Four brown pelicans, an endangered species, flew in a line over the curling white surf at Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve.

The secluded seaside park, at the end of Highway 166 five miles west of Guadalupe, holds more surprises. Here, unspoiled beaches meet wind-sculpted sand dunes.

At the north end of the 600-acre preserve, the Santa Maria River meanders to the ocean at the northern boundary of Santa Barbara County, forming a wetland that is home to numerous birds. The county owns the property, which is managed by the Center for Natural Lands Management.

“It's an amazing place,” said preserve manager Jamie King. “It's pretty pristine.”

To the south is Mussel Rock, a local landmark and hiking destination, where the area's highest dunes rise hundreds of feet.

As we drove in, windblown sand covered the entrance road. Tracks of hidden animals crisscrossed the dunes.

A parking area near the ocean was largely deserted. A lone fisherman headed across the beach (surf perch are a popular catch). Overhead, kites stiffened in the brisk west wind that helped shape the dunes. Empty picnic tables lay half-buried in sand.

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The Sahara-like landscape has drawn filmmakers starting with Cecil B. DeMille, who shot his 1923 epic “The Ten Commandments” here. When filming was over, he secretly buried the massive set in the sand.

In recent years, excavations have taken place. Artifacts are on display at the Dunes Center, a visitor center in downtown Guadalupe. The beach site is unmarked to prevent vandalism.

While the preserve attracts Sunday picnickers, hikers, photographers and artists, “a lot of people say they haven't been here,” King said. “It's a hidden treasure.”

Nesting areas for the Western snowy plover are fenced off from March through September but, King noted, “you still can walk on the beach.”

Admission is free. In this season, the preserve is open from 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Be forewarned. “It's a windy location,” King said. “Bring a jacket.”

Roadside Attractions is a weekly chronicle of sights along the Central Coast's main commuter routes. Sally Cappon can be reached at

sjcappon@aol.com.

December 2, 2008