Manresa State Beach

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. 

Manresa State Beach has many amenities including lifeguards, restrooms, picnic tables, and fire pits. Dogs on leash are allowed in Manresa State Beach. 

Manresa State Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife watching, fishing, picnicking, and surfing. The water near the beach is unsafe for recreational aquatic activities including swimming and paddleboarding as it has cold temperatures, dangerous currents, and considerable depth. In addition, shark attacks have also been documented in the water near this beach. However, highly experienced surfers occasionally go into the water here as it offers thrilling surfing waves. Depending on the time of the year, you can see many kinds of animals in the water near this beach including seals, sea lions, dolphins, sea otters, and migrating whales. If you like birdwatching, you can see many kinds of birds around the beach including whimbrels, scoters, pelicans, gulls, and willets. It is important to note that portions of the beach might be seasonally closed off to public access as the beach is used as a nesting ground by the Western snowy plover, which is listed as an endangered species under the federal 1973 Endangered Species Act. Manresa State Beach is also a popular fishing spot - you can catch many kinds of fish here including surfperch and halibut. However, if you are planning to fish in the water near Manresa State Beach, please make sure that you follow the local fishing regulations. Fire rings are also present in Manresa State Beach which offer a relaxing oceanfront bonfire session. The blufftop area near this beach is also a great bird-watching spot and you can view many kinds of birds here including finches, hummingbirds, and sparrows. In addition, the blufftop picnic spots present above Manresa State Beach also offer fantastic Instagram-worthy views of the Central California shoreline and the Pacific Ocean. If you like camping, the Manresa Uplands campground near the southern part of this beach is a tent-camping spot that is open for reservations from early spring until October. This campground offers a memorable oceanfront camping experience and offers many amenities including coin-operated showers and restrooms. If you are planning to camp in this campground, we recommend visiting Manresa State Beach’s webpage at the California Department of Parks and Recreation’s website for more information.

Getting to Manresa State beach is easy – the entrance for the beach is easily accessible from the nearby community of La Selva Beach and Pacific Coast Highway/Cabrillo Highway via San Andreas Road. Signs are present around San Andreas Road which offer directions for Manresa State Beach’s entrance. From the large paid parking lot near this entrance, you can easily walk to the beach via the access trails present here.

There are many attractions near Manresa State Beach. Callaghan Park is a 2.64-acre recreational park that has basketball courts, tennis courts, picnic tables, a cultural center, and a children’s playground. In addition, the park also has a cultural center and hosts many exciting programs for kids. The park also hosts movie screenings in July. The Rancho San Andrés Castro Adobe is a 19th-century rancho hacienda that was constructed in the mid-19th century. This hacienda offers a unique insight into California’s vibrant history. If you are looking for another attraction near Manresa State Beach, the Agricultural History Project Center & Museum has interesting historical exhibits related to agriculture. 

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Manresa State Beach. Persephone is an upscale restaurant that serves amazing gourmet dishes. Imura Japanese Restaurant offers amazing Japanese dishes including tempura, sashimi, and sukiyaki. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Manresa State Beach, the modestly priced El Frijolito Restaurant serves amazing Mexican dishes which are served in generous portions.

If you are looking for a hotel near Manresa State Beach, there are many great nearby options. The 4-Star Inn At Depot Hill offers many amenities including complimentary breakfasts, wine-and-cheese tasting sessions, and complimentary port, sherry, and desserts in the evening. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Best Western Seacliff Inn, which offers many amenities including a pool, gardens, fitness center, a coin-operated laundry, a restaurant, and complimentary breakfast. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Manresa State Beach, the 2-Star Valley Inn Watsonville offers complimentary breakfast. In addition, the hotel is located conveniently close to some of the major landmarks in Santa Cruz County.