Jade Cove Beach

Located on the southern part of the Big Sur coastline, Jade Cove is a small cove with a popular rocky beach. The beach is famous for its natural deposits of jade. We recommend wearing appropriate footwear while visiting the beach as the rocks on the beach are uneven, jagged, and slippery. The water near Jade Cove has strong currents and unruly waves, so we recommend being careful here. The beach is located below a blufftop forested area (which is a part of the Los Padres National Forest) and the shoreline around the beach is composed of rocky cliffs. 

The beach in Jade Cove does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, so prepare accordingly.

The beach in Jade Cove offers many activities including beachcombing, tidepooling, rock hounding, scuba diving, snorkelling, fishing, wildlife watching, kayaking, canoeing, boating, surfing, sunbathing, swimming, and boating. The beach in Jade Cove is extremely popular among geology aficionados and rock collecting hobbyists due to its large amount of jade deposits. If you are planning to visit Jade Cove for collecting jade, we recommend visiting the beach during low tide and preferably after a winter sea-storm as jade deposits can be easily found and collected on the beach during this time. We also recommend paying heed to the signs posted on the beach which specify the local regulations for collecting jade here. Another way of collecting jade in Jade Cove is by scuba-diving in the water near the beach, which is known to have a large amount of deposits. As an interesting fact, in 1971 divers found a 9,000 pound jade boulder from the water near Jade Cove which was around eight feet tall and was worth $180,000. If you aren’t interested in collecting rock, you can also explore the tidepools present in the beach in Jade Cove. The water near Jade Cove is also home to a variety of animals including seals, sea lions, otters, and migrating grey whales (between December and April). If you are planning to go into the water near Jade Cove, we recommend being very careful as the water here is known for dangerous rip currents and strong waves. Moreover, the rocky coastline can also inflict some grave injuries. Jade Cove is also a great fishing spot - you can catch a variety of fish here including bass, surfperch, grass fish, and cabezon. However, we recommend being careful while fishing and complying with the local fishing regulations as the water around Jade Cove is part of a marine reserve.

Getting to Jade Cove Beach is easy - the short but steep access trail to the beach is located near 69232 Cabrillo Highway. As the access trail is rocky, we recommend being careful. There is a free parking lot near the start of the access trail.

The annual Big Sur Jade Festival is held in October near Jade Cove and sees a number of exhibitions, vendor stalls selling jewelry and art, and live music performances near the beach (the event is hosted by Pacific Valley School, located near Jade Cove). There are many attractions near Jade Cove. The Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument is set in the palatial estate which was formerly the home of the famous newspaper baron William Randolph Hearst. The site features the Hearst Castle, the businessman’s lavish mansion and also has interesting art galleries, historical exhibitions, a visitor center, and a gift shop. The Salmon Creek Falls is situated within the Los Padres National Forest and offers some great Instagram-worthy pictures. If you are looking for another nice attraction near Jade Cove, the New Camaldoli Hermitage has lush public gardens that also offer a pleasant view of the Pacific Ocean. In addition, the hermitage also offers a bookstore.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Jade Cove. Lucia Lodge Restaurant is an upscale restaurant which was awarded Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice award in 2020 and offers a pleasant oceanfront dining experience. In addition, the restaurant also serves great seafood and sandwiches. Ragged Point Inn is located 25 minutes away by car and offers excellent seafood dishes and steaks. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Jade Cove, the modestly priced Whale Watcher’s Cafe features an exquisite marine-themed dining area and serves excellent seafood dishes.

If you are looking for a hotel near Jade Cove, there are many great nearby options. If you are looking for an upscale hotel, the 5-Star Ventana Big Sur is 45 minutes away by car and offers many amenities including a restaurant, a clothing optional pool, a sauna, a fitness center, a spa , complimentary breakfast, wine-and cheese receptions, yoga and tai-chi classes, and arrangements for guided tours in the Big Sur region. The 3-Star Gorda Springs Resort offers many amenities including two restaurants, an espresso bar, and a general store. A more affordable and interesting hotel is the 3-Star Treebones Resort which offers accommodation in exquisite yurt tents and offers numerous amenities including two restaurants, a pool, a hot tub, complimentary breakfast, and arrangements for yoga classes. If you are looking for a good and affordable hotel near Jade Cove, the modestly priced 2-Star Lucia Lodge offers many amenities including a restaurant, a deck, a patio, complimentary breakfast, and a seasonal convenience store with a gift shop.