Atascadero Creek (Santa Barbara County, California)


Atascadero Creek is a southwest flowing stream in Santa Barbara County, California, United States which empties into the Goleta Slough.

Course

Atascadero Creek forms in Atascadero Canyon just east of California State Route 154 in Santa Barbara, California. The creek runs south and joins Cieneguitas creek which flows into it from the east. It then curves west at the base of Hope Ranch and defines the northern edge of More Mesa. As it heads west several other southern flowing canyon creeks westward of Atascadero canyon flow into it including Hospital Creek and Maria Ygnacio Creek. It then joins with the outflow from the Goleta Slough, adjacent to Mescalitan Island, and empties into the Pacific Ocean at Goleta Beach County Park.

History

Since the area just north of the creek as it runs west is part of modern day Goleta and Noleta it shares their history as being farmed by the Chumash Indians, used as grazing for cattle and becoming popular citrus farmland. Gradually after World War II the citrus groves were converted into housing.
Today a popular coastal bike path runs adjacent to the creek through most of its westerly course to Goleta Beach and on to the University of California Santa Barbara.