Coast Diaries State Park Near Santa Cruz
The Coast Diaries State Park sit a short distance from Santa Cruz and are the ideal destination for those who like their beaches a little on the wild side.
The state park consists of a series of beaches and coves, each with pretty small parking lots and steep trails to reach them. They are all worth it for their solitude and beauty, which will take your breath away—just like they did ours!
Here’s everything you need to know and the best beaches to visit while you’re here.
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Table of Contents
Coast Dairies State Park: What to Know
Many of the Coast Dairies State Beaches on this list can be a little challenging to access, and you won’t find any of the facilities here that you may find on other Santa Cruz beaches, but that’s one of the reasons why we love them!
All the beaches are linked via the California Coast Trail, which runs along the top of the bluffs above the beaches.
The parking is pretty terrible. They are usually small dirt lots, potholed areas, or just a dusty corner off the main road.
There are five main beaches along the area, all connected by a trail alongside old railroad tracks, but you’ll stumble on TONS more coves along the way.
Walking from Laguna Creek to Davenport Beach would take about an hour (not stopping at the beaches along the way). If you don’t want to move your car and decide to walk to all of them, it’s about three miles one way.
Everything here is listed from closest to Santa Cruz to furthest.
Laguna Creek
The remote and sandy Laguna Creek beach is a beautiful stretch of coast with a rocky backdrop and crashing waves.
The southern section of the beach is large and open, which gets lots of sun on warmer days, while the northern section is more sheltered from the winds, so take your pick, depending on the weather.
This is a relaxing beach with beautiful surroundings. It is also known as a nudist beach, so expect a few people in their birthday suits.
If you care to do a bit of exploring, there are some cool rock formations and tide pools to check out. Compared to other Coast Diaries State Beaches, this is relatively easy to reach, with free parking and a trail through the undergrowth.
Panther Beach
A panther isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of California, but this beach got its name from someone with a rather vivid imagination who could see a panther-shaped rock within the golden cliffs!
Please don’t hold your breath that you’ll be able to spot it, though.
Panther-shaped rocks aside, this wild beach is one of the best of the Coast Diaries State Beaches outside Santa Cruz, but it is also relatively hard to find, which is why nude sunbathers tend to love it.
The trail down to the beach is short but steep, so ensure you wear proper footwear. This steepness means you can enjoy the relative solitude when you reach the sand.
The waves here are massive, making it a popular surf spots for experienced surfers. At low tide, a new adventure is exposed, with tide pools brimming with life and a rocky arch you can walk through.
Bonny Doon Beach
Backed by rolling dunes and high cliffs, Bonny Doon Beach is one of the most scenic beaches in this area.
The crescent-shaped bay is large and sheltered, with a few rocky sections separated by Liddell Creek, which runs through the center of the beach.
Spend the day relaxing on the sand away from the crowds of the area’s more well-known beaches, keeping an eye on the waves for migrating whales.
There is a small parking lot by the side of the road, and you can reach the beach by following the small trail.
Word of warning: it is very steep and can be slippery. The main section of the beach is where the families tend to hand out, but round the large rock to the north, you reach the sheltered, clothing-optional section.
Shark Fin Cove
10 points for anyone who guesses how this beach got its name! Don’t worry, we will tell you.
Just off the shore is a huge rock that looks remarkably like a shark fin and is a photographer’s dream. The beach lies in a small but deep cove, giving the beach an enclosed feel.
The shark fin is not the only remarkable rock feature on this beach. You’ll also find a rock arch tunnel that can be explored at low tide.
Standing in the cave and looking out frames the ocean and the sea stacks perfectly, so ensure you have your camera on you for one of the most scenic shots of Coast Diaries State Park.
Davenport Beach
Another little pocket beach along this stretch of coastline is Davenport Beach, sometimes called Davenport Cove.
It’s a natural playground with interesting rock formations, including a large sea arch and a tiny waterfall in the spring and summer.
The tide pools expose themselves at low tide, often full of colorful crabs and swaying sea urchins.
Sometimes, the best things are the trickiest to reach, and that’s certainly the case for Davenport Cove, with a steep, slippery path down the rocks to reach it.
The views from the cliff over the beach and Coast Diaries State Beaches coastline are breathtaking.
If you’re looking for that famous Davenport swing, you won’t find it on this beach. You’ll have to head to Davenport pier just a tad further down the road.
We LOVE the Coast Diaries State Beaches. Hands down, these are the beaches in the area. We hope this helped you plan your trip!