Best Surf Beaches in Santa Cruz

Located near the Westside area of the city of Santa Cruz, Natural Bridges State Beach is actually the name of a 65-acre state park managed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation. The state park contains a beach area in its southern part. The area is known as ‘Natural Bridges State Beach’ as it used to have natural bridge-like arches in the water near the beach, which were formed out of mudstone cliffs being naturally eroded away into arches by the water. Earlier there used to be three such arches, however, only one remains which is a popular perching spot for birds now. The beach has light brown sand. The Moore Creek flows into the ocean through the beach area, often forming a lagoon on the southern end of the beach. The state park area also has a monarch butterfly sanctuary, coastal scrub, grasslands, and wetlands, which are present around the beach area. Although the beach has a lifeguard tower, an on-duty lifeguard is often not available. 

Located along the Santa Cruz County shoreline, Manresa State Beach is a large state-protected beach with light brown sand.  This beach is situated below oceanfront bluffs. It is important to know that the southern part of this state beach is also known as Manresa Uplands Beach. 

Located at the western end of the City of Santa Cruz, Steamer Lane is a very popular surfing spot in the city of Santa Cruz. The beach area has very little sand and is composed mostly of bluff side walls and rocky boulders. You might get some sandy areas during low tide but it’s not an ideal beach for quietly basking in the sun. Surfer Magazine in 2009 designated Santa Cruz as the "best surfing town" and wrote of Steamer Lane as a "world-class right-hand reef-point." The beach earned its name when earlier surfers on the beach would look out for waves in the naval lanes used by steamships heading towards the Santa Cruz Wharf. The beach area is always bustling with surfers looking for a piece of large and fast-paced waves found in the waters here. Situated to the west of Steamer Lane is Lighthouse Field State Beach along with the iconic Santa Cruz Lighthouse, while to the south is a blufftop shelf also used by surfers. 

Capitola Beach is a popular spot in the charming seaside town of Capitola. Known as California’s oldest resort town, Capitola has a lively atmosphere with a beach that features colorful, Mediterranean-style buildings. Capitola Beach is part of Soquel Cove, a 3.5-mile bay on the eastern Santa Cruz County coast. The beach has been named the 16th Best Beach in the Top 50 Beaches in the United States list in 2022 by Randall Kaplan, the world's foremost beach expert who is known as "Mr. Beach.”

The western side of Capitola Beach has rocks that make the waters calm and perfect for swimming. The eastern side has more waves, which attract surfers. Lifeguards are only present during special events and busy times. Visitors can use restrooms, showers, concession stands, boogie boards, umbrellas, chairs, and seating areas. Dogs are not allowed on Capitola Beach.