About Lighthouse Field State Beach:
Lighthouse Field State Beach is located along West Cliff Drive, stretching from Columbia Street to Pelton Avenue. The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum is here, in the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse, and just off the point, geography and ocean waves conjoin to create the waves at Steamer Lane that Santa Cruz is famous for.
Lighthouse Field State Beach Fees:
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Entrance Fee: None
Parking Fee: None
Creature Comforts at Lighthouse Field State Beach:
- Restrooms near the parking lot across the street
- Pets allowed on the cliffside trail
Lighthouse Field State Beach Activities:
- Surfing
- Cliffside walks
- Kayaking (on calm days)
Lodging Near Lighthouse Field State Beach:
The nearest lodging to Lighthouse Field State Beach is in downtown Santa Cruz.
Highs and Lows at Lighthouse Field State Beach:
- Gorgeous views and great walks
- Opportunities to get down to a sandy beach are limited
- If you go to Lighthouse Field expecting to watch the surfers at Steamer Lane (near the surfer statue), you could be disappointed. Some days, the water at this famous surfing spot can be calmer than your bathtub.
Beachgoer Beware:
Santa Cruz beaches can be foggy in early summer, sometimes all day long.
How to Get to Lighthouse Field State Beach:
Lighthouse Field State Beach is on West Cliff Drive. From the Boardwalk and downtown, take Pacific Avenue to West Cliff and follow it along the clifftops.
From Highway 1 north of the main part of Santa Cruz, start by following the signs toward Natural Bridges State Park. Turn south onto Swift Street (at the traffic light). Go toward the ocean to a "T" junction. Stop following the Natural Bridges signs and instead turn left onto W. Cliff Drive.
The clifftop path makes for a nice walk, but the beach is near the lighthouse.
