Lighthouse Field State Beach

The Park is currently OPEN.

Please check the hours of operation.

Reservations

Contact Number

(831) 423-4609

Park Accessibility Information

View the Park Accessibility Information

Park Hours

7am to Sunset

Park Activities

Are Dogs Allowed?

Yes
Dogs not allowed on beach.

Day-Use Activities & Facilities

Historical/Cultural Site
Fishing
Interpretive Exhibits
Beach Area
Vista Point
Nature & Wildlife Viewing
Geocaching

Trail Use

Bike Trails
Hiking Trails

Park Facilities

EV Information

E-Bike Locations
EV Charger Icon

EV Charger Locations

Other Facilities & Visitor Information

Parking
Restrooms
Outdoor Showers
Drinking Water Available

Monterey Bay Living Shorelines Survey

We need your feedback! Please take the Monterey Bay Living Shorelines Program (MBLSP) survey.

The MBLSP seeks to establish a program that will enhance the quality of the Monterey Bay coastline and foster resilience against the impacts of climate change such as sea level rise, erosion, and coastal storms. The survey seeks to better understand public values as they relate to coastal State Parks lands from Año Nuevo Point to Garrapata Creek.

To learn more about the MBLSP, visit www.mblsp.org.

Please be advised, Lighthouse Field SB is one of the few California State Parks that does not accept the Annual Day Use Pass.

Also known as Point Santa Cruz, this area forms the northern boundary of Monterey Bay. It is one of the last open headlands in any California urban area. Surfers, tourists, birds - including the rare Black Swift and wintering Monarch butterflies are drawn to this area. Sea lions populate the offshore rocks.

This is one of the places where Monarch butterflies winter along the California coast. Monarchs are unique because they migrate each winter to avoid freezing weather. The Monarchs wintering here, come from west of the Rocky Mountains. Monarchs east of the Rockies go to central Mexico for the winter.

Lighthouse Field State Beach has the distinction of being home to California's first surfing museum. The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum is in the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse at Lighthouse Point on West Cliff Drive. Overlooking internationally renowned surfing hotspot Steamer Lane, this museum has photographs, surfboards, and other interesting items tracing over 100 years of surfing history in Santa Cruz.

Among many noteworthy community events, Lighthouse Field State Beach hosts "Caroling Under the Stars" each Christmas, a Santa Cruz tradition which attracts hundreds of locals and visitors.