Top Beaches on the West Coast of the USA

• Avila Beach // California

  

  This secluded little spot sits on California's central coast, approximately halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

  The beach itself is a stunning unspoilt stretch of white sand and crystal clear water that's around half a mile long, with a near 1700-feet pier at the heart of it that's been standing for more than a century.

  It's partially closed for restoration works so you won't be able to walk all the way to the end but you can still stroll a decent way along it and there are spots for… read more »

• Pfeiffer Beach // California

  

  Pfeiffer Beach is in the Big Sur area of California. Roughly a mile long, it is located down a twisting and unmarked two-mile paved road that is unsuitable for RVs and trailers as it has only five points at which vehicles are able to pass one another in opposite directions.

  However, this beach more than makes up for the slight difficulty in getting there in sheer beauty. Its main attraction is Keyhole Rock, a large mass of rock in the waves with a naturally-formed arch right at its centre.

  Its sands are… read more »

• Point Reyes Beach // California

  

  The main beach at Point Reyes can be arbitrarily divided into North Beach and South Beach. However, a more appropriate name is the Great Beach which fairly accurately sums up this 12 mile long stretch of unbroken golden sand.

  On one of the frequent wild and windy days, where you feel the full force of the Pacific waves pounding  unabated into the shoreline, it is hard to imagine you are barely an hour from downtown San Francisco. The contrast couldn't really be greater as you stroll along the deserted expanse of… read more »

• Gibson Beach // California

  

  This is a top spot for nature lovers. Gibson's Beach is the southernmost beach in Point Lobos State Natural Reserve and can be reached by car in around 10 minutes from Carmel. The scenic drive alone is well worth the time spent. 

  It's a wide sandy stretch about a quarter of a mile long and access to the beach can be challenging, but the reward of seclusion and some nice wave action awaits anyone who is up for it. Like all of the Central California region, the water temperature is chilly,… read more »

• Gray Whale Cove State Beach // California

  

  When you hear that Gray Whale Cove State Beach is on an area of coastline known as "Devil's Slide" this should help convey that the descent to the beach is steep and tricky.

  Just 18 miles south of San Francisco, situated between Pacifica and Montara, this state beach is popular for whale watching during the spring migratory season, hence its name. Great white sharks have also been seen in the chilly waters.

  It can be windy and swimming is not recommended although surfers occasionally brave the rocks and… read more »

• Clam Beach // California

  

  Clam Beach County Park lies just off (Redwood) Highway 101 to the north of Arcata. It is a long stretch of fine golden sand backed by low sand dunes.

  The beach here is a popular stopover for camping with parks for both RVs and tents. Facilities include plenty of picnic areas, firepits, and restrooms.

  As the name might suggest, Clam beach is popular for clamming - the name comes from the abundant razor clams found here. There's also beachcombing,  wildlife viewing and horseback riding, with the Hammond Coastal Trail starting here.

  read more »

• Lighthouse Field State Beach // California

  

  Lighthouse Field State Beach lies at the north end of Monterey Bay in downtown Santa Cruz, and can be accessed via West Cliff Drive. A protected state park covering 15 hectares, it overlooks the famous Steamer Lane surf break, making it incredibly popular with experienced surfers and body boarders.

  The beach itself is formed of flat, lightly-coloured sands surrounded by smooth platforms of sedimentary rock that act as the foundations for the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse built in 1967.

  Once known as Point Santa Cruz, behind the beach visitors will… read more »

• Cowell Beach // California

  

  Cowell Beach is located on the westside of Santa Cruz's wood-built municipal wharf in the downtown district. Stretching from the wharf to the cliffs overlooked by West Cliff Drive, this broad sweep of golden sand is popular for a number of reasons.

  Beyond the delights of its sands, it is close to the amusements of the boardwalk, and is also popular for those looking to be a little more active than basking in the Californian sun, and there are a good number of courts marked out for anyone interested in a… read more »

• Dockweiler State Beach // California

  

  This vast beach, which sits just three miles away from Los Angeles' international airport is a near-four mile stretch of soft golden sand on California's south east coast.

  Its proximity to the airport makes it a top spot for seeing the aeroplanes take off, but there's a lot more to this beach than plane spotting.

  Among the many amenities here, you'll find fire pits, picnic facilities, showers and restrooms, and there are volleyball nets if you fancy working up a sweat.

  There's a bike path which runs alongside the beach too, which… read more »

• Redondo Beach State Park // California

  

  This 1.5 mile-long stretch of shoreline is jam-packed with activities and facilities, which keep visitors coming back time and time again.

  At the far north of the beach you'll find the magnificent pier. It's a great place for a spot of fishing, and there are plenty of bars, shops and restaurants here too, with plenty of variety on the menus. Naturally as you'd expect, there are plenty of fresh seafood places to choose from.

  The pier end is where the crowds are at their busiest, and as you head further down the… read more »

• Bowling Ball Beach // California

  

  The intriguing name of this California beach comes from the rounded boulders up to a metre in diameter which sit on its cliff-lined sands. Part of Schooner Gulch State Beach, Bowling Ball Beach lies a short distance south of Point Arena along Highway One. To reach it from the highway, you need to take the right-hand trail.

  The unusual geological phenomenon responsible for the near-spherical rocks is known as "concretion" and is the result of the local sandstone being bound together by naturally occurring cements. It is a process that would… read more »

• Montara State Beach // California

  

  Located a little over 30 kilometres south of San Francisco, west of Highway 1 and nestled between bounding low hills, this beach boasts a sandy shore and high bluffs. Montara Mountain, also known as McNee Ranch, looms above to the east. 

  Beachgoers here can enjoy basking in the sun and recharging their batteries. People also flock here to take a relaxing stroll on the soft sand along the seashore. Although this beach is in a less developed area, you can find restaurants and grocery stores nearby in the towns of… read more »

• Second Beach // Washington

  

  Second Beach, located near La Push on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, is a stunning coastal destination known for its dramatic sea stacks, often wild seas and rugged natural beauty. Part of Olympic National Park, the beach is accessed via a short but scenic hike through lush coastal rainforest. Moss-draped trees and ferns create an almost mystical atmosphere before opening up to the expansive shoreline.

  The beach itself features soft, golden sand framed by towering cliffs and scattered driftwood, bleached and shaped by the elements of the Pacific coast. Offshore, huge sea… read more »

• More Mesa Beach // California

  

  More Mesa Beach near Santa Barbara is a secluded sandy beach between Arroyo Burro and Goleta Beach.

  It is accessed from Mockingbird Lane in the Vista La Cumbre development, however there is no parking in that area so you need to park on Puente or Vieja Drive. Enter the park and walk about ¼ mile across the open cliff top towards the ocean and look for a steep path down to the narrow beach. The local rule is that turning right leads to the clothing-optional area while turning left… read more »

• Lester Beach // California

  

  Forming the northern trailhead of the 20 mile Rubicon Trail, Lester Beach is located on the western shores of Lake Tahoe. Facing roughly northeast, it stretches in a thin ribbon for approximately a mile, with its widest portions being at its south-eastern end. It then links to the much shorter Calawee Cove Beach.

  Together, both beaches are sometimes known as Bliss Beach, since they form the shoreline of D. L. Bliss State Park, named after a railroad boss whose family donated the land. It contains Rubicon Point Light, the lighthouse with… read more »

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