Escaping the crowds on California’s beaches is easy if you know where to go.
With 840 miles of coastline, California is synonymous with beaches in many people’s minds. Beaches like Venice and Santa Monica are world famous, but with over 420 beaches in the Golden State, many more underrated beaches offer scenic views, soft sand, or unique geological features you can explore without the large crowds. Some are secluded and undeveloped, while others come with complete facilities mostly enjoyed by locals. Stretching from San Diego County and north to Humboldt County, here are the ten most underrated beaches in California.
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South Leucadia State Beach
Just north of downtown Encinitas is Leucadia, a beachside neighborhood known for its bohemian vibes and secluded beaches. One of those beaches is South Leucadia State Beach, also known as Beacon’s Beach. Beacon’s Beach is accessible via a switchback trail from a small parking lot and gets a lot less visitors than most beaches in the area. Parts of the beach are rocky, but there’s also plenty of soft, sandy areas to lounge around in. The gentle waves here make Beacon’s Beach a good spot for beginner surfers and for swimming (although lifeguards are only here seasonally). Other than the parking lot, there’s no other amenity or facility here. The lot is also small and can fill up, but there is street parking around the neighborhood.
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Avila Beach
Avila Beach is said to have the most sunny days of all the beaches on California’s Central Coast, yet this beach is somehow still less famous than neighboring Pismo Beach. The beach’s sheltered location makes it a safe and family-friendly beach for swimming. There are restrooms, picnic areas, and a playground. Plus, it’s flanked by a walkable and cute town with affordable parking. The beach does get busy on weekends thanks to San Luis Obispo residents and Cal Poly SLO students who make the 15-minute drive for a beach day, but it’s still not as packed as other, more popular beaches. Weekdays are perfect for a quiet and long walk on the sand.
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Jalama Beach
Located about an hour from Santa Barbara, Jalama Beach is a rather remote beach that offers good waves for surfing and some of the best sunset views. It’s also one of the best spots in California to camp on the beach. While the beach itself doesn’t get crowded, the campground does get booked up early for weekends and summers, since all campsites pretty much offer an ocean view, and many even have direct beach access. Thanks to the campground, there are restrooms and coin-operated showers here. There is also one business here, the Jalama Beach Store & Grill, which serves up a burger that has a cult following. Day-use parking is available for $10 per vehicle.
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Schooner Gulch State Beach
This beach near Point Arena in Mendocino County is also known as Bowling Ball Beach because the northern part of the beach features dozens of large sandstone concretions that look like bowling balls. This feature is what makes this beach special, and they’re only visible during low tide. The sand here is mostly coarse sand and gravel, but it is a long and wide beach backed by cliffs that is great for a scenic walk or catching the sunset. There are no facilities at this beach, and it takes a 1.5-mile hike to reach the beach, so most of the time, there are only a handful of people here. There’s a (very small) parking lot near the start of the trail.
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Shaw’s Cove
Tucked away under a residential area of Laguna Beach, Shaw’s Cove is a small but lovely sandy beach that’s mainly frequented by locals. Since it’s a protected cove, many come to this beach to swim or boogie board. It’s also a popular spot for scuba diving lessons. During low tide, tide pools are exposed at both ends of the cove.
There’s no dedicated parking area, so you’d have to find street parking in the neighborhood to visit this beach, which is accessible via a 58-step staircase. One of the city’s free trolley routes does stop right near the stair entrance, so you can always park further and take the trolley.
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San Buenaventura State Beach
The town of Ventura sits in between Malibu and Santa Barbara, but it often gets overlooked by those traveling between the two. That’s why the beaches around Ventura also tend to be less crowded. One of the best beaches in Ventura is San Buenaventura State Beach. It’s a wide, sandy beach that stretches two miles long with complete amenities. There is plenty of parking (for a $10 fee). You’ll also find restrooms, picnic tables, bike rentals, and beach volleyball courts. Most importantly, The Jolly Oyster beach shack is one of the best places to get fresh oysters anywhere in the area.
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Big River Beach
None of the beaches in Mendocino County gets crowded, really, but Big River Beach is one of the best ones. This beach is unique as it sits at the mouth of the Big River where it meets the Pacific Ocean, making it a popular spot for kayaking and wildlife spotting. The white sandy beach changes year over year depending on the storms that year, and sometimes a sandbar island would appear. Located next to an estuary, visitors can often see birds, harbor seals, and river otters from Big River Beach. It’s a dog-friendly beach with a free parking lot and public restrooms.
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Gold Bluffs Beach
Gold Bluffs Beach in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is often overshadowed by the nearby Fern Canyon (the lush canyon was the filming location of The Lost World: Jurassic Park), but this long and sandy beach is well worth the side trip. First of all, Gold Bluffs Beach is ten miles long, and the old-growth redwood trees behind it make for a stunning backdrop. It’s also perhaps the only beach in California where you might see wild Roosevelt elk roaming around. You can camp along the beach, and the campground has restrooms and solar-powered showers.
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Bean Hollow State Beach
The remote location helps the rugged Bean Hollow State Beach remain unspoiled and free of crowds. This beach is located between Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay, and it got its name from the honeycomb-like tafoni formations found in its sandstone cliffs. This state beach is actually formed by two coves: Bean Hollow Beach and Pebble Beach, which are connected via a one-mile nature walk where wildflowers bloom in the spring. Bean Hollow State Beach is dog-friendly and is also a good spot for tidepooling. Anemones, crab, and sea urchin are just some of the marine life you might encounter. Free parking and chemical toilets are available near both coves.
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Gualala Point Regional Park
Gualala Point Regional Park is located on the northern border of Sonoma County. This oceanfront park is more than just a beach, but it does contain a wide, sandy beach that sits between the Pacific Ocean and the Gualala River. This beach just so happens to be one of the best spots along the coast for whale watching in the winter months. There are usually piles of driftwood on this beach, and you’ll often find shelters and sculptures that people have built using the driftwood. This beach is dog-friendly, and there are restrooms and parking available (parking costs $8 per car).