Beaches

The rocky seashore at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve in Moss Beach, California hosts a vibrant living community of marine life. A variety of algae, crabs, sponges, seastars, mollusks, and fish make their homes in the inter-tidal; that area betw... Read more >

Gray Whale Cove State Beach is a California State Park between Pacifica, California, and Montara, California, by Highway 1 and approximately 18 miles south of San Francisco. It features a sheltered cove surrounded by abrupt cliffs, with tr... Read more >

Greenwood State Beach, also known as Elk Beach, is a state-protected beach of California. It is located in the unincorporated village of Elk in Mendocino County. It is located about 15 miles (24 km) north of Point Arena on Highway 1. This ... Read more >

Half Moon Bay State Beach is a 4-mile stretch of protected beaches in the state park system of California, on Half Moon Bay. From north to south it comprises Roosevelt, Dunes, Venice, and Francis Beaches. This State beach comprises 181 acr... Read more >

Huntington State Beach is a protected beach in Southern California, located in the City of Huntington Beach in Orange County. It extends 2 miles from Newport Beach north to Beach Boulevard, where the Huntington City Beach begins. This Stat... Read more >

La Jolla Cove is a small cove with a beach that is surrounded by cliffs in La Jolla, San Diego, California. Point La Jolla forms the south side of the cove. The area is protected as part of a marine reserve and is popular with snorkelers, ... Read more >

Leucadia State Beach, also known as Beacon's Beach, is a protected beach of California, in Encinitas. It is operated as Beacon's Beach by the city under a 20-year agreement with California Department of Parks and Recreation. This State bea... Read more >

Lighthouse Field State Beach is a protected beach in the state park system of California. It is located in the city of Santa Cruz at the north end of Monterey Bay. The beach overlooks the Steamer Lane surfing hotspot. It also contains the ... Read more >

Little River State Beach is a protected beach of California, in Humboldt County. It is located at the mouth of the Little River, 13 miles north of Eureka right off U.S. Route 101. This State beach comprises 152 acres.

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Malibu Lagoon State Beach is a state protected beach of California, and a unit of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Also known as Surfrider Beach, it has a long-standing reputation as a premier surfing beach. This State ... Read more >

Mandalay State Beach is an undeveloped park featuring sandy beach, coastal dunes and wetland environments. The park provides public access to the beach and preserves sensitive coastal dune habitat. Seasonal closures are in place March thro... Read more >

Manresa State Beach rewards visitors with sweeping views of bluff-backed sand and sea, including the Santa Cruz Mountains to the northwest and the forested hills of the Monterey Peninsula to the southwest. Sunset and Manresa state beaches ... Read more >

The beach area winds through the Marina Dunes Natural Preserves. The beach is known for hang-gliding. Radio-controlled gliders and kites are also popular. The beach is a favorite site for picnics. This State Beach comprises 170 acres.
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McGrath State Beach is a protected beach park located on the south bank of the mouth of Santa Clara River in the city of Oxnard, California. McGrath State Beach is one of the best bird-watching areas in California, with the lush riverbanks... Read more >

Montara State Beach is a beach located eight miles north of Half Moon Bay on State Route 1 in California. It is operated by the California State Department of Parks and Recreation under the San Mateo Coast Sector Office. It is one of the c... Read more >

The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary offers some of the best wildlife viewing in the world. The sanctuary stretches along the coast from San Francisco to Cambria and includes beaches, tide pools, kelp forests, steep canyons and lots ... Read more >