The Best Northern California Beaches

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Page 2 out of 5

  • 16. Clam Beach

    Clam Beach
    Colby Gutierrez-Kraybill
    Great for:
    • Fishing

    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… read more »

  • 17. Montara State Beach

    Montara State Beach
    Vadim Manuylov
    Great for:
    • Surfing

    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… read more »

  • 18. College Cove Beach

    College Cove Beach

    Beautiful College Cove Beach is one of the finest beaches in North California. This public beach is near Trinidad, about 75 miles south of the California/Oregon border. College Cove Beach is the northern cove of Trinidad State Beach and has a more secluded atmosphere. It is separated from the main state beach by "The Portal", a natural arch through the rocks.

    The beach looks out to Pewetole Island, a… read more »

  • 19. Red Rock Beach

    Red Rock Beach
    Andrew Ballantyne

    Noted as one of the best nudist beaches in California, Red Rock Beach is just south of Stinson Beach in California. It has a steep trail leading down from the highway so wear sensible footwear to reach this remote wave-battered crescent of beach which is favoured by naturists. You can also reach it at low tide by walking along the sand and scrambling over the boulders at Rocky Point from… read more »

  • 20. Lands End Beach

    Lands End Beach
    Willis Lam

    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… read more »

  • 21. Marshall's Beach

    Marshall's Beach
    © Frank Schulenburg

    Located in San Francisco's Presidio park, which encloses an area of historic military installations at the southern end of the Golden Gate Bridge, Marshall's Beach is the closest beach to this icon of California and the United States.

    Offering exemplary views of the bridge, as well as of sunsets over Helmet Rock and the Pacific Ocean, its rich golden-brown sands are reached via boardwalk-style steps that lead down the low cliffs.… read more »

  • 22. Quarry Beach

    Quarry Beach
    Marcin Wichary

    Quarry Beach is one of two main beaches on Angel Island, which sits in San Francisco Bay, not far from Alcatraz Island. Found on the island's east coast its fine sands lie approximately two miles from the island's ferry terminal, beyond the historic Immigration Station and visitor centre which you'll likely be visiting in any case if heading to Angel Island.

    From California's mainland, the island can be reached by public… read more »

  • 23. Ocean Beach

    Ocean Beach
    K Danko
    Great for:
    • Surfing
    • Kitesurfing

    Stretching for over three miles between Cliff House and Fort Funston is Ocean Beach. The beach runs along much of San Francisco's westerly suburb, the aptly named Sunset. Despite this Ocean Beach still feels pretty wild, particularly towards the southern end where it is backed by dunes.

    Like the rest of San Francisco's beaches the weather can be somewhat hit and miss. It's generally a miss during the summer months… read more »

  • 24. Big River Beach

    Big River Beach
    ~jar{}
    Great for:
    • Fishing
    • Surfing

    Big River beach sits just to the south of the town of Mendocino, within the Mendocino Headlands State Park. The beach here is a wide expanse of pale-golden sand running along the northern bank of Big River as it flows into the Pacific.

    Access to the beach is pretty easy from Highway One, with a bridge crossing the river right above the central part of the beach.

    Big River beach is a… read more »

  • 25. Rockaway Beach

    Rockaway Beach
    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 »

  • 26. Sharp Park Beach

    Sharp Park Beach
    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 »

  • 27. Rodeo Beach

    Rodeo Beach
    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 »

  • 28. Thornton State Beach

    Thornton State Beach
    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 »

  • 29. Redondo Beach

    Redondo Beach
    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 »

  • 30. McClures Beach

    McClures Beach
    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 »