Located on the southern part of the Wilder Ranch State Park, Wilder Beach is a beach where visitors are prohibited. Wilder Beach is a nesting ground for the critically endangered snowy plover bird, which has prompted the state park authorities to designate this site as a natural preserve forbidden to all human activity and presence. The beach area, however, is a regular haunt of nature aficionados who like to explore ‘natural’ beaches. Although you cannot walk on the beach, visitors can observe the beach at a nearby observation point situated next to a hiking trail near the beach. There are five other beaches in the state park area which allow humans – these can be accessed by traveling further along the coastline via state park hiking trail. These include Strawberry Beach, which has a secluded location along the state park coastline, and Four Mile Beach, which is a popular surfing spot. There is also an inland portion of Wilder Ranch State Park lying further north of the beach (near the state park visitor center) featuring a renovated 19th-century ranch. The beach is easily accessible from the Wilder Ranch State Park visitor center via a brief hiking trail. You can park at the state park parking lot and from there take the hiking trail to the beach (known as the Old Cove Landing Trail).
