Moran Lake Beach(26th Avenue Beach)

Located in the Live Oak neighborhood of Santa Cruz County, Moran Lake County Park is a 9.2-acre park that has a beach area with pale cream sand on its southern part. The park area has a lake that is nourished by an upriver watershed, and the lake sometimes overflows and forms a lagoon on the beach area. The park has groves of eucalyptus trees in its northern parts. During low tide, you can north walk from the beach area along the rocky cliff-side walls running through the shoreline to access the neighboring Corcoran Lagoon Beach. Although the beach does not have any lifeguards, the beach offers a variety of amenities including restrooms, picnic tables, and walking paths, while also allowing pets on a leash. The park is easy to access - it’s situated on 22798 East Cliff Drive, and there is a free parking lot situated adjacent to the park area.

Moran Lake Park Beach offers many fun activities including surfing, swimming, fishing, picnicking, sunbathing, beach-walking, kitesurfing, swimming, beachcombing, snorkeling, hiking, biking, bodysurfing, wildlife watching, paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing, and boating. The beach is a favorite spot for beachgoers looking for a quiet time away from the more noisy and crowded Santa Cruz beaches including the Twin Lakes State Beach and the Santa Cruz Main Beach. The water near the beach offers less crowded surfing and boating area.

From the beach, you can look out into the ocean for dolphins, otters, seals, sea lions, migrating whales, and rare marine birds. The beach is also popular with pet lovers looking for a relaxing time with their pets since this is one of the few less crowded Santa Cruz beaches that allow pets. Moran Lake County Park also has a half-mile-long dirt trail running along the north of the beach area towards the eucalyptus tree groves which is popular with hikers and bikers. The eucalyptus groves are also a temporary home of monarch butterflies which migrate here usually between mid-October and mid-February seeking shelter from cold winds. The Moran Lake is also a popular fishing site with halibuts and surfperches being some frequent catches here. The park is also famous among birdwatchers as a variety of bird species are often found visiting the lake and the parking area. The lake water sometimes floods and overflows into the ocean, in which case we recommend not swimming in the ocean due to possible microbial contamination from the lake water.

If you're looking for a restaurant, Makai Island Kitchen and Groggery is a high-end bar and grill serving delicious Polynesian seafood dishes and a range of cocktails while providing a memorable oceanfront fine dining experience. Another family-friendly option is Kianti’s Pizza and Pasta Bar, which offers a pleasant outdoor patio dining area and organizes exciting live shows on weekend evenings. Seabright Deli is a great budget dining option offering excellent sandwiches at economical prices.

If you are looking for a hotel near Moran Lake Park Beach, there are many great options. The Dream Inn Santa Cruz offers luxurious suites along with several amenities including a pool and an in-house bar. Another, more affordable accommodation option is the 2-Star Fern River Resort, which is situated 22 minutes away and offers well-furnished cabins along with a variety of amenities including a game room, a private beach, and barbecue spots. Another excellent is the modestly priced 2-Star Riverside Inn & Suites.