Gray Whale Cove State Beach [Suggest Edits]

Description

An 800 foot long beach in a sheltered cove surrounded by cliffs with steep rocky promontories on both ends. On warm, summer weekends, it can get crowded, but on cooler, cloudy days, especially in the mornings, you often can have this isolated and wild beach entirely to yourself. It is a great place to watch the waves, especially when the surf is high. There is a small picnic area on the bluff above, which is perfect for watching sunsets, although it can be cool and breezy. Migrating whales are sometimes seen passing by in the late fall and early spring.

The bounding promontories contain rocks that are 70 to 150 million years old. They were once part of the southern extension of the Sierra Nevada, but have been pushed north about 350 miles by movements of the San Andreas fault.

There are great family friendly trails nearby, especially the spectacular Devil's Slide Trail and the flowery Gray Whale Cove Trail.

Short Walk: There is a large parking lot across Highway 1. There are no fees for parking or for the beach and on warm, summer weekends, the lot can get crowded. A steep paved trail leads down to the bluff, and from there, a long wooden stairway leads to the beach.

Family Friendly: Sand, waves, picnics, easy hiking trails nearby.

Gem Type: Family Attraction