The Best California Beaches
- Garrapata State Park Beach
- Rockaway Beach
- Sharp Park Beach
- Fan Shell Beach
- Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge
- Jalama Beach County Park
- Manresa State Beach
- Rodeo Beach
- Thornton State Beach
- Hermosa Beach
- Pacific Beach
- Redondo Beach
- McClures Beach
- Long Beach
- Kings Beach
- California beach map
Page 6 out of 11
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76. Garrapata State Park Beach // Central California
Scottb211 Garrapata State Park Beach is a rugged and breathtaking stretch of coastline along California's famed Highway 1, just south of Carmel-by-the-Sea. This wild and unspoiled beach is part of a state park, which includes over 4,000 acres of dramatic cliffs, hidden coves, and scenic hiking trails. With its golden sand, crashing Pacific waves, and stunning views, Garrapata captures the essence of Big Sur's raw beauty.
The beach itself is… read more »
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77. Rockaway Beach // Northern California
Larnax Great for:- Surfing
Visited by over 1 million people every year, this popular, almost chocolate-brown colored sandy beach is located in Pacifica, which is a 20 minute drive south of San Francisco. The beach is easily accessible and parking is nearby so you won't have to worry about any long hikes through the mountains to get here. This is a great place to come relax and enjoy the ocean views.
It is right… read more »
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78. Sharp Park Beach // Northern California
Great for:- Fishing
- Surfing
Not far from the hectic city life of downtown San Francisco lies one of California's few black sand beaches. Further inland, the grains of sand are finer and as you go towards the water's edge the grains become more pebble-like. A little way back from the beach, there is a narrow strip of land with grass, picnic tables and benches.
North of the park is the Pacifica Municipal Fishing Pier.… read more »
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79. Fan Shell Beach // Central California
Clotee Pridgen Allochuku Fan Shell Beach is a picturesque little stretch of coastline along the famous 17-Mile Drive in Pebble Beach. With its rugged beauty, soft white sand, and stunning ocean views, this beach is a favourite stop for visitors exploring the Monterey Peninsula.
During spring and early summer, the beach is a key nesting site for Brandt’s cormorants, making it an excellent location for birdwatching. The surrounding rocks and tide pools are home… read more »
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80. Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge // Central California
© Shawn Milar The Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes is one of the largest coastal dune ecosystems in California, stretching along the coast between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. This vast and dynamic landscape features towering sand dunes, pristine beaches, and a rich diversity of plant and animal life. It is part of the larger dunes complex and a key site for both conservation and outdoor recreation.
Visitors can hike through rolling sand hills,… read more »
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81. Jalama Beach County Park // Central California
John Murphy Great for:- Fishing
- Surfing
- Kitesurfing
Jalama Beach is set on a remote stretch of the Santa Barbara County coastline. It is a rugged and windswept expanse of sand known for its natural beauty, good surf, and relative remoteness. Tucked away at the end of a long, winding road off Highway 1, this hidden gem offers visitors a true escape from the busier beaches of Southern California.
Jalama beach is a favourite among surfers, thanks to… read more »
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82. Manresa State Beach // Central California
Naotake Murayama Great for:- Fishing
- Surfing
Manresa State Beach is a beautiful, wide stretch of golden sand located on the Monterey Bay coastline just outside Santa Cruz. Despite this the beach has something of a remote feel and the lack of commercial development making it a perfect escape for those looking to experience California's natural coastal beauty.
The beach is popular with surfers, especially those looking for a less crowded alternative to Santa Cruz's busier surf… read more »
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83. Rodeo Beach // Northern California
Youngti548 Great for:- Surfing
Set near the tip of the Marin Headlands is Rodeo Beach, a narrow strip of pebbly sand dividing the Pacific Ocean from the brackish waters of Rodeo Lagoon. On closer inspection you may notice the sand contains weather-worn particles of red jasper, greenstone and orange chalcedony from the adjacent cliffs.
Rodeo Beach is quite a popular family beach and there are some basic facilities. You can also bring the dog. The… read more »
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84. Thornton State Beach // Northern California
Peter Kaminski Great for:- Fishing
Birds in search of a tasty morsel can be seen along the shoreline of this brown sandy beach just south of San Francisco. Positioned below tall bluffs, this park is popular with hikers, boasting equestrian trails on the bluff terraces high above the waterline. There's only a few parking spots nearby and the locals like it that way so it doesn't get overcrowded. You won't find the hordes of… read more »
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85. Hermosa Beach // Southern California
Great for:- Fishing
- Swimming
- Surfing
Hermosa's two-mile swathe of golden sand is one of the most popular stretches in Los Angeles County.
With 94 acres of beach to stretch out on and top-notch conditions for surfing, it attracts visitors of all ages.
At the heart of the beach is the historic pier, which has had pride of place for more than 50 years. If you fancy doing a bit of fishing then this is the perfect place… read more »
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86. Pacific Beach // Southern California
Fastily Great for:- Fishing
- Swimming
- Surfing
Pacific Beach is the name of both the beach and this neighborhood of San Diego. Known locally as P.B. this stretch of sand runs between La Jolla and Mission Beach.
At the heart of Pacific Beach is the Crystal Pier which dates back to the 1920s. The main beach is the area to the south of the pier, whilst the other side is known as North Pacific Beach.
Running the entire 3.2… read more »
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87. Redondo Beach // Northern California
btwashburn Great for:- Surfing
Forming the third point in a triangle alongside San Francisco to the north and San Jose to the east, Redondo Beach is part of a continuous string of sand beaches on Half Moon Bay that each have their own name and ambience.
One of the quieter stretches of bleached sand on the bay, Redondo Beach is still close to a variety of stores and food outlets. It's backed by cliffs forming… read more »
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88. McClures Beach // Northern California
Buddha Dog McClures Beach lies at the very end of Pierce Point Road, from where walkers head out on the Tomales Point Trailhead. Facing west into the broad expanse of the Pacific blue, rip currents make swimming dangerous, although there is plenty to do on the broad sweep of golden sands instead. Situated between two short headlands, the beach can't be seen from the car park, but is just a few hundred… read more »
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89. Long Beach // Southern California
Greg Gjerdingen Great for:- Swimming
- Kitesurfing
You'll find this golden stretch of sand along California's southern coastline, just a 30-minute drive away from Los Angeles.
All the essentials are in place here, including lifeguard posts, showers, restrooms, and lots of parking spots nearby. And there's a promenade backing on to the beach that is particularly popular with cyclists and skaters.
As for the beach itself, there's usually plenty of elbow room as this isn't the busiest of… read more »
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90. Kings Beach // Lake Tahoe
Ken Lund Great for:- Swimming
Kings Beach sits on the stumpy promontory that drops down from the northern shores of Lake Tahoe. On the California side of the state line, it lies on Agate Bay and extends for around a quarter-mile. The neat gridiron of streets stretching inland means beachgoers are never far from parking, places to eat and drink, or somewhere to try their hand at minigolf.
Covered by snowfall in the winter months, Kings… read more »
