California’s Best Quiet, Uncrowded Beaches
California’s coastline is famous for its iconic beaches, but some of its most memorable stretches of sand are the ones travelers nearly miss. Tucked beneath rugged bluffs, hidden at the end of forested trails, or accessible only by kayak, these peaceful beaches offer a quieter side of the Golden State. From secluded coves along Mendocino’s rugged coast to sandy hideaways in Southern California surf towns, these lesser-known beaches pair wild natural beauty with the simple luxury of solitude.
Hidden Beach
Hidden beneath a steep, forested bluff near Klamath, Hidden Beach is one of the Redwood Coast’s most secluded shoreline escapes. Accessible only on foot, this quiet cove in the Redwood National and State Parks rewards hikers with dark-gray sand strewn with driftwood, towering sea stacks, eagles soaring overhead, and sweeping ocean views untouched by development. At low tide, tidepools reveal sea stars, anemones, and other marine life. The beach is accessible via three hiking trails. The shortest is a half-mile path that starts across Highway 101 from the Trees of Mystery’s north parking lot. Another option is a mile-long hike from Lagoon Creek Beach via the Yurok Loop Trail. The third option is a three-mile coastal trail that starts at the Klamath River Overlook on Requa Road near Klamath.
Where to stay
A mile and a half from the Klamath River Overlook, Historic Requa Inn rises above the riverbank, offering a front row seat to the magnificent waterway and its abundant wildlife. Housed in a 1914 Arts and Crafts–style lodge, the hotel offers 15 comfortable guest rooms and hearty breakfasts served each morning.
Westport-Union Landing State Beach
Along the untamed, northernmost stretch of Highway 1, Westport-Union Landing State Beach protects more than three miles of remote Mendocino coastline where dramatic bluffs, crashing surf, and tree-covered mountains create a stunning landscape. Near the mouth of Howard Creek, a wide, sandy beach is framed by rocky outcroppings and tidepools that invite hours of beachcombing and exploration. The beach is also great for fishing. The park was named for two towns that sprang up in the late 1800s during the region’s logging heyday. The small town of Westport still exists, but the buildings from Union Landing have all but disappeared. A day-use parking lot and picnic area just north of the Highway 1 bridge over Howard Creek provide access to the main beach. There are also three campgrounds on the ocean bluffs south of the bridge.
Where to Stay
Remote and rustic, Howard Creek Ranch is a 60-acre oceanfront farm bordered by miles of beach and wilderness. The historic farm sits in splendid isolation with direct access to the beach via a creek-side trail. In town, the beautifully restored Westport Hotel offers airy, light-filled rooms with period-perfect architectural details, a sauna, and an on-site pub.
Big River Beach
Directly below Mendocino Village, Big River Beach stretches along the mouth of Big River, where the languid waters meet the crashing waves of the Pacific. Part of Mendocino Headlands State Park, the beach is one of the more popular beaches on the Mendocino Coast, but this sprawling expanse of sand never feels crowded. It’s a peaceful setting for long beach walks and lazy afternoons by the sea. The calm waters of the estuary make it an excellent spot for kayaking, canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding. The beach also serves as the trailhead for the multi-use Big River Trail, which winds along the estuary, where it’s easy to spot seals and otters. Visitors can access the beach either from the blufftop staircase near the historic Presbyterian Church in Mendocino Village or from the beach-level parking area off Big River Road.
Where to Stay
Alegria Oceanfront Inn & Cottages is the only oceanfront bed-and-breakfast in Mendocino Village and offers a private path down to the beach. The historic Seagull Inn Bed & Breakfast and Headlands Inn both charm with garden settings and gourmet breakfasts delivered to the room. The Inns of Mendocino offers three properties, each with its own take on modern coastal style.
Van Damme State Beach
South of Mendocino in Little River, Highway 1 dips and curves along Van Damme State Park’s long crescent beach. Rocky headlands on either side create a calm, protected cove that offers an ideal launch spot for sea kayakers and beginning scuba divers. The waters here are part of the Van Damme State Marine Conservation Area, which features vibrant kelp forests teeming with sea stars, urchins, and abalone. In the summer, a concessionaire runs kayaking tours to explore nearby sea caves. While the parking lot can fill up on summer weekends with kayakers and divers, there’s still plenty of space to spread a blanket on the sand and explore the tidepools. Any crowds thin out significantly by late afternoon, and sunset is one of the quietest and most scenic times to visit. Inland from the beach, hiking and biking trails weave through a beautiful canyon lined with redwoods and ferns.
Where to Stay
Perched above the beach, the historic Little River Inn offers sweeping ocean views, a popular restaurant and bar, and a private path to the beach. A half a mile away, the pet-friendly Cottages at Little River Cove feature well-equipped cottages with ocean views. Also in Little River, the Inn at Schoolhouse Creek offers 17 unique, pet-friendly rooms and cottages—many with ocean views—nestled in a garden setting.
Greenwood State Beach
In the tiny Mendocino Coast hamlet of Elk (population 200), Greenwood State Beach offers a quiet stretch of driftwood-lined shoreline framed by dramatic sea stacks and rugged coastal bluffs. A gentle half-mile trail descends from Highway 1 to the secluded cove, where Greenwood Creek meets the Pacific beneath towering rock formations. Visitors come for beachcombing, sea kayaking, picnicking, and exploring tide pools and sea caves at low tide. The solitude and tranquility of this lovely beach, however, belie its past. In the late 1800s, the beach was home to a bustling lumber mill with a wharf that extended along the rock outcroppings into the ocean. Redwood was milled on-site and loaded onto schooners bound for San Francisco. A visitor center in town displays historic photographs and artifacts from its bygone era.
Where to Stay
Perched on a bluff overlooking Greenwood State Beach, the historic Elk Cove Inn & Spa offers a secluded retreat with sweeping ocean views and a private path leading directly down to the sand. The pet-friendly inn also features a day spa, breakfasts delivered to the room, and exceptional dinners at Sibo restaurant.
Fish Rock Beach
Just north of Gualala in the tiny coastal community of Anchor Bay, Fish Rock Beach is a secluded cove tucked beneath towering evergreens along Mendocino’s rugged coast. Protected from the strong northwest winds that shroud much of the Northern California shoreline in fog, the beach lies in a “Banana Belt” that tends to enjoy sunnier weather and calmer waters. Seasonal sands, dramatic rock formations, tide pools, and quiet pockets of shoreline make it ideal for sea kayaking, fishing, tide pooling, whale watching, and beachcombing. Public access is available through Anchor Bay Campground, where a small day-use fee leads down to the sheltered beach and hidden coves.
Where to Stay
For private access to the secluded sands at Fish Rock Beach, stay at Mar Vista Farm + Cottages. Located across Highway 1 from the beach, this peaceful retreat is nestled on nine acres and features cozy vintage cottages, edible gardens, delightful farm animals, and fresh eggs delivered daily.
Cooks Beach
Just north of Gualala on the Mendocino Coast, Cooks Beach is a secluded rock-walled cove where the landscape shifts with the tides and weather. Reached by a short walk down the Bonham Trail off Highway 1, the beach alternates between wide sandy stretches, rocky outcroppings, and driftwood tangled with kelp. At low tide, tidepools reveal purple and orange sea stars, mussels, crabs, and giant green anemones. Sea lions can be spotted playing offshore. Even on sunny weekends, the beach rarely feels crowded. It’s large enough to find your own secluded corner yet compact enough to let your dog roam off-leash. Riptides make swimming risky, but the wild coastal scenery and sunsets are reason enough to linger.
Where to Stay
Just minutes from Cook’s Beach, Rendezvous Mendocino blends plush comfort, warm hospitality, and eclectic coastal style. The intimate retreat offers private decks, fireplaces, and peaceful garden spaces for yoga and stargazing. Fresh, house-baked goods are delivered to the guest’s door each morning.
Stillwater Cove Regional Park
Along the rugged northern Sonoma Coast, Stillwater Cove Regional Park offers a quiet, sheltered alternative to the region’s windswept beaches. Tucked between forested coastal bluffs, the deep-water cove provides calm conditions for sea kayaking, fishing, and abalone diving. Onshore, the crescent-shaped beach is a picturesque spot for picnicking and tide-pooling. Just inland from the beach, more than three miles of trails wind through a fern-lined canyon with towering redwoods and along dramatic coastal bluffs. The park also features a small campground and a restored historic schoolhouse. The park is located about 15 miles north of Jenner on Highway 1. To reach the beach, park in the main lot on the east side of the highway and follow the 0.3-mile Cove Trail across the highway and down to the beach.
Where to Stay
Less than two miles from the park, Timber Cove Resort blends restored midcentury architecture with luxe modern comforts atop Sonoma’s dramatic shoreline. Outdoor offerings include coastal foraging excursions, forest bathing, oceanside picnics, and an outdoor ‘living room’ with games and fire pits.
Fitzgerald Marine Reserve and Seal Cove Beach
Just north of Half Moon Bay, in the quiet coastal community of Moss Beach, the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve offers one of the Bay Area’s most serene and ecologically rich shoreline escapes. The three-mile stretch of protected coastline is best explored at low tide, when sprawling tide pools reveal colorful sea stars, anemones, sea urchins, hermit crabs, and other marine life. The largest tide pools in the reserve are down a set of stairs from the visitor center parking lot at 200 Nevada Ave. Further south within the reserve, Seal Cove Beach is a secluded, picturesque cove that also reveals fascinating tide pools at low tide. The beach is accessible via a wooden staircase at Cypress Ave & Beach Way. Coastal trails connecting the two beaches weave through an enchanting forest of century-old cypress trees, offering stunning ocean views from atop the cliffs.
Where to Stay
Just 500 feet from the staircase at Seal Cove Beach, the Seal Cove Inn is an elegant hideaway bordering the marine reserve. A few miles south, the Inn at Mavericks offers an intimate escape with six spacious suites overlooking the ocean and Pillar Point Harbor. Directly above the harbor, Oceano Hotel & Spa provides an elevated coastal experience with a spa, restaurant, and sweeping views. On the edge of the harbor, Beach House Half Moon Bay features a heated pool and hot tub overlooking the water.
Garrapata State Beach
Just seven miles south of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Garrapata State Park protects two miles of rugged Big Sur coastline, including a wide, sandy beach flanked by towering cliffs. The park’s spectacular coastline is largely hidden from the road, but it’s accessible via trails leading from discreetly numbered pullouts along Highway 1 (gates 18 and 19). Visitors are rewarded with wildflower-covered cliffs, dramatic sea stacks, crashing surf, and a desolate beach that feels worlds away from the crowds in Carmel. The pounding surf and riptides make swimming far too dangerous, but the beach is ideal for spotting wildlife. Bring a picnic and a pair of binoculars to settle in on the sand and watch for seals and sea otters playing in the water. Gray whales can also be spotted close to shore during their annual winter migration.
Where to stay
A short drive from the park, the storybook village of Carmel-by-the-Sea offers a range of boutique hotels. Newly revamped in 2024, the Coachman’s Inn pairs contemporary comfort with bed-and-breakfast charm. Carmel Cottage Inn features five lovingly restored historic cottages with fireplaces. A meditative calm envelops the Asian-inspired Tradewinds Carmel, while the Carmel Country Inn is known for its extraordinary pet-friendly hospitality.
Sandspit Beach
Accessible only by water, Sandspit Beach is one of the Central Coast’s most secluded shoreline escapes. Stretching south from Morro Rock, the remote barrier beach separates the calm waters of Morro Bay from the crashing Pacific, with miles of windswept dunes, shorebirds, and empty sand creating a wild, untouched feel. Kayak, paddleboard, canoe, or boat from the harbor across the bay with a picnic lunch to explore the beach, tidepools, and surf breaks near the South Jetty. There are no services on the Sandspit, so visitors should pack everything in and out and avoid protected snowy plover nesting areas in spring and summer.
Where to Stay
Located off Highway 1 in Morro Bay, Rhapsody in View is a family-owned boutique hotel with sweeping views of Morro Rock and the Pacific. The Art Deco-inspired guestrooms feature private west-facing balconies for a front row seat to sunsets over the ocean. Stays include a full breakfast served daily.
Summerland Beach
Just six miles south of downtown Santa Barbara, Summerland Beach is a beautiful, peaceful stretch of coastline, far from the crowds. The beach runs parallel to Highway 101 but is largely hidden beneath the cliffs. Most tourists zip past the beach without realizing it’s there. The calm waters make it ideal for swimming, kayaking, and paddleboarding. It is also one of the few South Coast beaches where you can take a guided horseback ride along the shore. A short walk east along the sand leads to quiet surf breaks and rich tidepools at Loon Point Beach. Access to Summerland Beach is via Lookout Park, with a path leading down the bluff to the sand.
Where to stay
Within walking distance of Summerland village and the beach, the Inn on Summer Hill offers an intimate retreat perched above the coast. The hotel features upscale guest rooms with fireplaces and ocean-view balconies, cooked-to-order breakfasts, and house-made desserts.
Stone Steps Beach and Beacon’s Beach
Along a famously busy stretch of San Diego County’s coastline, a few hidden gems lie beneath the towering sandstone cliffs in Encinitas’ laid-back Leucadia neighborhood. Reached by a steep staircase from the end of South El Portal Street, Stone Steps Beach is a narrow, secluded stretch of sand ideal for sunbathing and strolling along the water’s edge. At low tide, you can walk for miles in either direction. Less than a mile north, Beacon’s Beach is another little-known spot where surfers catch rolling waves, and beachgoers can swim or relax on the sand. A zigzagging trail at the end of Leucadia Blvd. descends the bluff to the beach.
Where to Stay
Just minutes from the beach, Twelve Senses Retreat offers a restorative escape in Encinitas. Relax in the sauna and hot tub, indulge in a massage or Reiki treatment, book a private yoga class, and enjoy healthy, organic, locally sourced breakfasts each morning.