If you’re on a road trip along California’s striking coast in search of great beaches, make sure to stop at Pescadero, a small farming community is about halfway between San Francisco and Santa Cruz. While it could be tempting to just drive on by, you’d be missing out on the area’s abundance of incredible natural beauty, stunning ocean views, and yummy food.
If you’re driving north from Santa Cruz on Highway 1, one of the clearest signs that you’re in the Pescadero area is when you see Año Nuevo State Park. It’s a bit further south than some of the other Pescadero beaches, but it’s got something special that the other spots don’t have: elephant seals. Massive northern elephant seals come to the beaches here by the thousands every year. From December to March, during breeding season, you have to sign up for a guided tour to see them. The rest of the year, you can explore on your own, though you may still need a permit from the visitor center. Along with the elephant seals, the state park is beautiful year-round with a mix of marshland, ocean bluffs, and beaches.
Continuing north on Highway 1, you’ll get to Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park. The 115-foot-tall lighthouse is perched on a rocky point overlooking the ocean, and from the park grounds, you can sometimes see the spouts of gray whales during their migration along the California coast. It’s also got a small beach next to it.
Pescadero has plenty of beaches to explore
California has some truly amazing coastal state parks and beaches, and Pescadero is no exception. Pescadero State Beach is a mile long, sandier to the north and rockier to the south, and it has some nice tide pools to check out at low tide. On the other side of the highway from the beach is Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve, which has some fun hiking trails and is great for bird watching. It’s also got a large sea arch, which makes for some fantastic photos.
A few miles south of Pescadero State Beach is Bean Hollow State Beach. It’s actually two beaches — Bean Hollow and Pebble Beach — connected by a trail. Pet owners take note; dogs are allowed on-leash on both these beaches while many others in the area don’t allow them.
There are some important things to keep in mind when you’re visiting the beaches here. The water off the coast of Pescadero certainly looks pretty, but it is cold. While it’s not one of the most dangerous places to swim in the world, when you combine the water temperature and risk of hypothermia with the possibility of rip currents, it’s not the ideal swimming destination. It can be chilly, foggy, and windy, even during the height of summer, so make sure to bring layers. Parking at any of the state beaches requires a California state park pass or an $8 entry fee.
Best places to eat in Pescadero and where to stay
