Santa Cruz
State Parks & Beaches
Santa Cruz, CA
PARKS & BEACHES
Santa Cruz Beaches, Parks & Open Space
Santa Cruz County has miles of unspoiled beaches that stretch both north and south of the City of Santa Cruz.
For State and Local Parks and Beaches in and around Santa Cruz, Please scroll down the page or click on Santa Cruz area Parks and Beaches.
For a larger selection of State Beaches and Parks slightly north of Santa Cruz (5 to 40 miles), please scroll down the page or click on North Coast Beaches.
Featured Santa Cruz Hotels & Resorts
Santa Cruz Dream Inn ─ Click for reviews and book online
175 W. Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA
Remodeled in June 2008 -- the hotel enjoys an unrivaled location on Cowell's Beach making it he only beachfront hotel in Santa Cruz. And it is just steps away from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, the Santa Cruz Wharf, and beautiful West Cliff Drive. This is the best hotel for experiencing the most popular tourist sites in Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz State Parks,
Beaches and Nature Preserves
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park—Remote Camps
Aptos Creek Rd. & Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA (831) 763-7062
The park has 10,000 acres of rugged semi-wilderness, rising from sea level to steep coastal mountains of more than 2,600 feet.
Harvey West Park -- City Park
326 Evergreen Street , Santa Cruz, CA (831) 722-3500
Harvey West Park is a 50-acre municipal park. Located just off the intersection of Highways 1, 9, and 17 and is truly Santa Cruz' most complete central park complex. The park includes hiking trails, swimming pools, ball fields, play equipment, clubhouses, barbecue pits, picnic areas and more. It's the perfect place for team sports, a Sunday picnic, an evening swim or just a walk on the trails.
Lighthouse Field State Beach701 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA (831) 420-5270
The beach features an open, grassy field across from Lighthouse Point. The area is popular for picnics and family get-togethers.
Neary Lagoon -- City Park
110 California Street, Santa Cruz, CA
Abundant wildlife viewing. Peaceful place for a walk. Interpretative signage and information available on site. No dogs allowed in wildlife refuge area.
Manresa State Beach - Family camp sites
205 Manresa Beach Rd., La Selva Beach, CA 95076 (831) 763-7063
The beach features a beautiful expanse of sea and sand, with surf fishing, and recreation.
2531 West Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz, CA (831) 423-4609
The beach features picturesque arches cut out by ocean waves in a sandstone out-cropping, giving the park its name. The annual migration of monarch butterflies is another featured attraction.
New Brighton State Beach — Campgrounds
201 State Park Drive., Aptos, CA (831) 464-6330
The park features picnic areas, swimming, fishing and a nearby forest of Monterey pine. The camping area's campsites are located on a bluff overlooking northern Monterey Bay.
Pogonip -- City Park
333 Golf Club Dr Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (831) 420-5270
A scenic 640-acre expanse of open meadows, woodlands and creeks., A multi-use trail (approximately 1 mile) is open to bicyclists and equestrians in the northernmost portion of Pogonip. This multi-use trail provides a connection between Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Pogonip, and UC Santa Cruz campus lands. Bicycles and horses are prohibited on all other trails in Pogonip.
Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
144 School Street, Santa Cruz, CA (831) 429-2850
The site of a complex of buildings erected around the original Santa Cruz Mission.
Seacliff State Beach201 State Park Drive., Aptos, CA (831) 429-2850
The park is known for its fishing pier and concrete freighter, the Palo Alto. The beach is also a popular swimming spot. There is a long stretch of sand backed by bluffs.
Sunset State Beach — Campgrounds
201 Sunset Beach Rd., Watsonville, CA (831) 763-7062
The park features pine trees, mountainous sand dunes, and Pacific Ocean side picnic spots. Bordered by large agricultural fields between the cities of Santa Cruz and Monterey, the beach is a year-round destination for thousands of visitors.
East Cliff Dr. & Portola Dr., Santa Cruz, CA (831) 427-4868
The beach has a mile of sandy shoreline, popular for swimming and picnicking. The park’s adjacent two lagoons are good locations for bird watching.
1 mile north of Western Drive, Santa Cruz (831) 423-9703
The Park has 4,505 acres, with 34 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian rails winding through coastal terraces and valleys.
Davenport, Gazos Creek, and Pescadero
Ano Nuevo State ReserveNew Year's Creek Road, off Hwy 1 Pescadero, CA 650-879-0227
This 4,000 acre Reserve is a major gathering area for northern elephant seals, which may be seen year-around. The males battle for mates on the beaches. The females give birth to their young on the dunes. More >>
Bean Hollow State Beach & Pebble Beach
650-879-2170
The beach features fishing, picnicking and beachcombing. Visitors can explore tide pools with anemones, crab, sea urchins and other marine inhabitants. The beach also has a self-guided nature trail.
Directions: On the San Mateo Coast, Bean Hollow is 27.5 miles north of Santa Cruz and three miles south of Pescadero on Highway One. More >>
Big Basin Redwoods State Park -- Rancho Del Oso,
Hwy 1 831-338-8860
Located 20 miles north of Santa Cruz on Hwy. 1, the park has miles of trails, which serves hikers and equestrians, links Big Basin to Castle Rock State Park and the eastern reaches of the Santa Cruz range.
More >>
Maps >>
Butano State Park — Campgrounds
1500 Cloverdale Rd., Pescadero, CA (650) 879-2040
A 2,200-acre redwood park in the Santa Cruz Mountains, featuring excellent hiking through the redwood groves. Only three miles from the Pacific coast, the park's trails offer views of the Pacific Ocean and the Año Nuevo islands.
Directions: The park is on the San Mateo Coast, off Highway One. Three miles northeast of the Gazos Creek Coastal Access Point by way of Gazos Creek Road, and about 4.5 miles southeast of Pescadero by way of the Pescadero and Cloverdale Roads. More >>
Dunes State BeachHalf Moon Bay Beach Headquarters -- 650-726-8819
Directions: just north of Half Moon Bay -- from Hwy 1, turn west on Young Ave. More >>
Bean Hollow State Beach, 650-879-2170.
Directions: From Hwy 1, north of Gazos Creek Rd. & south of Pigeon Point Lighthouse in Pescadero. More >>
Santa Cruz State Beach, 650-726-8819.
The beach (a.k.a. Devil's Slide) features a sheltered cove surrounded by cliffs that drop abruptly into the Pacific. A steep trail leads down to the beach. There is a small picnic area on the bluff above Gray whales can often be seen close to the shore the beach. Sunbathing is the most popular activity between mid-April and mid-May
Directions: On the San Mateo Coast, north of Montara on Highway One. The only available automobile parking is on the east side of Highway 1. Crossing to the ocean side of the highway can be both difficult and dangerous. More >>
Pescadero Creek County Park ─ San Mateo County Park
Pescadero, CA (650) 363-4021
The park has 8,020 acres and is comprised of San McDonald, Memorial, and Heritage Grove parks. More >>
Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve
Highway 1 & escadero Rd., Pescadero, CA 650-879-2170
Across the highway form the Pescadero State Beach is the Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve, a popular spot for bird watchers and other naturalists. The Reserve is a refuge for blue heron, kites, deer, raccoons, foxes and skunks.
Directions: The beach is located 30 miles north of Santa Cruz on Highway One.
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Pescadero State BeachHighway 1 & escadero Rd., Pescadero, CA 650-879-2170
The beach has a mile-long shoreline with sandy coves, rocky cliffs, tide pools, fishing spots and picnic facilities.
Across the highway is Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve, a popular spot for bird watchers and other naturalists. The Reserve is a refuge for blue heron, kites, deer, raccoons, foxes and skunks.
Directions: The beach is located 30 miles north of Santa Cruz on Highway One.
More >>
Pigeon Point Light Station — Hostel
210 Pigeon Point Rd. Hwy 1, Pescadero (650) 879-0633
Directions: California Highway 1, 20 miles south of Half Moon Bay and 27 miles north of Santa Cruz. More >>
Pomponio State Beach650-879-2170
This area provides access to miles of gently sloping, sandy beaches at the base of high sandstone bluffs. This day-use facility features a small lagoon, roaring surf - and a wide parking area, picnic tables, and barbecues.
Directions: The beach is located 35 miles north of Santa Cruz on Highway 1. More >>
Portola Redwoods State Park650-948-9098
The park has a rugged, natural basin forested with coast redwoods, Douglas fir and live oak. Eighteen miles of trails crisscross the canyon and its two streams, Peters Creek and Pescadero Creek. More >>
Purissima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve
Santa Cruz, CA (650) 949-5500
The 3,120-acre preserve is located on the western slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains overlooking Half Moon Bay. The preserve was established with a gift of $2 million from the Save-the-Redwoods League.
The centerpiece of the Preserve is Purisima Creek Canyon, with its towering redwoods, creek, ferns, berries, and wildflowers. Coastal scrub, tanoak, madrone, and Douglas fir border the canyon. The coast and Half Moon Bay are visible from the northern part of the preserve. More >>
Redondo Beach
Surrounded by the Ritz-Carlton property, the beach is more secluded and less used than the more popular beaches in the Half Moon Bay State Beach system. Redondo Beach offers sweeping ocean and bluff views, but please note that access to the beach is a very steep, difficult climb. There are no available stairs.
Directions: The beach is located .40 miles north of Santa Cruz on Highway 1. Turn right on Redondo Beach Road and travel to the end
San Gregorio State Beach650-879-2170
The area includes a protected, driftwood-strewn estuary at the back of a wide, sandy beach - with grassy bluffs along the coast. The estuary is home to many birds and small animals. California Historical Landmark 26 commemorates the passage of Spanish Explorer Captain Gaspar de Portolá through this area in October 1769. Directions: The beach is located 35 miles north of Santa Cruz on Highway 1. More >>
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