from us that I felt we had privacy. I LOVED our cute little cabin! Outside of our cabin, we had our own picnic table. We even had a little porch with chairs so that we could watch the sun go down. There was a loft where the kids could sleep so that I could have the other bed. Adorable little kitchen in case we wanted to cook and a bathroom that had EVERYTHING my home had. The only thing missing was a TV. I gotta be honest with you, that felt like going through withdrawals! I'm so glad that we brought lots of reading materials that evening! During the day, we hiked on one of the hiking trails. There was a fire there not to long ago, so it was sad to see some of the devastation, but I was amazed how the cabins were saved. In the late afternoon, we explored the campgrounds. We walked to the Canyon Market to check out what kind of food they had for purchase. There were other amenities in the market besides food. It wasn't to bad of a walk. Nice to look at other peoples cabins and the canyon itself along the way. In the evening, we were hoping to swim in the "heated pool". Unfortunately that wasn't the case. Big disappointment!! By the time it was time to checkout, we were glad to leave. I guess you can say we are definitely city folks. Still enjoyed ourselves, would do it again, but I think a weekend thing is more than enough for me. A definite must do at least once.

Excellent. Long weekend getaway or short weekend trip. Short drive easy pesy. Very nice cabins, well kept . Very very quiet, even if you have other people around .

If you don't like the discomfort of camping, but love nature and outdoor activities, this is the place for you. I believe the term for a place like this is "glamping." All you need to bring is some clothes and toiletries because this place has it all!!! There are various lodging options, from cozy cabins near a small creek, to yurt like, upscale tents. They offer massage therapy and have a cafe/shop, where you can get fire wood and order camping style cuisine ready for barbecue, which all spots have. We always order the BBQ chicken meal and the s'mores kit. There's tons of great hiking spots in a woodsy environment, but directly across the street is also a public Santa Barbara beach! It's the best of both worlds in nature. If you're lucky you'll meet their cute campgrounds cat! *photos will be added soon....

Richard and the team went out of their way for a special occasion accommodation for us during our short stay. The king cabins are cozy and comfortable, perfect for settling in for a night of s'mores and relaxation by our outdoor fire pit. We highly recommend the Cafe Market for snacks and dinner and a walk to the llama farm it a must. We hope to come back in summer when the creek is restored on this very special property.

El Capitan Canyon is a great getaway with all the essentials of camping made easy. The glamping experience is unreal with great views, hikes, amenities and food in one convenient location. I stayed this past weekend and had a blast. We started each morning with a hike and bike ride and then had breakfast in the marketplace before leaving the Canyon and exploring the nearby activities. There were many families and the workers were fantastic and helpful. One of my favorite things was Sunday morning we went on a walk to the animals and Larry let us go in with the llamas and feed the baby goats. Highly recommend going and i am excited to return hopefully soon.

We had a great time at ECC.. I went with a group of friends from age 6-80 and everyone had a good time. We hiked to see the animals and the organic farms, which was more like a field. But the hike was almost 2 miles and good exercise. We stayed in yurts 225-227.. near the heated pool and bathrooms which was great. The rooms were clean and a good amount of space for 3 people. It had a mini refrigerator, microwave, and small heater. There were only a couple electrical outlets so bring an extension cord. We had fun

We recently stayed at the El Capital Canyon in mid August. It's our first time here after hearing about it from a coworker. THE ROOMS: We stayed there is August. We got the Creekside doubles because none of us really want to climb ladders and we also have little kids in our group. The rooms are really nice and the beds/pillows are quite comfortable. The bathtub is really great for soaking because it's so deep, but it's really hard for kids to climb in and out of them. You kinda need a step stool to get in and out for the little ones or less agile ones. I do wish that there is more space or shelf of some sort by the sink to place things like toothbrushes, floss, etc. The fridge in our room was fine and worked great. However, the fridge in my sister's room had a compartment that was broken and it kept falling out. It was no big deal though. AMENITIES: We loved the service at El Capitan Canyon Resort. The staff is super nice and helpful. We ordered firewood, firestarter and ice and they delivered it right to our cabin! There is a small service and delivery charge, but well worth it for the convenience. The marketplace sells all sorts of things and even bbq kits if you don't want to pack too much food. I do wish that the marketplace closes a little later. It closes at 6pm which is a bit early for us. There is a pool and playground on the premise, but we didn't use it. The pool has a deep end that goes to 8'. NATURE: The night sky is beautiful. We walked up a bit near the parking lot to a dark area. We saw the Milky Way and the giant Big Dipper. It was gorgeous. There's also a sheep, llama, goat farm. The initial path is a bit steep, but then flattens out after a few minutes of walk. On our path, we saw hawks flying and dragonflies (mating mid flight!). We arrived at the farm about 11 something in the morning just as they were fed, so we got to pet and hold them. That was really neat for the kids. We saw lots of squirrels, loads of skunks every where at night, saw a baby fox or coyote. It looked cute, but we didn't get near it. Even saw a family of deer! If you hearing hammering, it's the woodpeckers. It's quite amazing. NEARBY: The Capitan Beach is right across the highway. We drove there instead of walking. I don't think we could have walked. We were charged $10 per vehicle at the entrance. The kids really enjoyed digging for sand crabs and playing with sand. There are shopping nearby and even a Costco! Overall, we loved this place. The scenerary is gorgeous. It's camping with as much camp as you want or glamp as you want. Do bring lanterns as it is dark there. Weather wise, it was a bit cold in the mornings and evenings (nothing firewood doesn't cure). If you want more peace and quiet, stay during the weekdays. Friday mornings can get load with kids riding their bikes up and down the path. We stayed Wednesday - Friday and so glad we did. It felt like we had the place to ourselves. It was super nice! We can't wait to do this again!

We love to go to the concert series every summer for Barbecue and dancing. With Covid we have missed the last two years. This summer 2023 we were excited to go again. Prices went up as expected, what wasn't expected that you had to reserve an order online by 2:00 that you wanted the Barbecue. We assumed it was like beforehand when you just showed up and paid. Concert goers were not allowed on the property until 3:30! To make matters worse. They pushed orders Sat June 3rd to 3:30. We arrive at 4:00 unknowingly that the rules had changed. The gentleman working at the tent said don't worry they still had chicken but he had to ask the "Chef." The chef arrived and my husband said we would just eat chicken and we were unaware of the rule change. THE CHEF WAS ABSOLUTELY A TOTALLY RUDE JERK!!!! HIS ATTITUDE, HIS DISMISSAL OF US, HIS HORRIBLE MANNERS!!! We were shocked that anyone would talk to us that way. All we had said is that " We did not know and would happily take chicken. As opposed to apologizing about the new policy he went on a rant. We were steamed but walked away saying nothing. If chef was my employee I would have fired him on the spot. It is no way to speak to loyal customers, we usually bring six friends with us. Thank goodness we were alone. I don't think we will ever go back. How sad that our summer tradition was ruined by one obnoxious man.