Half Moon Bay State Beach offers four miles of broad, picturesque sandy beaches to welcome visitors for sunbathing, fishing and picnicking. A campground at Francis Beach provides accommodations for those who wish to visit longer. Check out the Coastal Trail, a very popular area for trail running and walking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring.
Twin Lakes State Beach, near the Santa Cruz Harbor, is good for swimming and picnicking. Adjacent Schwan Lake Park offers easy walking trails through a natural preserve of old oaks and coastal grasslands. Visit the beach to enjoy boogie boarding, surfing, stand-up paddle boarding, swimming and other beach activities.
Coast Dairies State Park offers a series of undeveloped “pocket beaches” on Santa Cruz County’s rugged North Coast. The beaches are tied together by the California Coastal Trail, which runs along the top of the bluff. The beaches are: Sharktooth, Bonny Doon, Yellow Bank, Laguna Creek and Panther. Stop by the beaches to explore the unique beauty each has to offer.
Bean Hollow State Beach includes two sheltered coves, separated by a rocky point. Visit and explore tide pools with anemones, crab, sea urchins and other marine inhabitants. Recreate in the water and go boating, windsurfing/surfing and kayaking/canoeing. Dogs are welcome.
Lighthouse Field State Beach, at the north end of Monterey Bay on West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz, contains gentle walking paths. Its eucalyptus groves attract migrating monarch butterflies each winter. Leashed dogs are allowed.
Burleigh Murray Ranch State Park's historic ranch property offers solitude, groves of mature eucalyptus and a rich assortment of wildlife. Come hike on an old ranch road that winds its way alongside Mills Creek for about 1 mile to a 1930s bungalow.
The Santa Cruz Mission Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park is home to the oldest building in Santa Cruz County. It's one of just four adobe buildings left in Santa Cruz County. Stop by for a self-guided tour of the historical exhibits at the mission.
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park offers four spectacular and diverse habitats that this park preserves: grassland, river, sandhills and redwoods. Visit the park for hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, swimming, camping and fishing on more than 4,650 acres of forested and open land in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Sunset State Beach features a wooded campground, picnic area, group campground and 200-foot high dunes (the largest in the country) built up in front of coastal bluff. The beach itself stretches down to where it meets the mouth of the Pajaro River. Come set up your fishing line at the beach surf perch, sardines and striped bass may be caught.
Seabright State Beach, in the heart of Santa Cruz, once known as Castle Beach has sand volleyball courts and fire pits, as well as lots of space for a beach day. Spend an afternoon at the beach and play volleyball, swim, surf, windsurf, fish and paddle board.
Gazos Creek State Beach is the northernmost part of Año Nuevo State Park. Hike on the beach or go birding to find snowy plovers, gulls and migrating sparrows.
Pebble State Beach is home to the popular Arroyo de los Frijoles Trail, a 2-mile round-trip walk to Bean Hollow Beach. The pebbles on the beach are quartz chipped from an offshore reef, tumbled ashore, then wave-polished and rounded into beautifully hued small stones. Visit this beach to enjoy an afternoon swimming, surfing, fishing and tidepooling.
Seacliff State Beach has great accessible facilities and is known for its fishing pier, fossils in the bluffs, and the S.S. Palo Alto.
Palm State Beach, located near the mouth of the Pajaro River, is known for family gatherings, fishing and beach play. The wide beach is three miles long — visit for for a long walk or a day in the sun. Spend a lovely afternoon recreating at Palm State Beach.
Manresa State Beach features a beautiful expanse of sea and sand, perfect for boogie boarding, fishing, surfing and beach play. Use the picnic tables on the bluff, or make this the launching point for a long beach walk. Spend an afternoon relaxing or recreating at this state beach.
Pomponio State Beach includes miles of gently sloping, sandy beaches at the base of high sandstone bluffs. The beach can be inaccessible at high tide. Stop by to enjoy swimming, surfing, windsurfing and fishing or plan a barbecue using picnic tables available at the park.
San Gregorio State Beach is bordered by steep, high coastal cliffs. The area includes a protected, driftwood-strewn estuary at the back of a wide, sandy beach, with grassy bluffs along the coast. This beach is popular for swimming, surfing, windsurfing, fishing and boating. Stop by and enjoy recreational activities at the beach.
New Brighton State Beach is known for its family-oriented campground, which sits on the towering bluffs high above the Pacific Ocean. The beach is a protected cove good for stand-up paddleboarding, beach play and tidepooling. Spend an afternoon sunbathing.
Rio Del Mar State Beach starts in the waterfront area at the end of Rio Del Mar Boulevard and continues south for almost a mile on Beach Drive to the end. Enjoy boogie boarding, surfing, beach days and volleyball. Fire rings are provided at this beach.
