Top beaches
BeachBaker Beach
BeachOcean Beach
BeachGlass Beach
BeachCabrillo Beach
BeachGoat Rock Beach
BeachRodeo Beach
BeachChina Beach, San Francisco
BeachMarine Street Beach
BeachZuma Beach
BeachBowling Ball Beach
BeachLeadbetter Beach
BeachBlack's Beach
Beaches by county
- City and County of San Francisco6
- Los Angeles County5
- Marin County8
- San Diego County4
- San Mateo County5
- Santa Barbara County7
All beaches (48)
| Name | County | Elevation | Nearest town | Sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baker BeachGolden Gate | City and County of San Francisco | 3 m | Parkside | 8 |
| Ocean Beach | City and County of San Francisco | 4 m | Parkside | 8 |
| Glass Beach | Mendocino County | — | Fort Bragg | 5 |
| Cabrillo Beach | Los Angeles County | 2 m | San Pedro | 8 |
| Goat Rock Beach | Sonoma County | 4 m | Monte Rio | 4 |
| Rodeo BeachGolden Gate | Marin County | 5 m | Marin City | 7 |
| China Beach, San Francisco | City and County of San Francisco | 1 m | Parkside | 8 |
| Marine Street Beach | San Diego County | 4 m | La Jolla | 7 |
| Zuma Beach | Los Angeles County | 5 m | Malibu | 6 |
| Bowling Ball Beach | Mendocino County | 1 m | Sea Ranch | 3 |
| Leadbetter Beach | Santa Barbara County | 5 m | Santa Barbara | 7 |
| Black's Beach | San Diego County | — | La Jolla | 6 |
| Pfeiffer Beach | Monterey County | 5 m | Big Sur | 3 |
| Sand Dollar Beach | Monterey County | 1 m | King City | 3 |
| East Beach | Santa Barbara County | — | Santa Barbara | 7 |
| Rincon Beach County Park | Ventura County | — | Carpinteria | 5 |
| Arroyo Burro Beach | Santa Barbara County | — | Santa Barbara | 6 |
| Children's Pool Beach | San Diego County | — | La Jolla | 7 |
| Martin's Beach | San Mateo County | — | Half Moon Bay | 5 |
| Albany Beach | Alameda County | — | Albany | 8 |
| Doran Regional Park | Sonoma County | — | Bodega Bay | 4 |
| Goleta Beach | Santa Barbara County | — | Isla Vista | 7 |
| Shelter Cove, Pacifica, California | San Mateo County | — | Pacifica | 7 |
| Barker BeachAlcatraz Island | City and County of San Francisco | — | Chinatown | 8 |
| El Porto Beach | Los Angeles County | — | El Segundo | 8 |
| Poplar Beach | San Mateo County | — | Half Moon Bay | 6 |
| Shell Beach | San Diego County | — | La Jolla | 7 |
| Miramar Beach | San Mateo County | 6 m | El Granada | 6 |
| RAT Beach | Los Angeles County | 1 m | Palos Verdes Estates | 8 |
| San Gregorio nude beach | San Mateo County | 6 m | Half Moon Bay | 5 |
| Abbotts Lagoon BeachPoint Reyes | Marin County | — | Inverness | 4 |
| Cathedral BeachYosemite | Mariposa County | — | Yosemite Valley | 3 |
| Radio Beach | Alameda County | — | Emeryville | 8 |
| Solimar Beach | Ventura County | — | Ventura | 6 |
| 1 - Restoring Habitat - Muir Beach ADGolden Gate | Marin County | 6 m | Tamalpais Valley | 7 |
| Coastal Trail: Crescent BeachRedwood | Del Norte County | 4 m | Bertsch-Oceanview | 4 |
| Glass Beach | Contra Costa County | — | Benicia | 7 |
| 3 - First Stewards - Muir Beach ADGolden Gate | Marin County | — | Tamalpais Valley | 7 |
| 4 - Red-Legged Frog Returns - Muir Beach ADGolden Gate | Marin County | — | Tamalpais Valley | 7 |
| 5 - Healthy Watershed - Muir Beach ADGolden Gate | Marin County | — | Tamalpais Valley | 7 |
| 6 - Farming and Culture: Muir Beach ADGolden Gate | Marin County | — | Tamalpais Valley | 7 |
| Backcountry Beach Camping Northwest QuadrantChannel Islands | Santa Barbara County | — | Isla Vista | 3 |
| Backcountry Beach Camping Southeast QuadrantChannel Islands | Santa Barbara County | — | Isla Vista | 3 |
| Backcountry Beach Camping Southwest QuadrantChannel Islands | Santa Barbara County | — | Isla Vista | 3 |
| Bay Street Beach Historic District | Los Angeles County | — | Santa Monica | 9 |
| Black Sands BeachGolden Gate | Marin County | — | Sausalito | 7 |
| China Beach MonumentGolden Gate | City and County of San Francisco | — | Parkside | 8 |
| China Beach and BathhouseGolden Gate | City and County of San Francisco | — | Parkside | 8 |
Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).
Map
How to photograph beaches
Beaches facing east suit sunrise and west-facing beaches suit sunset; wet sand mirrors the sky color during golden hour.
- Time visits around low tide to reveal tide pools, sea stacks and reflective sand — check the tide widget below.
- Slow shutter speeds (0.5–2 s) turn receding waves into streaks that lead toward the horizon.
- Watch for sneaker waves; never turn your back on the ocean on exposed coasts.
- Salt spray coats lenses quickly; wipe often and rinse gear afterward.
- Fog and marine layers can make minimalist images; don't give up on grey days.
Season: Winter storms bring dramatic surf on Pacific coasts; summer and autumn sunsets are popular on Atlantic and Gulf beaches.