Top Beaches on the West Coast of the USA

• Lands End Beach // California

  

  Close to San Francisco, Lands End Beach is a clothing-optional beach which is particularly quiet and private during weekdays.

  To reach it, drive west along Geary Blvd and take a right at the fork onto Point Lobos Ave. You can park by continuing along to a large car park or by turning right again onto El Camino del Mar and parking at the end. There's a trail leading down the steep cliffs and it's a 10-15 minute hike culminating in rough steps to the beach.

  On weekends, the beach… read more »

• Pirates Cove // California

  

  Another California gem for naturists, Pirate's Cove is midway between Avila Beach and Shell Beach / Pismo Beach.

  This south-facing cove is sheltered which is probably why it is favoured as a nudist beach. Its secluded position and rocky caves would have made the beach a natural hideaway for smugglers when ships heading to Port San Luis Harbour dropped off smuggled liquor.

  Despite its name and notoriety, Pirate's Cove has no known connections with pirates. There were legends of treasure buried long ago by Sir Francis Drake but no… read more »

• Laguna Creek Beach // California

  

  Laguna Creek Beach is within Coast Dairies State Park in Santa Cruz on Cabrillo Hwy. It is popular for sunbathing, birdwatching, exploring tidal pools and surfing. It is also unofficially a naturist clothing-optional beach, just so you know.

  There is a free parking lot at the north entrance of Laguna Road off Hwy 1. Cross the highway and look for a well-trod trail through the vegetation. Cross the railroad track with care and pick up the wide trail along the old road that leads down to Laguna Creek Beach.… read more »

• Moolack Beach // Oregon

  

  Moolack Beach lies approximately four miles north of Newport, Lincoln County. Entirely undeveloped, it then stretches for a further five miles of sand, although the beach's width and evenness is highly variable, since the sand is built up and then taken away naturally over the seasons.

  Taking its unusual name from the word for elk in the Chinook Jargon native American language, it is bounded by Yaquina Head Lighthouse at its southernmost end. This is the tallest lighthouse in Oregon at nearly a hundred feet high. Its northern end is met… read more »

• Rockaway Beach // Oregon

  

  Rockaway Beach lies on Oregon's north Pacific coast close to Portland. And while the PR agencies have coined the phrase "where the mountains meet the sea" to describe it, we're far more interested with the almost white sands that seem to stretch for eternity here.

  Measure them, and they come out at a mere seven miles, which unsurprisingly means the beach remains uncrowded despite the fact there are plenty of places to stay nearby.

  Laid-back and family-friendly, the big draw is the vistas from Rockaway Beach. Few can fail to be impressed… read more »

• Nye Beach // Oregon

  

  Nye Beach is located within the bounds of the city of Newport, Lincoln County, within a district sharing its name. As a result, there are plenty of places to eat, stay, shop, and even rent sports equipment including surf boards.

  Nye Beach attracts a diverse crowd. As well as surfers, a fair number of beachcombers and tidal pool enthusiasts also visit. Swimming is not uncommon, especially during the summer months when the ocean temperature rises. The fishing here is generally excellent, as demonstrated by the presence of whales off the coast,… read more »

• Short Sand Beach // Oregon

  

  A two-hour drive from Portland, Short Sand Beach is anything but short, running in a continuous ribbon of sand for somewhere over four miles. Located within Oswald West State Park, it's popular with both surfers and body boarders, who call it Shorty's. They come for the shorebreak off Smuggler's Cove, which protected by jutting arms of the surrounding cliffs, offers relatively consistent waves throughout the year.

  To reach Short Sand Beach you have to be prepared to walk a few hundred yards through mature coastal forest from the main car park.… read more »

• Stonefield Beach // Oregon

  

  Close to Newport, Stonefield Beach is as wild and undeveloped as Oregon beaches get. Cared for by the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department, it is a quiet beach that runs for just a couple of hundred yards or so before being bounded by Ten Mile Creek.

  The sand of Stonefield Beach is broken up by eruptions of natural rock – ancient lava flows some 40 million years old. They make Stonefield Beach somewhere to come and admire the area's natural beauty, with the chance of catching sight of migrating gray… read more »

• Crescent Beach // Oregon

  

  Crescent Beach is a secluded beach within Ecola State Park. Located between Ecola and Chapman Points, its wide dark sands are reached via the 3.2-kilometre Crescent Beach Trail. Along the way, you'll encounter a small waterfall, and also the possibility of elk. The beach itself is known to be used by populations of seals and sealions, while migrating gray and killer whales can sometimes be seen in deeper waters.

  In addition to a rarely-used expanse of sand, Crescent Beach also has some tidal pools, revealing all manner of sea life at… read more »

• Ocean Beach, San Diego // California

  

  Ocean Beach extends south from San Diego River to Sunset Cliffs and is popular for surfing and sunbathing. Known locally as OB, this beautiful sandy city beach has the archetypal laidback SoCal beach vibe.

  There are various different section including an area for surfing only, swimming only and there's a dog-friendly section although pets must be kept on a leash.

  At the south end of the beach, the ½ mile long OB Pier (one of the longest in California) is popular for fishing (no license required) and has sweeping views… read more »

• Windansea Beach // California

  

  Located in the charming coastal town of La Jolla, Windansea Beach is found at the west end of Westbourne and Nautilus streets. It takes its name from the phrase "wind and sea" and there was once a hotel of the same name which burned down in the 1940s.

  In the same era, the legendary Windansea Surf Club was formed which was as much about partying as it was surfing. Many famous surfers were members in the 1960s including Chuck Hasely, Mike Hynson, Skip Frye and Billy Caster.

  This city beach… read more »

• Mitchell Cove Beach // California

  

  The Santa Cruz beach of Mitchell's Cove is marked by a pinnacle of sandstone that stands right at the centre of its sands. South facing, much of the depth of the beach is lost during high tide, although there is the possibility of catching sight of migrating grey whales.

  Free parking is available at the top of the steps that lead down the cliff to the beach, between the turnings for Woodrow and Almar Avenues on West Cliff Drive. Dogs can be taken off their leads from 4 pm to… read more »

• Carmel Beach // California

  

  Located in the town of Carmel-by-the-Sea, in central California's Monterey County, Carmel Beach is formed of a stunning arc of pale sand that runs for close to a mile in length. Edged by vegetation to one side and clear Pacific waters to the other, it looks almost tropical in appearance.

  Despite slightly chilly water temperatures, which top out at around 61°F/16°C, Carmel Beach is a popular surfing spot. It is also a favourite with dog owners, since their canine family members are able to enjoy the sands off the lead.

  Fires are… read more »

• San Clemente State Beach // California

  

  Found at the southern end of the city of San Clemente in California, San Clemente State Beach is a favourite with water sports enthusiasts. Set below attractive cliffs, its light-coloured sands continue for some over a mile in length, although much of its breadth can be lost with the high tide.

  Family-friendly and accessible to those with reduced mobility it is no surprise that San Clemente State Beach can become particularly busy during the summer months. There are excellent, if varied opportunities for surfing, and the chance for land-based whale watching… read more »

• Salt Creek Beach // California

  

  Orange County's Salt Creek Beach is named after the stream which runs across the northern part of the beach during wetter times of year. Backed by scrub, the beach consists of a wide ribbon of sand paired with the lawns of Bluff Park, which is almost three hectares in size. It has a good number of picnic tables for anyone looking to enjoy an al fresco meal.

  Those looking to be a little more action will appreciate the beach volleyball, and the basketball half-court. In the waves, a reef just offshore… read more »

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