Central Coast State Park |
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Central Coast State Park Overview
The state park system is responsible for almost a third of California's scenic coastline. State parks include underwater preserves, parks, redwood forests, plant and wildlife reserves, state beaches, recreation areas, wilderness areas, reservoirs, historic parks & homes, Spanish buildings, lighthouses, ghost towns, waterslides, conference centers, and off-highway vehicle parks. Below you'll find a list of the more popular Central Coast state parks and ones we personally recommmend from Natural Bridges in Santa Cruz to El Capitan in Santa Barbara. State Park camping is a popular activity with most State Park campgrounds offering extra conveniences like flush toilets, running water and firewood. |
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Central Coast State ParkNatural Bridges is located just west of Santa Cruz. The park features hugh rock formation arches that rise from the ocean. A very large sandy beach, tidepools and coastal meadows are other natural features. Park amenities include picnic areas, restrooms, barbeques and a Visitor Center. The Seymour Marine Discovery Center is situated next to the park. From mid-October through February, over 100,000 Monarch butterflies make their home in the Monarch butterfly preserve that is located in the park. New Brighton State Beach is located off PCH (highway 1 - Pacific Coast Highway) in Capitola. This park features picnic areas, swimming, fishing, beach camping and a nearby forest of Monterey pine and Coastal Live Oak. This park is a great choice for camping by the beach. Sea Cliff State Beach is located off PCH (highway 1 - Pacific Coast Highway) in Aptos. This park features a large sandy beach popular for swimming. A pier ends at a partially sunken, concrete ship that used to be a source of entertainment. On the ship was a dance floor, cafe, swimming pool and carnival concessions. Today the ship is inaccessible but makes for good fishing off the pier. State Park camping is available for RV's only, no tents. Manresa State Beach is located off PCH (highway 1 - Pacific Coast Highway) west of Watsonville. This park features picnic areas, beach camping, swimming, fishing and clamming. This park is a good option for camping at the beach. Sunset State Beach is located off PCH (highway 1 - Pacific Coast Highway) in Watsonville. This park features pine trees, sand dunes, beach camping and ocean-side picnicking. Bordered by large agricultural fields west of the city of Watsonville, the beach is a year-round destination for locals and tourists alike. This park is a good option for camping by the beach. Salinas River State Beach is located between Monterey and Santa Cruz off PCH (highway 1 - Pacific Coast Highway) in Moss Landing. Wide sandy beach backed by sand dunes, farmlands and estuary. Activities include swimming, hiking, fishing, bird watching and horseback riding. Monterey State Beach is located along the northern side of beautiful Monterey, just past Fisherman's Wharf. The park includes a long sand beach, tidepools, sand dunes and an underwater preserve. Activities include swimming, fishing, boating, volleyball, hiking, kayaking, diving and snorkeling. Check out our Cool Towns page for more details on Monterey. Point Lobos State Park is located south of Carmel off PCH (highway 1 - Pacific Coast Highway). Half of this park is underwater and favored by scuba divers and snorkelers. The other half includes picnic areas, hiking and jogging trails. This used to be an old abalone fishing village and main attractions are Whalers and Bluefish coves. Other activities include fishing and sightseeing. Check out our Cool Towns page for more details on Carmel. 
Pfeiffer-Big Sur State Park is located off PCH (highway 1 - Pacific Coast Highway) in Big Sur. This park hugs the ocean at the mouth of the Big Sur River. Spectacularly beautiful McWay Fall drops 80-feet onto the sandy beach at water's edge. A lush redwood forest provides habitat for black-tail deer, gray squirrels, raccoons, skunks, and birds, such as water ouzels and belted kingfishers. The Big Sur Lodge and campsites along the river accommodate visitors. Activities include State Park camping, hiking, swimming, picnicking and horseback riding. This park is a great choice for camping by the beach. Limekiln State Park is located off PCH (highway 1 - Pacific Coast Highway), 2 miles south of Lucia, in Big Sur. The park features breathtaking views of the Big Sur Coast, the beauty of the redwoods, the rugged coast and the cultural history of limekilns. Activities include State Park camping, fishing and hiking. This park is a great choice for camping by the beach. 
Hearst Castle State Park is located off PCH (highway 1 - Pacific Coast Highway) in San Simeon. Construction originally began on this mansion in 1919. It was the home of William Randolph Hearst who made his fortune in the newspaper and movie industries. The mansion contains 115 rooms, guesthouses, roman pools, and museum quality antiques & sculptures all atop a 250,000 acre ranch. Past guests include Winston Churchill, Charles Lindbergh, Charlie Chaplin and more. 
San Simeon State Park is located off Highway 1 just north of Cambria. The park includes sandy beaches, coastal wetlands, a freshwater creek and coastal bluffs. An interpretive trail follows the creek through the wetlands to picturesque vantage points. Activities include beach camping, hiking, fishing, surfing, wildlife viewing and more. This park is a great choice for camping by the beach. Morro Bay State Beach is located off Highway 1 at the southern end of Morro Bay. The park features a lagoon and natural bay. The bay’s most prominent landmark is Morro Rock. Activities include beach camping, sailing, kayaking, fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing and more. An onsite museum has exhibits of cultural history, Native American life, geology, and oceanography. The park also has a marina and an 18-hole public golf course. South of the park is an estuary that is popular for bird watching. This park is a great choice for camping at the beach. 
Montaña de Oro State Park is located off Highway 101 just south of Morro Bay. Views of Morro Bay and the coastline are spectacular from many of the hiking trails. The beautiful Spooner's Cove is easily accessible and located halfway into the park, adjacent to the campground. Several hiking trails lead to large coves and sandy beaches. Activities include primitive camping, hiking, surfing, horseback riding, swimming and picnicking. This park is a good option for camping by the beach. 
Pismo State Beach is located off Highway 1. This beach has so much to offer. To the north is a wide sandy beach, a pier and a thriving beach community. To the south is a wide sandy beach, beach camping, a Monarch Butterfly preserve and off-roading in the Pismo and Oceano Dunes. Popular activities include surfing, fishing, butterfly viewing, off-roading and State Park camping. This park is a great choice for camping on the beach. Gaviota State Park is located off Highway 101 in Goleta, approximately 30-miles northwest of Santa Barbara. The park is a popular spot for beach camping, hiking, swimming, picnicking and fishing. A pier on the west end of the beach is used by divers and surfers. A Southern Pacific railroad trestle crosses the creek above the day-use parking lot. Hiking trails lead to a natural hot spring and offer views of the coast and Channel Islands. This park is a good option for camping by the beach. 
Refugio State Beach is 20-miles west of Santa Barbara off Highway 101. This is a popular swimming, picnicking and fishing beach. beach camping is available directly adjacent to the beach. A bike trail connects Refugio east to El Capitan State Beach. This park is a great choice for camping on the beach. El Capitan State Beach is west of Santa Barbara off Highway 101. This is a very popular beach for camping. Beach camping is offered among sycamore trees and several creeks flowing to the ocean. A day use area includes picnic tables, barbeques and trash cans on a grassy knoll on the beach. The beach is a long stretch of sand with boulders and tidepools at either end. A bike trail connects El Capitan to Refugio State Beach to the west. This park is a great choice for camping by the beach. Carpinteria State Beach is located south-east of Santa Barbara and offers a long sandy beach and tidepools. Beach camping, swimming, surfing and tidepool exploration are popular activities. This park is a good option for camping at the beach. McGrath State Beach is located 5-miles south of Ventura off Highway 101. A nature trail leads from the beach and sand dunes, up the mouth of the Santa Clara River, to an estuary preserve. Beach camping, surfing, fishing and bird watching are popular activities. This park is a good option for camping on the beach. |
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