701 West Cliff Drive
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

831-420-5270, 831-420-6289 (surf museum)

7 am to 10 pm year round
Museum open Noon to 4 pm, Wednesday - Monday (closed Tuesdays)

Map to Park

No fees.

Also known as Point Santa Cruz, this area forms the northern boundary of Monterey Bay. It is one of the last open headlands in any California urban area. Surfers, tourists, birds - including the rare black swift - and wintering monarch butterflies are drawn to this area. Sea lions populate the offshore rocks. The lighthouse is home to California's first surfing museum and is the location each Christmas for "Caroling under the Stars," a Santa Cruz tradition which attracts hundreds of locals and visitors. Overlooking the internationally renowned surfing hotspot Steamer Lane, this museum has photographs, surfboards, and other interesting items tracing over 100 years of surfing history in Santa Cruz.

Directions
From Santa Cruz, follow Hwy 1 until it becomes Mission Street. Turn left on Bay Street, stay on Bay until it dead-ends on West Cliff Drive. Turn right on West Cliff Drive; beach is approximately .5 mile on your left.

Camping
No camping.

Accessibility
Restrooms
Picnic tables
Museum

Climate/Clothing
Usually warm and sunny, although sometimes beach fog can appear suddenly. Layered clothing is advised.

Amenities
Restrooms
Outdoor showers
Picnic tables

Educational Activities
Surfing Museum