San Onofre State Beach encompasses 3,000 acres of coastal land across several distinct areas. Trestles Beach at the northern end is a world-famous surfing location featuring multiple breaks from the challenging Lower Trestles to Cottons and Church. “San O” or Old Man’s at the southern end offers gentler waves popular with longboarders and maintains a […]
California Beaches
Pescadero State Beach
Pescadero State Beach encompasses a mile-long shoreline with sandy beaches, rocky cliffs, tide pools, and adjacent marsh natural preserve. The beach is divided into several sections by rock outcroppings, with the northern areas featuring sandy shores perfect for walking and beachcombing, while the southern section offers fascinating tide pools during low tide. Across Highway 1, […]
Bean Hollow State Beach
Bean Hollow State Beach features unique geological formations along its shoreline, including honeycomb-patterned rocks created by salt weathering and erosion that are a distinctive characteristic of this beach. The park consists of two separate beach areas connected by a mile-long trail that winds along blufftops with panoramic coastal views. The northern section is sandy and […]
Trinidad State Beach
Trinidad State Beach is situated on a protected cove beneath forested bluffs in a picturesque fishing village along California’s northern coast. The beach is accessed via Trinidad Head, a massive rock formation that juts into the Pacific and provides hiking trails with spectacular viewpoints overlooking the beach and harbor. Offshore sea stacks create a dramatic […]
Sonoma Coast State Beach
Sonoma Coast State Beach encompasses multiple beach areas along a breathtaking 17-mile stretch of rugged coastline. This dramatic shoreline features towering bluffs, sea stacks, rocky coves, and sandy beaches accessible via numerous parking areas and trails along Highway 1. Beaches such as Schoolhouse, Portuguese, and Salmon Creek offer distinct characteristics from expansive sandy shores to […]
Cayucos Beach
Cayucos Beach is the centerpiece of a charming Central Coast town that has maintained its laid-back, vintage California atmosphere. The beach is anchored by the historic wooden Cayucos Pier, originally built in 1872 and recently restored, which provides fishing opportunities and panoramic views of Estero Bay with Morro Rock visible to the south. The beach […]
Pomponio State Beach
Pomponio State Beach is a wide, sandy beach situated in a valley along Highway 1 between Half Moon Bay and Pescadero. The beach sits at the mouth of Pomponio Creek, which forms a small lagoon that attracts shorebirds and creates a protected area for wading. Sandy cliffs and coastal scrub vegetation frame the beach, providing […]
Manresa State Beach
Manresa State Beach features a long stretch of pristine shoreline south of Santa Cruz, offering a less developed beach experience than more tourist-oriented areas. The beach is backed by impressive eroding bluffs and dunes that provide a natural buffer from nearby agricultural lands. A campground sits atop the bluff with 60 campsites offering proximity to […]
Pacifica State Beach
Pacifica State Beach, also known as Linda Mar Beach, is a mile-long, crescent-shaped sandy beach nestled at the mouth of the San Pedro Valley. Known as one of the most reliable surfing beaches in the Bay Area, it features gentle waves that make it particularly popular for beginning surfers, with a surf school and rental […]
Newport Municipal Beach
Newport Municipal Beach stretches along the Balboa Peninsula, encompassing several distinct beach areas including the popular section near Newport Pier. This wide, sandy beach offers excellent swimming conditions with seasonal lifeguard service and facilities including volleyball courts, bicycle rentals, and a paved beachfront path. The historic Newport Pier is a centerpiece of the beach, with […]