South of Crescent City, CA-- which is probably the last "city" you'll come to heading north on US 101 (before you're in Oregon, anyway)-- is Crescent Beach. A vast expanse of sandy beach stretching for a couple of miles south of town, the beach is a beachcombers paradise: never crowded, heavily influenced by tide and wave conditions, and littered with driftwood, sand dollars, shells, and even a few occasional surprises like floats and sea glass.
The farther south you venture, the more "wild" the beach becomes-- if you drive a bit south of town on Enderts Beach Rd. and access the beach through one of the little deer trails down to the sand, you essentially have the place to yourself.
We visited the area for Thanksgiving, and walked out on the beach around low tide to see what we could see. Quite literally, there was NO ONE else on the beach as far as we could see. Almost eerie, had it not been so beautiful.
The sand dunes are flanked by a thick blackberry briar, and in season, you can pick all the juicy sweet berries you can eat. Best to watch out for the occasional black bear or deer doing the same thing.
As a SoCal native, the idea of finding a beach so empty like this is indeed a special thing. The Redwood Coast holds a special place in my heart, and a place like Crescent Beach is just one example why. I first came here more than 20 years ago with my fiance, who had only said "yes" a couple days before on the banks of the Smith River when I had asked her.
Your results may vary... but guaranteed if you're used to places like Huntington, Newport, or Santa Monica... Crescent Beach (like many stretches of sand along this stretch of coastline) will leave a lasting impact on your idea of what a beach can be. read more