Kiran and Shreeyeh take a selfie with the stunning coastal cliffs of Santa Cruz in the background. One of the best 21 Things to Do in Santa Cruz is to enjoy breathtaking ocean views and take in the fresh sea air along the cliffs.

Many beaches offer beautiful scenery but still leave visitors wanting more atmosphere and personality. The ones that stay with you are where natural beauty blends with local culture in a way that feels effortless and real. That feeling comes alive in Santa Cruz, where hidden coves, rugged cliffs, and glowing shoreline views create something truly special.

This listicle shares 19 beautiful beaches that show why this California town feels almost unreal.

1. Natural Bridges State Beach

The famous Natural Bridges rock formation at dusk, located in Santa Cruz, one of the coastal highlights included in the 27 Best Things To Do In Monterey County.
Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Natural Bridges State Beach is a unique and scenic spot known for its natural mudstone arch, one of the best beaches in Santa Cruz. Originally, there were three arches formed from a large cliff, but only the central one remains today. This 65-acre sandy beach offers hiking, tide pools, and opportunities to see monarch butterflies, birds, and other wildlife.

Amenities: 

  • Restrooms
  • Showers
  • Parking
  • Picnic Area
  • Accessible features available

2. Santa Cruz Main Beach

A wide view of Santa Cruz Main Beach with volleyball nets on the sand, and the historic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk amusement park in the background.
Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Santa Cruz Main Beach is a large, popular beach best known for the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, an amusement park with over 40 attractions, including rides, games, and mini-golf. It’s a great spot for a full day of fun, with historic landmarks like the 1924 Giant Dipper roller coaster and the 1911 Looff Carousel. Located near downtown Santa Cruz, this beach offers plenty of space for swimming, walking, and picnicking, with views of the Santa Cruz Wharf.

Amenities:

  • Parking (Lots adjacent to Boardwalk and street parking available) 
  • Restrooms
  • Shops 
  • Restaurants
  • Gift Shops
  • Amusement Park

Need help planning a trip here? Grab our free 2-day Santa Cruz itinerary. Reach out for a custom itinerary that fits your needs.

3. Lighthouse Field State Beach

A historic red-brick lighthouse with a white lantern tower stands under a clear blue sky. Bicycles are parked nearby, and an American flag waves in the breeze.
Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Lighthouse Field State Beach is famous for its 1967 lighthouse, which houses the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, California’s first surfing museum. The museum showcases over 100 years of surfing history with cool items like surfboards and photographs, and you can grab unique surfing souvenirs from the gift shop. Also known as Point Santa Cruz, this beach is home to Steamer Lane, a popular spot to watch both beginner and pro surfers catch waves.

Amenities:

  • Parking
  • Restrooms
  • Outdoor Showers
  • Picnic Area

4. Cowell Beach

A dramatic scene at Cowell Beach, with stormy clouds above, waves rolling onto the shore, and the wooden Santa Cruz Wharf extending into the ocean.
Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Cowell Beach, just minutes north of Steamer Lane, is a favorite spot for locals to enjoy hot days with views of the Santa Cruz Wharf. It’s about a 10-minute walk to the Wharf, where you’ll find seafood restaurants, souvenir shops, and scenic viewpoints. Popular activities at Cowell Beach include volleyball, swimming, sunbathing, and surfing, making it a great place for beginners to catch some waves.

Amenities:

  • Restrooms
  • Parking (Street parking or on the pier available)
  • Wharf pier

5. Seabright State Beach

A coastal view of Seabright Beach with natural rock formations in the foreground, surfers in the water, and the Santa Cruz Wharf in the distance.
Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Seabright State Beach is a quieter and calmer spot compared to other Santa Cruz beaches, with its sandy shores and fewer crowds. At the east end, you’ll find the 40-foot Walton Lighthouse, reminiscent of East Coast lighthouses. Located between the San Lorenzo River and Santa Cruz Harbor, it’s a great place to relax and boat watch, and it’s just a 5-minute walk from the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History.

Amenities:

  • Restrooms
  • Outdoor showers
  • Limited parking
  • Museum

6. Capitola Beach

A scenic sunset at Capitola Beach, with pastel-colored Mediterranean-style buildings lining the waterfront and a wooden pier stretching into the calm ocean.
Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Capitola Beach is the best beach near Santa Cruz for its colorful buildings, pier, and the charming town of Capitola. The bright and colorful architecture of the Capitola Venetian Hotel, reflecting beautifully on Soquel Creek, makes this beach incredibly picturesque. With a fishing pier, mellow waves for beginner surfers, and nearby dining and shopping options, Capitola Beach is perfect for a full day of exploring and making new memories.

Amenities:

  • Restrooms
  • Metered street parking
  • Showers
  • Pier 
  • Restaurants 
  • Shops

7. Shark Fin Cove

The dramatic landscape of Shark Fin Cove, with its distinctive shark fin-shaped rock jutting out from the ocean, nestled between steep cliffs, one of the more secluded spots among the 19 best beaches near Santa Cruz.
Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Shark Fin Cove gets its name from the shark fin-shaped rock in the center of the beach. Located off HWY 1, it’s a great stop with a steep hike down to the beach, where you can explore a sea cave. Just remember to bring a flashlight if you’re staying until sunset. The area has old railroad tracks perfect for vintage photos, but be aware that there are no amenities, and dogs are not allowed due to the steep and potentially unsafe trail.

Amenities:

  • Parking at the parking lot or on the road
  • Cave

8. Black’s Beach

A beach with gentle waves washing onto the sand, backed by a rugged cliff with a modern house perched on top. A single windswept tree stands at the edge of the cliff, and the sky is overcast with thick clouds.
Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Black’s Beach, also known as Lincoln Beach or 14th Ave Beach, is a quiet local spot in the Live Oak area of Santa Cruz, just southeast of Twin Lakes State Beach. Less crowded than other beaches, it’s perfect for sunbathing, surfing, and picnicking. Weekend parking requires a permit from April through Labor Day, but you can park at Twin Lakes State Beach on 9th Ave and walk over. Access points are at the end of 12th, 13th, and 14th Avenues.

Amenities:

  • Lifeguards
  • Restrooms
  • Benches

 9. Rio Del Mar Beach

A sandy beach with a yellow sign reading "Rio del Mar Beach" and listing beach rules. A few people walk along the shore under a partly cloudy sky, with the ocean stretching out behind them.
Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Rio Del Mar Beach is a less crowded spot where you can see wildlife like whales and dolphins and enjoy activities like paddle boarding. The beach has fire pits for bonfires (check if permitted) and unique clams and shells to collect. Nearby, there are shops, restaurants, and impressive beach houses on cliffs.

Amenities:

  • Restrooms
  • Parking
  • Showers
  • Picnic areas

10. Pleasure Point

A rocky shoreline with waves crashing under a cloudy sky. A wooden staircase leads down the cliffside to the beach, surrounded by lush greenery and yellow wildflowers.
Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Pleasure Point is perfect for surfing, especially on weekdays when it’s less crowded. You can learn to surf here, and the hike down from the bluff with your board gives you a true surfer vibe. Even if you don’t surf, it’s a great spot to relax and watch others ride the waves.

Amenities:

  • Restrooms
  • Showers
  • Picnic Area
  • Limited Parking

11. Manresa Main State Beach

A peaceful cove at Manresa Main State Beach, with two people walking near the water, waves rolling onto the shore, and a house nestled among the trees.
Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Manresa Main State Beach is a great spot for expert surfers seeking bigger waves, with beautiful views of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Though the beach has rip currents and sharks, there are calmer areas for beginners, and it’s less crowded and cleaner than others nearby. You can enjoy wildlife like crabs and sand dollars, making it a perfect place to surf and explore nature.

Amenities:

  • Parking – $10 vehicle day-use fee
  • Restrooms
  • Showers
  • Picnic Area
  • Campground

12. Sunset State Beach

A lush, grassy picnic area at Sunset State Beach, surrounded by tall, windswept cypress trees, with the ocean peeking through in the distance.
Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Sunset State Beach is perfect for kids, with fewer tourists and plenty of space to play in the soft white sand. The beach has 200-foot high sand dunes and is great for finding sand dollars and crabs. You can camp out and enjoy a sunset over Monterey Bay, and during summer or fall, you might even see bottlenose dolphins.

Amenities:

  • Parking – $10 vehicle day-use fee
  • Restrooms
  • Showers
  • Campground
  • Picnic Area

13. Sunny’s Cove

A serene beach cove in Santa Cruz, California, with gentle waves washing onto the shore. The lush green cliffs contrast with the sandy beach, while houses line the hill in the background.
Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Sunny Cove Beach is a sandy, secluded cove in eastern Santa Cruz, framed by low sandstone bluffs. Access paths lead down from 16th Avenue, Johans Beach Drive, and Sunny Cove Drive. The Live Oak area requires a parking permit on weekends, so plan ahead to avoid a ticket. While it is a great spot for sunbathing, bodyboarding, and skim-boarding, be cautious – strong rip currents can make swimming dangerous. Dogs are allowed on a leash, but there are no facilities at this beach.

14. Twin Lakes State Beach

A view of Twin Lakes State Beach with a long black pipe on the sand leading toward the distant Walton Lighthouse under a gray sky.
Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Twin Lakes State Beach, near the Walton Lighthouse, is great for watching sailboats and ships close to Santa Cruz Harbor. It’s a small beach, but there’s plenty to do, like having bonfires at the fire pits. You can also hike around Schwan Lagoon to watch birds, and nearby restaurants and coffee shops are perfect for a quick snack.

Amenities:

  • Restrooms
  • Showers
  • Parking (free during off-season)
  • Shops
  • Restaurants

15. Seacliff State Beach

A view of Seacliff State Beach in California, featuring the partially sunken remains of the SS Palo Alto, a concrete ship off the coast. White-capped waves roll onto the sandy shore, while a wooden fence lines the beach. The bright blue sky reflects on the shimmering ocean surface.
Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Seacliff State Beach features the historic SS Palo Alto, a World War I concrete ship known as “The Cement Boat.” You can learn about the ship’s history, watch the sunset, and camp overnight at the beach. The visitor center offers educational info, and the park store has fun souvenirs related to the ship.

Amenities:

  • Parking – $10 vehicle day-use fee
  • Restrooms
  • Showers
  • Pier
  • Campground
  • Picnic Area
  • Old Ship

16. Santa Maria Beach

A rugged shoreline with jagged rocks and green coastal vegetation lining the edge of the land. Powerful ocean waves roll towards the shore under a cloudy sky.
Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Santa Maria Beach is a small, less crowded spot with great waves and cool tide pools where you can find starfish, fish, and even octopi. It’s perfect for picnics or bonfires, and you might even see dolphins at sunset. The western side of the beach is the best place to explore the tide pools, and it’s next to the Corcoran Lagoon for walking or biking.

Amenities:

  • Limited Parking (Permit required on the weekends)

17. Two-Six Beach (26th Avenue)

A wooden staircase descends towards the ocean as large waves crash against the rocky shore. The horizon stretches under a partly cloudy sky, and a distant coastline is visible in the background.
Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Two-Six Beach is a small, secluded beach between Moran Lake and Corcoran Lagoon on the east side of Santa Cruz. Lined with boulder piles to protect nearby homes from erosion, this quiet spot is great for sunbathing, beach walks, and surfing. A county stairwell provides access from the tiny three-car parking lot at the end of 26th Avenue, but if spaces are full, parking at Moran Lake Park and walking over is an option. Some refer to it as 26th Street Beach, despite being on 26th Avenue. Dogs are allowed on a leash, but there are no facilities.

18. Moran Lake Beach

A rocky shoreline with ocean waves washing over a wet concrete ramp, leading towards a beachfront house with lush greenery. The sky is overcast with dark clouds, and a line of trees stands on the right side.
Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Moran Lake Beach, tucked in the Live Oak area of Santa Cruz, sits across from Moran Lake Park, which offers parking, restrooms, and a scenic trail. A short walk across Cliff Drive leads to a small pocket beach surrounded by oceanfront homes. At low tide, you can walk north along rocky barriers to Corcoran Lagoon Beach. Avoid swimming when the lagoon flows into the ocean. Popular for surfing, fishing, sunbathing, and birdwatching, this spot also welcomes leashed dogs.

19. New Brighton State Beach

A dramatic ocean scene with rolling waves breaking in the distance. The misty coastline is visible beyond the turbulent water, and a bird's wing is partially visible in the top right corner.
Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

New Brighton State Beach is a dog-friendly spot where dogs must be on a leash at all times, offering beautiful views of Monterey Bay. The beach is warmer than others, thanks to the coastal sandstone bluffs that block the wind, and it’s surrounded by trees like oak and eucalyptus. You can also visit the Pacific Migrations Visitor Center nearby to learn about the history of people and wildlife in the Pacific Rim.

Amenities:

  • Parking – $10 vehicle day-use fee.
  • Restrooms 
  • Picnic Area
  • Showers
  • Campground

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Living in the San Francisco Bay Area, Shreeyeh Rajan is the founder of Bae Area and Beyond, a California blog with over 45,000 monthly readers and featured in more than 25 sites.

With a love for California that runs deep, Shreeyeh and her husband explore the Golden State every chance they get, from the beaches in Santa Cruz to the hiking trails of Yosemite.

Through her blog, Shreeyeh hopes to inspire readers to fall in love with California just like she did.