Surf: Various reef/sandbar peaks, best with lower tides and smaller, peaky swells. Boils at low tide, vicious backwash at high tide. The beachbreak to the north can provide a lot of elbow room if Tarpits itself is crowded. The beachbreak can be hollow on a mid to low tide. A fun summer spot. Environment: Carpinteria Creek may transport some unwanted pollution into the line-up, especially after rain. Surf: General: In an area known for its world-class point breaks, Carpinteria State Beach is one of Santa Barbara's less-glamorous options, which helps it fly beneath the radar and keeps the crowds pretty mellow. The beach break is peaky and fun, and tends to have less people than the reef to the south. Tarpits holds good shape, but gets a bit busier and can be backwashy at high tide. Tides: Medium tide. Size: Waist-high to overhead. Wind: NE Swell: SE, W Bottom: Sand, rock. Paddling: Relatively easy lineup to navigate. Spot Rating: Fun, consistent waves, but nowhere as good as the various points in the region. Access: There is ample parking in front of the beach. Crowds: Crowd Factor: There are a lot of better-known waves in the area, so it doesn't get too crazy here. Local Vibe: While Tarpits gets a bit eggy, the beach break is pretty mellow. Environment: Stays pretty clean until it rains, then you can get polluted runoff out of Carpinteria Creek. Hazards: Rocks, boils, backwash, pollution after rains. Season: Summer and autumn have the best conditions and most consistent swells.