Pleasure Point Parkway
About
Pleasure Point Parkway is a public ocean beach in California, about 0.3 miles from the community of Pleasure Point. It's a simple, easy stop with restrooms and accessible access, and there is no fee to visit. Summer into early fall is the driest stretch. Typical averages from the nearby Santa Cruz weather station show highs in the mid-70s from June through October, peaking around 77°F in September, with rain on only about one day a month from June through September. Dogs are allowed on the beach, so it works for an outing with a pet. For more time outdoors nearby, Marsh Vista Trail is about 2.2 miles away and Paul Sweet Trail is about 3 miles away. Climbers can head to UC Santa Cruz, about 5.6 miles off, and paddlers can try Soquel Creek, roughly 7.3 miles away.
Beach Details
Lifeguards
None
Dogs
Allowed
Parking
Available
Fee
Free
Restrooms
Yes
Accessible access
Yes
As published by the managing agency. Lifeguards, fees and dog rules are often seasonal, so check posted signs before you swim.
Location
Pleasure Point Parkway
California
Data: California Coastal Commission, YourCoast public access data. Source metadata
Facts about this place
When to go
Best time to go: Year-round. The mildest months here, with typical highs of 61–77°F and lows of 41–55°F.
Typical monthly averages (not a forecast) from the Santa Cruz, CA weather station, 2.7 mi away. High / low in °F, and days with snow.
- Jan63° high41° low
- Feb64° high43° low
- Mar67° high44° low
- Apr69° high46° low
- May71° high49° low
- Jun74° high52° low
- Jul74° high54° low
- Aug76° high55° low
- Sep77° high53° low
- Oct74° high50° low
- Nov67° high44° low
- Dec61° high41° low
Nearby
- Marsh Vista TrailHiking2.2 mi
Old Vineyard Trail (East)HikingPhoto: gracewardphotographynyc, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)2.9 mi- Paul Sweet TrailHiking3 mi
- The Forbidden ForestRock climbing5.6 mi
- UC Santa CruzRock climbing5.6 mi
- Order of the Moose WallRock climbing5.7 mi
- Soquel CreekCanoeing7.3 mi
- South CampCamping9.4 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Best time to visit Pleasure Point Parkway
Best months: Year-round. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
63° / 41°
11 wet
Feb
64° / 43°
10 wet
Mar
67° / 44°
10 wet
Apr
69° / 46°
6 wet
May
71° / 49°
3 wet
Jun
74° / 52°
1 wet
Jul
74° / 54°
1 wet
Aug
76° / 55°
1 wet
Sep
77° / 53°
1 wet
Oct
74° / 50°
4 wet
Nov
67° / 44°
7 wet
Dec
61° / 41°
10 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Santa Cruz, CA, 2.7 mi away at 70 ft. We don't have this place's elevation, so higher spots nearby can run cooler. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
