Santa Cruz Main Beach
About
Santa Cruz Main Beach is a public beach in California, about a mile from downtown Santa Cruz. It is set up for an easy day at the shore, with restrooms, lifeguards and accessible access, and swimming is allowed. There is no fee to visit. Summer into early fall is the most comfortable stretch. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Santa Cruz put highs in the mid-70s from June through October, with September near 77 degrees and rain on only about one day a month from June through September. For a change of pace, the Marsh Vista Trail is about a mile and a half away, and the Lower Meadow Trail and Enchanted Trail are both a little over two miles out. Climbers can head to the UC Santa Cruz climbing area, roughly three miles from the beach.
Beach Details
Swimming
Allowed
Lifeguards
On duty (often seasonal)
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
Santa Cruz Main Beach
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 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 TrailHiking1.5 mi
- Lower Meadow TrailHiking2.2 mi
- Enchanted TrailHiking2.2 mi
- Forbidden Forest, TheRock climbing3.3 mi
- UC Santa CruzRock climbing3.3 mi
- Order of the Moose WallRock climbing4.4 mi
- Soquel CreekCanoeing8.3 mi
- Zayante CreekCanoeing9.3 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
