Santa Cruz Beaches

1. Natural Bridges State Beach

As soon as you step foot on Natural Bridges State Beach, you'll see why Santa Cruz is seen as one of California's best beach towns. An untouched spot on the Santa Cruz coastline, Natural Bridges State Beach is home to some stunning rock formations, including natural arches that have formed from erosion over time and are very pretty spots to snap some selfies.

The local park is filled with scenic hiking trails and home to a lot of wildlife, including many different species of seabirds and a lot of pretty butterflies too. In short, if you’re a nature lover, you definitely won’t want to miss out on this Santa Cruz beach. Map

2. Seabright State Beach

A very big beach, Seabright State Beach stands out for the pretty local lighthouse and sailboats that are often seen here. Open all day long, this beach is a popular place for locals and travelers to gather in the evenings, with various fire pits open for public use.

Lighting up a beach bonfire is a lot of fun, but the pits are provided on a first-come, first-served basis and can be very popular, so it can often pay off to arrive early and stake your claim before other people begin to arrive.

This beach is also conveniently located near the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, which is a nice place to spend a few hours in between sunbathing sessions. Map

3. Capitola Beach

If you're in Santa Cruz and heading to the beach, you simply can't miss out on Capitola Beach. It's one of the most popular coastal locations in the area, ideally located near the stores and eateries of Capitola town.

Everyone from families with young kids to couples looking for a romantic spot to hold hands and stroll around will find something to love about this beach.

Colorful hotels and wide sandy spaces are seen in every direction, but there's not too much shade here so you might want to bring your own umbrella or beach tent. Map

4. Lighthouse Field State Beach

Lighthouse Field State Beach is named for the impressive lighthouse found up at the far end of the beach, which is dominated by large rocks and grassy spaces. Further down the coat, soft sands and crashing waves provide a perfect setting for a relaxing afternoon stroll.

This is also one of the only dog-friendly beaches in Santa Cruz, so if you're looking to spend some quality time with your furry, four-legged friend, Lighthouse Field State Beach is the place to be. Locals even nickname this place 'Dog Beach' due to the fact that it's almost impossible to visit without seeing some happy pups splashing around among the waves. This beach also tends to be less crowded than some of the others, so it's a nice place to come if you're in need of peace and quiet. Map

5. Twin Lakes State Beach

Not far from the aforementioned Seabright Beach, Twin Lakes State Beach is very popular, especially on warm, sunny days. This beach is lined with a lot of top quality bars and restaurants, meaning you'll never have to go hungry or thirsty and can spend a full day here without ever needing to leave. Bonfires are popular on this beach and many people can be spotted playing games or splashing around at the water's edge as well. There's also a rental store offering kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, so if you want to head out on the waves and explore the coastline, Twin Lakes State Beach is a fine place to start. Map

6. Pleasure Point Beach

Pleasure Point Beach is mainly a surfing beach, offering very little in the way of sand. The “beach” lies at the end of a flight of stairs, leading to the water from Pleasure Point Park on the elevated bluff above the water. Although there is not much sand, the beach is very popular with surfers and there is a long rocky ledge where spectators can watch the surfing action.

The Pleasure Point Park boasts benches and picnic tables, restrooms and showers. The park is backed by East Cliff Drive, a scenic waterfront promenade popular with cyclists, skate boarders and surfers.

Pleasure Point Beach, East Cliff Drive at 32nd Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062

7. Santa Cruz Main Beach

Also known as Boardwalk Beach, the Santa Cruz Main Beach is a popular and bustling beach which attracts visitors all year round. The beach is backed by a long boardwalk featuring an amusement park, bowling alley and many restaurants and other entertainment options. The beach itself is quite wide and sandy but even though it is a large beach it is often packed with sun worshippers, swimmers and surfers. The beach boasts great waves which has earned it a reputation as one of the best surfing beaches in the area. You can also enjoy a game of beach volley ball or rent a kayak and do some paddling.

Santa Cruz Main Beach, 399 Beach Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, 831 423 5590

8. Panther Beach

A little wild and wonderful, Panther Beach is a remote sandy beach located north of Santa Cruz, close to Davenport. The beach gets its name from several cat-like shapes which (some) visitors can see in the steep cliffs which lead down to the beach. Swimming can be dangerous on this beach due to frequent rip tides. When the tide goes out an opening in the rocky wall provides access to another remote beach called Hole-In-the-Wall. It is perfectly safe to visit during low tide but be sure to get back to Panther Beach before the tide comes in and cuts off the rocky opening. Both of these beaches are considered to be clothing-optional. Map

Panther Beach, Cabrillo Hwy, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

9. New Brighton State Beach

New Brighton State Beach is named for the coastal resort of Brighton in England, and can be found just south of Santa Cruz in the town of Capitola. New Brighton is a very scenic strip of beach backed by crumbing sandstone cliffs and forested bluffs. Visitors come to this beach to enjoy swimming, wading, boogie-boarding, SUP and surfing.

There is an on-site provision store and restrooms and showers are available on the beach. If you would like to linger a bit longer you can bring your RV or tent to the large camp ground which can accommodate up to 97 RVs and several tent campers.

New Brighton State Beach, 1500 Park Ave, Capitola, CA 95010, 831 464 6329

10. Bonny Doon Beach

Located north of Santa Cruz, where Hwy 1 meets Bonny Doon Rd, Bonny Doon Beach is a popular sandy beach close to the town of Davenport. There is a large parking area and visitors will need to cross the railway line to access the beach. Bonny Doon is a visually stunning beach, surrounded by rocky walls and backed by sand dunes. The Liddell creek flows through the rock wall and around the south end of the beach en-route to the ocean, affording wonderful paddling and wading opportunities for children. The beach is considered to be clothing-optional and there are many hidden sandy coves where you can soak up the sun and enjoy some privacy. Map

Bonny Doon Beach, Cabrillo Hwy and Bonny Doon Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95060