California is famous for its beaches, but visitors expecting warm Caribbean-style water may be in for a surprise. The Pacific Ocean along the California coast is generally much colder, and many beaches are better known for surfing, dramatic scenery and coastal walks than for warm-water swimming.
But California’s coastline is incredibly diverse. You’ll find wide stretches of golden sand, hidden coves, rugged cliffs, tide pools, sea caves and even beaches with purple sand. Here are some of the most beautiful.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY
1. La Jolla Cove
La Jolla Cove is small, but it is one of the most picturesque spots on the San Diego coast. Surrounded by cliffs and protected as part of a marine reserve, it is known for clear water, sea caves and abundant marine life. It is especially popular for snorkeling and diving. Keep an eye out for the bright orange Garibaldi, California’s official state marine fish. Parking in La Jolla can be difficult, particularly on weekends, so arriving early is a good idea.
2. Coronado Beach
Across the bay from downtown San Diego, Coronado Beach offers a long stretch of golden sand with one of California’s most recognizable hotels in the background – the historic Hotel del Coronado. The wide beach is popular with families, swimmers and surfers, and the combination of ocean, palms and the Victorian hotel makes Coronado one of the most photogenic beaches in Southern California.
3. Carlsbad State Beach
Farther north along the San Diego County coast, Carlsbad offers a completely different landscape. Coastal bluffs and cliffs rise above long stretches of sand, while stairways lead down to smaller sections of beach. The area is popular for swimming, surfing, fishing and long walks along the coast.
ORANGE COUNTY
4. Crystal Cove State Park
This is one I would absolutely keep. Crystal Cove has more than three miles of coastline backed by cliffs and thousands of acres of protected wilderness. The beach is known for rocky coves, tide pools and marine life, and low tide is one of the best times to explore. It is also one of those increasingly rare stretches of Orange County coast that still feels surprisingly wild.
5. Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach isn’t really one beach but a collection of coves and beaches scattered along roughly seven miles of spectacular coastline. Rocky cliffs, clear water, tide pools and small hidden coves make this one of the prettiest sections of the Orange County coast. It is also excellent for snorkeling, kayaking and diving, although currents and water conditions vary considerably from beach to beach.
6. Salt Creek Beach, Dana Point
Rather than trying to include all of Dana Point, I’d choose Salt Creek Beach. Set beneath coastal bluffs, Salt Creek combines a beautiful sandy beach with excellent ocean views and is especially popular with surfers. Walking paths and grassy areas above the beach make it equally enjoyable for people who have absolutely no intention of getting into the cold Pacific.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
7. Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach combines a broad sandy shore with one of Southern California’s classic piers. The beach is popular with surfers, swimmers and volleyball players, while the Strand runs alongside the ocean and is perfect for walking and cycling. The small downtown just behind the beach is filled with restaurants and shops.
8. Leo Carrillo State Park, Malibu
Malibu has more than 20 miles of coastline, so rather than listing “Malibu” as one beach, I’d choose Leo Carrillo State Park. Here you get much more than sand: rocky formations, tide pools, coastal caves and cliffs give the beach a rugged character that is very different from Santa Monica or Venice. It’s one of the best Malibu beaches for exploring rather than simply lying in the sun.
CENTRAL COAST
9. Pfeiffer Beach, Big Sur
Pfeiffer Beach is one of California’s most unusual beaches and one of my favorites for this list. Hidden along the Big Sur coast, it is famous for dramatic rock formations, including Keyhole Arch, and patches of purple-colored sand created by manganese-rich minerals washed down from the surrounding hills. At certain times of year, the setting sun shines directly through Keyhole Arch, creating one of Big Sur’s most photographed scenes.
CHANNEL ISLANDS
10. Cuyler Harbor Beach, San Miguel Island
For something completely different, there is Cuyler Harbor Beach on San Miguel Island, part of Channel Islands National Park. This isn’t a beach you casually visit while driving down the coast. San Miguel is remote, undeveloped and accessible only with considerable planning. What you get in return is a wild California coastline far removed from the crowded beaches of Los Angeles and Orange County. There are no beachfront hotels, restaurants or souvenir shops here, just sand, cliffs, ocean and one of the most isolated landscapes in California.
