Iconic spot with a lighthouse offers a variety of vistas & pathways for dog walking & strolling.
At a glance
#5 of 29 Tourist attractions in Santa Cruz #4 of 6 State parks in Santa CruzLocalGuideWorld score: 4.70
Rating breakdown
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5 ★79%
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4 ★17%
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3 ★3%
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2 ★1%
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1 ★1%
Quick facts
- What is the rating of Lighthouse Field State Beach?
- Lighthouse Field State Beach is rated 4.7 out of 5 based on 7,004 reviews.
- How does Lighthouse Field State Beach rank in Santa Cruz?
- Lighthouse Field State Beach is #5 of 29 Tourist attractions in Santa Cruz by LocalGuideWorld score (rating weighted by number of reviews).
- Where is Lighthouse Field State Beach located?
- Santa Cruz, CA 95060 — 1.3 km from the center of Santa Cruz.
- How can I contact Lighthouse Field State Beach?
- Phone: (831) 429-2850 · Website: parks.ca.gov
Got lucky with parking so it was an easy stroll to the fences to watch the surfers down below. With the huge waves, got to see some great action. Visiting around 4pm worked well.
I like to visit the lighthouse regularly mostly due to the surfers and cool vibe. It is a great spot to watch the surfers, people watch and lots of really cute doggos. And if you're lucky, you might see some seals!
LOVE this place, mainly for the Monarch butterflies that overwinter here (they are here from October to February). We came on a warmer day yesterday with the sun shining and they were all out flying around. Many were in clusters in the trees, as well. It was an amazing experience and I will definitely come back during the winter months for them and bring my big camera. It seemed like there were a lot more and they were more active than the ones in Pacific Grove and Natural Bridges, but it really depends on the weather. Highly recommended.
This lighthouse was lit for the first time in a very long time. We were super happy to see this. It was SO magical shining through the fog and the full mist of giant waves. It was adorned with a lovely and happy looking wreathe. We love walking around there watching all the waves, surfers and beach goers. So much to look at.
Beautiful place, for every kind of activity: jogging, surfing, walking, playing with a dog, and relaxing 👍
We bring our dogs here, when we want to give them a treat. The pups know they’re about to have a great time, as soon as they step out of the vehicle.
I love this place it been a favorite of mine since I was a kid at Gateway School in the 90s. Monarchs and this place will forever be magical.
I was spending a wk in Santa Cruz and wanted to explore sights away from the Boardwalk. Lighthouse Field Beach was on my list. I was pleasantly surprised by the diversity of experiences at the park. An amazing trail along the majestic cliffs overlooking the ocean from the Wharf to Natural Bridges. The area had many walkers, runners, bike riders. Surfers were easy to watch from the trail, a dog beach had its own four legged visitors. The elevated view allowed you to see an expansive view of the bay, and the waves up against the shorelines. There was the Surfer Museum at the Lighthouse, a small eatery by the parking lot, restrooms, and additional trails across the street. My experience was so memorable, I came back the next morning to run the trail along the water. My advice, get a short distance out of town and visit Lighthouse Field Beach State Park.
A great place on a sunny day to watch the surfers do their thing off and around the point.
Love the dog friendly beach! However, it gets very crowded on the weekends. It is a pleasant social scene, and even though I was a newcomer, I was treated kindly. In general, Dog People , as a group, are friendly and pretty amazing, in my opinion. The only drawbacks to the beach are logistical. I have a large dog that loves fetching tennis balls. The area there is so small that it is difficult to throw a ball and not interfere with someone else's fun. Another note, the State Park employees we saw there, were wonderful. They were polite, helpful, and incredibly hard working.
We've been coming here for years. I'm walking along West Cliff Drive. The second you step out of the car and smell the eucalyptus and the salty ocean air, it's magical. There's multiple areas for free parking. We often park on the street along the church by the surfing statue. There are multiple beach access points along the path. Lots of benches to sit and relax. You can bring your dogs on leashes. Lots of cyclists, walkers, runners - Good for all ages. By parking lot B there are public restrooms and a little taco stand.
Unfortunately the last couple of years have been hard on the coastline and parts of the path have eroded and broken away. The cliffs are dangerous and you shouldn't be walking out on them. There are signs everywhere to remind people of this. However, you still see people walking out to the edges to take pictures. Be careful. You're still able to walk or ride your bike on a paved path all along the coastline that is still there. They have had to section off parts of the driving road and make it a one-way street to ensure that the path is there for bicyclists and walkers and runners.
Unfortunately the last couple of years have been hard on the coastline and parts of the path have eroded and broken away. The cliffs are dangerous and you shouldn't be walking out on them. There are signs everywhere to remind people of this. However, you still see people walking out to the edges to take pictures. Be careful. You're still able to walk or ride your bike on a paved path all along the coastline that is still there. They have had to section off parts of the driving road and make it a one-way street to ensure that the path is there for bicyclists and walkers and runners.
Go to place for surfers, walkers, joggers, entertainers, artists and more....there is excitement always... beautiful with marine life, native plants, home for Monarch butterflies and much more...
We love riding our bikes around the wilder trails. Awesome couple of loops for walking, biking, running, etc. We saw birds, squirrels, bunnies, and a ton of seals. Great spot to spend some time outdoors
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