North Coast Beaches

North Coast Beaches Overview

What's a visit to California without going to the beach? California is sure to have something for everybody from the rocky, tumultuous shoreline of its north coast to the warm, wide-open, sandy beaches to the south. If you're looking for lots of activity and amenities such as restaurants, cantinas and shops, go to a beach with a pier. Piers are always a hub for locals and tourists alike where the layed-back, California spirit can be absorbed.

NOTE: Unfortunately, many beach cities in heavily populated regions of the state have negleted to appreciate their valuable resource. Many popular beaches including Huntington and Newport Beaches in Orange County, and Mission Bay in San Diego have regular beach closures throughout the year due to raw-sewage spills. To check on the currently water quality conditions, be sure to visit the Heal the Bay web site for details. Volunteer programs are also available for those wanting to take an active roll in keeping our beaches clean.

North Coast Beaches
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Pelican Beach is California's northern-most beach and crosses the Oregon border. This small beach is great for walks and beachcombing.

Pelican State Beach
US Highway 101 N. at Gilbert Way
Smith River, California 95567
(707) 464-6101 ext.5151
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Trinidad Beach is located approximately 20 miles north of Eureka. Bluffs of pine trees and descend to the beach, which is great for tidepool exploration.

Trinidad State Beach
4150 Patrick's Point Drive
Trinidad, California 95570
(707) 677-3570
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Little River Beach is located approximately 10 miles north of Eureka. This beach features a wide sandy beach with a freshwater river flowing in to the north and camping at a County Park to the south.

Little River State Beach
Trinidad, California 95570
(707) 488-2041
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MacKerricher Beach is located three miles north of Fort Bragg on PCH (highway 1 - Pacific Coast Highway), near the town of Cleone. This park is a tidal lagoon with tidepools, a bike trail that's also popular with joggers, sand dunes, freshwater lakes and camping near the ocean. Campsites are nestled in a redwood forest and offer shelter from the sometimes brisk ocean breezes. Other activities include horseback riding, swimming, hiking, and abalone diving.

NOTE: Check out our Cool Towns page for more on the nearby town of Fort Bragg.

TIP: This park is a family favorite for camping near the beach and the nearby, historic town of Fort Bragg.

MacKerricher State Beach
Fort Bragg, California 95437
(707) 964-9112
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Westport-Union Landing is located north of the towns of Fort Bragg and Westport. This was the site of an old sawmill. Lumber would be loaded on to schooners headed for far away locations. Today, a few remnants remain of Westport's past. This park offers camping on the bluffs and several beaches. Popular activities include photography and fishing for smelt, rock fish and abalone.

Westport-Union Landing State Beach
Westport, California 95488
(707) 937-5804
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Glass Beach is located on the north end of town in Fort Bragg. From the days of heavy logging until the late 1960's, this beach was the local dump. Today it has become a tourist attraction for all of the glass that has been rounded by the surf over the years and blended with the pebbley sand. Children as well as adults enjoy beachcombing for colorful glass pebbles and exploring the many tidepools.

Glass Beach
Elm Street & Old Haul Road
Fort Bragg, CA 95437
Map  |   Accommodations  |   No Website  |   Other Ideas

Caspar Headlands is located between Fort Bragg and Mendocino. This beach offers outstanding northern California coastal scenery. The beach is tucked back in a cove of jagged, rock cliffs that sporadically descend into the Pacific. Swimming, fishing and boating are the popular activities.

Caspar Headlands State Beach
Caspar, California 95420
(707) 937-5804
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Manchester Beach is located in the town of Manchester just north of Point Arena. Attractions include a huge sand beach that's known for large amounts of driftwood, grassy bluffs with wildflowers and flocks of sheep and salmon and steelhead fishing in the creeks. Acitivities include fishing, camping, swimming and nature viewing.

Manchester State Beach
Manchester, California 95459
(707) 882-2463
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Sonoma Coast is a series of beaches stretching from Bodega Bay to the south up the coast 17 miles and past the town of Jenner. There's something offered for everyone between all these beaches. Beaches include:

• Bodega Head forms the entrance to Bodega Harbor. Hiking trails across the bluffs lead to small cove beaches. Crabbing is popular along the harbor jetty.

• Goat Rock is a large sand beach with picnic tables and restroom facilities. The main attraction is the seal colony that live here.

• Shell Beach is known for its exceptional tidepools and fishing.

• Duncan's Landing was once a loading point for lumber company exports. Blooming wildflowers in the Spring draw tourists to the area.
  WARNING: Duncan's Landing is also known to have the most dangerous surf along the Sonoma Coast. We recommend staying off the rocks.

• Portuguese Beach & Schoolhouse Beach are large sand beaches popular with surf fisherman.

• Salmon Creek Beach offers two miles of large, sandy beach. The creek forms a freshwater lagoon on the beach. Fishing, picnicking, beachcombing and surfing are popular activities.

• Wright's Beach offers camping on the beach. Restroom facilities, running water, fire rings and picnic tables are provided. Bodega Dunes is nearby with shower facilities.

• Bodega Dunes offers a multitude of campsites as well as RV hookups. Facilities including hot showers are available. A classic boardwalk leads to a huge sandy beach.

• Willow Creek offers a few primitive campsites with no running water. Sites are along the Russian River and shaded by Willow trees. A large sandy beach is a short distance away.

• Pomo Canyon offers primitive camping a little further inland. Campsites are among a redwood forest and fern canopy. A three mile trail leads to Shell Beach. There is running water but no flushing toilets.

Sonoma Coast State Park
Bodega Bay, California 94923
(707) 875-3483
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Beaches by Region
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