23 Most Amazing Beaches in California (A Local’s Guide)

Ready to discover the most stunning and fun beaches across California? As a local for the last 10 + years, I’m here to share all the best spots!

There’s no doubt that every visitor to California wants a little piece of the beach action here—and how could you not? California boasts 840 miles of stunning coastline, and with mostly sunny days throughout the year it’s the perfect recipe for a beach vacation.

I’ve lived in California for over a decade and what I love the most about the beaches here is the sheer variety of them from north to south.

In SoCal, beaches scream surfer vibes and the wide sandy stretches are often lined with palm trees. As you travel up to Northern California you’ll find the landscape changes and beaches become more rugged and wild, with gorgeous sea stacks and rock formations more commonly dotting the shore.

Across California, you’ll find beaches with amusement parks, waterfalls, tons of marine life, and even a fairytale pirate tower. It’s a fun state to beach hop in, to say the least!

In this post I’m breaking down all the best beaches in California that deserve a visit, broken down by region so you can find the ones that are calling to you.

The Absolute Best Beaches in California

Best Beaches in Southern California

If you’re looking for the best Southern California beaches, these picks offer everything from iconic SoCal vibes and surf spots to picturesque locales worthy of your next photoshoot.

1. Victoria Beach

A pirate tower along the coast? Yup, that’s a real thing at Victoria Beach located in Orange County in the coastal town of Laguna Beach, one of my favorite beach towns in the state.

While you can’t enter into the pirate tower, it’s a stunning spot for photos especially at sunset with the waves crashing up on the shore, and it’s one of the best things to do in Southern California.

If you want to be able to explore the pirate tower, make sure to venture to the beach at low tide for safe access. Note that there isn’t a parking lot for the beach, so you’ll have to depend on limited street parking to visit here. A week day in off season is your best bet.

2. Crystal Cove State Beach

Situated within a state park featuring 3.2 miles of beach and over 2,000 acres of backcountry wilderness, Crystal Cove makes for a great weekend trip to enjoy the best of the outdoors in Orange County.

The beach itself is stunning with soft sand, tide pools, rocky features and a grouping of beachside historic 1930s cottages that are available to book for a vintage SoCal feel.

While at Crystal Cove, don’t miss the area’s iconic Shake Shack location that is perched right over the beach—best place on Earth for a burger and a milkshake if you ask me!

3. Treasure Island Beach

A popular Laguna Beach spot for beachgoers in the summer, Treasure Island Beach is just south of the luxury Montage Resort and features tide pools, interesting caves and rock formations, blufftop walking paths and more parking than some of the other beaches in the area.

The beach is extremely picturesque and even if you’re not in a beach-day kind of mood, it’s perfect for a sunset stroll above the beach to admire the scenic coastline.

Read More: Laguna Beach Weekend Guide

4. Black’s Beach

Probably the most well-known nude beach in the state, Black’s Beach also happens to be stunning with a location just below the cliffs of Torrey Pines in La Jolla where paragliders often launch off the cliffs.

The beach is 2 miles long, offering plenty of space to carve out your own private place to sunbathe, but the south end is also popular for surfers looking to catch more challenging waves.

It can be a little difficult to get down here, but the most straightforward access is via the Gliderport Trail just next to the Torrey Pines Gliderport, though note that it’s still quite a steep way down.

5. El Matador State Beach

Commonly thought of as one of the most beautiful beaches in California, this beach near Los Angeles is a popular spot for photoshoots—I’m talking everything from wedding shoots and family portraits to full scale commercial fashion shoots.

To access the bottom, you have to traverse down a steep dirt trail, but the picturesque beach is worth the adventure with its stunning coastline dotted with dramatic sea stacks, caves, and golden cliffs.

El Matador is undoubtedly most beautiful at sunset, but I’d recommended coming during low tide and in the off season when you can find easier parking as there’s only a small lot up top and limited spots along Pacific Coast Highway.

6. Santa Monica State Beach

While in Los Angeles, spending a day at the iconic Santa Monica State Beach is a must to fully experience what LA life is all about—I should know, I lived here for over a decade.

Though millions of tourists flock here per year, the beach is so long and wide that there’s plenty of space to stretch out and the beach path continues on for miles if you fancy a long beach walk or bike ride.

For families, the Santa Monica Pier is a fun visit to ride the ferris wheel or roller coaster, but my favorite thing is to stay well into the afternoon to catch a stunning sunset here as they’re truly some of the best I’ve seen in the state. From there, pop inland post-beach to hit one of the many restaurants just east of the pier.

7. La Jolla Cove

Located in the gorgeous coastal community of La Jolla in San Diego, La Jolla Cove is a small protected area that’s become popular for seals and sea lion watching. I visited here for the first time recently and could have easily stayed for hours observing these cute blubbery sea creatures—they’re quite entertaining, to say the least!

Visitors to the area can also partake in snorkeling or scuba diving, and the water visibility during the day can sometimes get up to 30 feet deep! If you’d rather not get wet, this is a great spot to come for sunset and check out the marine life before popping into town for a nice coastal dinner.

8. Thousand Steps Beach

Laguna Beach has in my opinion the most beautiful beaches in California overall, and Thousand Steps Beach is just one of many that are drop dead gorgeous. Don’t worry, there aren’t actually 1,000 steps required to get here (it’s more like 200 or so), but even if there were, the trek would be a worthwhile endeavor for this stunning stretch of sand.

This beach is popular for surfers and sunbathers but I especially love the natural tide pools that form at high tide towards the south end of the beach along with a sea cave that’s only accessible at low tide.

9. Venice Beach

While I wouldn’t call Venice Beach one of the prettiest in the state (I can say that because I lived in the neighborhood for over a decade), it’s absolutely iconic and deserves a spot on this list.

It’s really much more than a wide stretch of sand. Here, you’ll find the Venice Pier, photogenic lifeguard stands dotting the coast, plenty of waves for surfing, and of course the wild and quirky Venice Boardwalk that has tons to explore including street vendors, a skate park, beachside cafes, tattoo parlors, and much more.

Whether you come here with your bike, running shoes, swim trunks or roller skates, you’ll find plenty to keep you entertained.

Best Beaches on the Central Coast

The Central Coast is home to some of the most stunning beaches in California, featuring diverse landscapes and great opportunities for wildlife watching like otters and whales. If you want a little taste of both the Northern California and SoCal beach flavor, Central Coast has a good range of it all.

10. Point Lob0s State Natural Reserve

More like a collection of beaches and coastal trails than one single beach, Point Lobos is one of the most beautiful seaside spots in California.

It’s home to a number of stunning rocky coves and white sand beaches, and you won’t believe how turquoise the water is here. I even posted an Instagram Reel calling it out as the bluest water in California because it’s truly that vibrant.

For the best beachy photos, I’d head to China Cove (can view from above only) or Gibson’s Beach which are both along the Bird Island Trail and provide stunning scenery.

11. Morro Rock Beach

Morro Rock Beach is one of my favorite beaches for watching the surfers at sunset. It’s got a unique landscape, featuring a long stretch of sand backed by grassy dunes. However, its most prominent feature is its tip, punctuated by iconic Morro Rock—a 576-foot tall volcanic plug that rises dramatically from the shoreline.

Honestly, my pictures here don’t do the scale of Morro Rock justice!

While in the area, don’t miss a visit to my favorite lunch spot Giovanni’s Fish Market for crab quesadillas and then pop along the docks to try and spot the local otters.

12. Pfeiffer Beach

This iconic beach off Highway 1 in Big Sur is down a hidden side road but offers a dramatic beach experience, as long as you can snag parking to get there.

Pfeiffer Beach is known for giving off a purple sheen due to the manganese garnet that’s washed down from the hillside, along with its most photographed feature, the Keyhole Arch. This rock formation has a hole or “keyhole” in it that’s beautiful for photography and dramatic to watch as each new crashing wave passes through.

If you want to get extra special photos here, time your visit with Keyhole Arch’s annual “light show,” when the sunset aligns precisely within the keyhole, piercing the opening with a stunning beam of light.

You have to time it right though, as this phenomenon only happens around the winter solstice and just for a few minutes before the sun sets. Typically the peak happens in late December and conditions must be clear to get the full effect.

13. Carmel Beach

Carmel Beach isn’t just a stunner, it has to be one of the best dog-friendly beaches in the state too. Carmel-by-the-Sea is a notoriously dog friendly town and its main beach is no different.

What makes it especially beautiful though is the gorgeous white sand stretch outlined by stunning Monterey cypress trees and the iconic Clinton Walker House at the tip of the beach designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Read More: Monterey and Carmel Weekend Guide

14. McWay Beach

Though access to this beach is not possible due to protection of the fragile landscape, it’s definitely the prettiest beach in California to admire from above.

At McWay Beach, the Big Sur icon McWay Falls drops directly onto the sand and into a stunning turquoise cove that looks straight out of a screensaver. It’s one of my favorite spots to photograph in California and is a must-visit on any Big Sur road trip.

To access the overlook, you’ll want to park at the McWay Waterfall Trailhead in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park which requires a day use fee then take the trail under the highway to the overlook.

15. Marina State Beach

I recently discovered Marina State Beach while visiting the Sanctuary Beach Resort that sits right up on the dunes, and was blown away by how peaceful and untouched this beach is still.

This is a protected area within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, so the beach feels a bit rugged and undiscovered, with stunning sand dunes, the potential to view whales and dolphins, and breathtaking sunsets. It’s a great place to pack a picnic and come to enjoy sunset while you watch the hang gliders sailing over the sand.

Best Beaches in Northern California

With Northern California’s stunning rugged coastline, these beaches offer a completely different feel from the palm tree lined beaches of Southern California. These are my favorites I’ve come across from exploring my home state over the years.

16. Moonstone Beach

This might be my favorite beach in all of California, and it’s absolutely worth the trek up north to get here if you’re not local. The scenery at Moonstone Beach is quite different from anything else I’ve experienced in the Golden State.

Not only does it feature a wide stretch of sand with classic Northern California sea stacks and an area with grassy sand dunes, but the beach sits at the mouth of the Little River, offering shallow streams that weave and cut through the sand in unique patterns.

There’s a wide array of things to do at Moonstone Beach including surfing, beach combing (it’s known for fossilized shells), tide pooling and sea kayaking. Dogs are also allowed here off leash.

17. Montara State Beach

Just to the north of Half Moon Bay is Montara, a small town of under 3,000 residents, but what they lack in size they make up for in stunning beaches.

This beach is popular with experienced surfers, but what I think makes this spot so special is the opportunity for gorgeous photography in spring when the hillside to the south comes alive in wildflowers. Don’t miss the hiking trails on the south side of the beach for the best photo ops.

18. Drakes Beach

When I first visited Drakes Beach in Point Reyes, it was a dramatic misty day and the beach transported me to the coast of Ireland or England. With its mossy rocks all along the shoreline and tall dramatic cliffs that back the beach, it feels like you’re far away from California.

This is a must-visit while exploring the Point Reyes National Seashore and if you’re visiting in winter or early spring, you may even encounter elephant seals on the beach, though it’s important to keep your distance and respect their space.

19. Shark Fin Cove

Named for the unique rock formation in the bay that looks eerily like a shark fin, Shark Fin Cove is a great photo spot located in Davenport, California just north of Santa Cruz. It’s one of those places you’ll miss if you don’t know about it because it’s hidden from view from the road!

Access to the beach isn’t super straightforward as the trail starts at an unmarked dirt lot off Highway 1. There’s zero signage along the road, but if you type “Shark Fin Cove Parking Lot” into Google Maps, you should be able to find it. Once you’ve found the turnout, look for abandoned railroad tracks and then you’ll find the start of the trail nearby.

20. College Cove

Located in the town of Trinidad in Humboldt County, this one is way up there in Northern California, but if you haven’t done a Northern California road trip yet it should really be on your bucket list. Between the stunning Redwoods and dramatic beaches, it’s a whole different world compared to SoCal.

At College Cove, you’ll find a secluded crescent-shaped beach dotted with sea stacks, and there’s even a tiny little island in the cove with trees on top, making for especially unique photos.

To access the beach, you have to get there via the steep Elk Head Trail which can be a little dicey in parts, so I’d recommend wearing good footwear for the journey down.

21. Jug Handle Beach

Jug Handle Beach is a small picturesque cove in Mendocino County backdropped by forested cliffs and a scenic bridge. It’s one of those hidden gems in California that are absolutely stunning.

This is an ideal spot to spend time during a day exploring Jug Handle State Natural Reserve which offers plenty of coastal walking trails, a pygmy forest, opportunities for picnics, and tide pooling.

Don’t miss the 2.5 mile self-guided Ecological Staircase Trail, which is a nature trail that takes visitors through various wave-cute terraces that have been carved over the last half million years by glaciers and tectonic movement.

22. Emerald Bay Beach

While not along the Pacific Coast, Emerald Bay Beach is still one of the best beaches in California located on the California side of Lake Tahoe within the picture-perfect Emerald Bay. Lake Tahoe is one of the best summer destinations in California in my opinion, so don’t overlook it just because it’s off the coast!

This beach is about 20 minutes from South Lake Tahoe and requires a steep but paved hike to get to, which is absolutely worth it for the perspective at the bottom. At the beach, you’ll find plenty of boaters parked for the day, Vikingsholm Castle and views out to Fannette Island in the bay.

To get here, park at the Vikingsholm Castle parking lot and take the trail down to the beach.

23. Glass Beach

Probably one of the most unique beaches in California, Glass Beach in Fort Bragg gets its name from the thousands upon thousands of pieces of sea glass that have been washing up on shore since the 1960s. You can’t tell from above, but once you get down to the base, you’ll find tons of sparkling pieces of smoothed glass in colors of white, green and brown typically.

Important Note: If you visit, please refrain from removing any of the sea glass so that future visitors can enjoy it for themselves.

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