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    Davenport Beach

    4.4 (161 reviews)

    Davenport Beach Beaches Photos

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    Pier/swing
    Annabelle R.

    There's no sign out front and you'll probably lose gps signal on the way over, but if you're driving from Santa Cruz, after you see and pass Davenport Roadhouse and several other businesses to your right, you'll see two consecutive parking lots on your left (that's where Davenport Beach is). The climb down wasn't that bad, I had imagined much worse, but there was a lot to grab onto with my hands and feet, making it manageable and less intimidating. Though, I'd still advise visitors to be careful of loose rocks, and don't wear sandals. That rope is a lifesaver, not necessary, but I felt comfortable just knowing it was there in case I slipped or needed help with the climb that left me with chalky hands and rock dust and dirt all over my clothing. Came before 5pm this past Saturday in late June, and the weather was perfect, a bit foggy but enough sun shining through to create a nice warmth to go along with the cool breeze. Soaked up the sun and the beauty of nature all around. Explored the area and found some waterfalls flowing from caves and rock formations on the cliff walls, while walking along the sandy shore in the direction of Shark Fin Cove. The tide was low enough so that the famous swing hanging from the sunken pier was accessible... a popular spot for photos. Brought my beach mat for napping, and simply relaxed in this serene atmosphere, with just a handful of visitors while I was there, along with a couple dogs. I actually like that the scary climb can deter most families with young kids from visiting, which allows for a more peaceful and secluded feel at this beach, a big part of the appeal of this place for me. Decided to leave as the tide started rising, and the climb back up required a little more energy and was slightly more challenging. But obviously I made it! :D

    The relics of the Davenport Pier at low tide
    Tiffany P.

    One of my fave pit stops along PCH! Perfect for anyone feeling adventurous and looking to unwind. To get to the beach, we scaled down the cliff with a rope. Lucky for us, the tide was low, so we ran over to the swing hanging from the relics of the Davenport pier - a super fun experience and photo op :) This was a serene place with zero crowds and rough, spectacular waves. Keep a close eye on the tide tables!

    Bekah C.

    We were absolutely shocked no one was down at the beach/swing. Until we saw how you get down there... The hike down isn't for the average joe. It's definitely a bit steep and difficult in Birkenstocks. (Speaking from experience.) But it's totally worth it! It's such a fun stop along the PCH. How many people can say they took a swing at the old Davenport Pier beach?

    Davenport swing is up
    Jael C.

    There's plenty of parking on the side of the highway. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes because you'll be using a rope and climbing down rocks to get to the swing.

    Paris T.

    A long overdue review on my part, but Davenport Beach was a fun and spontaneous experience for me. I visited specifically just to hangout on the beach and see the awesome swing. Parking was easy to find, but there's an interesting hike down you need to take in order to get to the beach on a cliff basically. There's a rope to hold though so it wasn't too intense. The swing itself is very fun and a great photo op. There's a lot more explore and see on the beach as well. As long as you know what you are getting yourself into this is a fun beach to visit!

    Ultima M.

    Awesome views So thankful I got to come here and be reminded of how beautiful California is Life is great Covid sucks but the beach doesn't lol Had to take a little mini hike to get to the cliff in order to take pictures but it was fun and worth it Next time I'll try the "swings"

    Connie W.

    2 wks ago on 7/16/21, we stopped by to look down from the cliff and saw no swing, but today on 7/31/21 a swing was on. I think there are public officials who take down the swing to discourage people from coming here because the trail down is treacherous. But it is futile because people continues ro put it up. Example, there is a bubble gum alley in SLO that the city would clear out but then it would be repopulated again and again, I admit that it's a pretty cool feeling to be swinging out to the ocean and of course jumping off at the height into low tide is a must. I thought going down would be harder than coming up but actually both directions are quite difficult. There is a porta potty at the parking area and I am thankful for it to keep the area clean. Next time I come, I will bring a bag to collect garbage on the beach.

    110 feet
    Glen N.

    First, it appears that Yelpers are confusing Davenport Beach with Davenport Pier Beach. Confusing things further is that Davenport Beach is also known as San Vicente Beach. Davenport Beach is where you can access the "Davenport Crack". Based on the graffiti at Davenport Pier Beach, that's where you might access actual crack. Jokes aside, Davenport Pier Beach, the northern side aka Davenport Bluffs, has an amazing photo op: a swing made from the foundation arches of a pier no longer there, known to be high on photographer bucket lists to frame winter sunsets. At 110 feet, the bluffs are so steep that I get dizzy just six feet from the edge, but there is a steep route on unstable, perpetually eroding rock to the bottom making it one of nine of "these beaches in California are the hardest to get to (but worth it)" [Google it]

    Ceci L.

    Is a good spot. People are a little dirty they don't care with their garbage. The way to the swing is dangerous be careful because is a cliff.

    Beautiful view. We did not go on beach. There was no access that appeared to be safe. They did have a rope you could hold on too and go down the cliff with what appeared to be man made steps cut into the hill side.However I wasn't going to try.

    Davenport Pier seen 7/18/20
    Ann L.

    I went to Davenport Pier I guess it's the same as Davenport Beach Sat 7/18/20. It's after Swanton Berry Farm coming from HMB. Park along Hwy 1 when u see train track sign. Saw a small dirt parking lot on the right too. We followed the people cuz we hadn't been there before. If it's busy gotta wait for people heading up to get to the top before going down because you have to walk along a sketchy cliff and only one way up & down. Once down you can walk on the beach, take pics of the pier, someone took the famous swing down, hope it's only temporary due to Covid19. There's a waterfall looks like from a cave. Not sure what's in the cave cuz I wasn't going to climb up that. We spent maybe 30min total. Might go back next year see if swing is back, maybe in June and a lot early in the day. We went in afternoon 3:10pm and too many people. Lots of trash, no trash cans so please pack your stuff out! No restrooms either.

    Maureen M.

    This review for Davenport Beach is after Covid happens. Pros: - Absolutely breathtaking views - Sand is white, not many trash when we visited this beach - Parking is free, lots of parking spots when you arrive early. Like before 12pm. When we checked out this place on our way home, the parking was almost impossible to get, and the beach got really crowded by that time. (Around 4pm-ish) Cons: - The hike to go down, man, if you have heigh phobia like me, just pack your bags, and leave. The view is breathtaking from your spot, that's a given. But have you tried looking down? My knees even shaking right now remembering the feeling that my iphone11 pro max might fell down. Don't go down there!! If you think you can do it, wear a proper shoes!! Don't just wear flipflops and think that you're not gonna lose your balance! The hiking to get down there can be steep and dangerous! Read all the reviews, there was one review stating that there was a man who died from hiking down to get to the beach. So be extra careful! If you bring kids, find another beach! This beach is not kid friendly! Lot's of nudist people that might not be kids friendly!

    Nina H.

    Of the beaches I visited with my dog in Santa Cruz, this was my favorite. The sand was great, I went on a Monday so it was super quiet, and had a nice section all to ourselves.

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    What can I say? Davenport is beautiful. Great beach across from the roadhouse, great Beach further down. Good clean beaches all around.

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Davenport Beach

    Are we allowed to bring charcoal grill on the beach?

    Are dogs allowed?

    Yes, dogs are allowed in Davenport Beach however they must be leashed at all times.

    Are there bathrooms nearby?

    Davenport landing up the road has them. Davenport and the Davenport bluffs do not

    Does anyone know if the swing is still up?

    Yes. Just went and it's up!

    How do I get down to the beach?

    Their are a couple beaches, the most beach friendly access is off of Davenport landing road, you'll find that road just a little ways up (north) Hwy 1 just outside of the towny area. Take a left onto that road and head down the road until you see… Read more

    Are bonfires allowed at this beach?

    I heard the swing was possibly broken. Does anyone know if it has been repaired?

    Hi Heidi! I just went back in october and the swing was up and functioning! Have fun & be careful going down!

    Can you spend the night here without getting kicked out?

    It's illegal to be on the beach and the sheriff's deputies patrol regularly. Plus they give $100 tickets for parking after 10 p.m.

    View All 15 Questions

    Review Highlights - Davenport Beach

    We spent the day at shark fin cove rather and that hike down wasn't too bad, I managed to do it in flip flops!

    Mentioned in 13 reviews

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    Waddell Beach - Steep steps to get to beach level.

    Waddell Beach

    4.4(30 reviews)
    7.5 mi

    I LOVE to take trips down Highway 1. Local day trips often just take me anywhere from Bodega Bay…read moreup north to Monterey down south, but most times just from the stretch of Pacifica to Santa Cruz. And when I cruise down leisurely down this glorious highway, I won't just gun the vehicle and go from destination to destination. I like to randomly stop at little towns, beaches, roadhouse eateries that's dotted along the way. There are so many beaches on highway 1. I'm still exploring around myself. Pulled in onto this beach as they had a big parking area on the cliffside. This is in-between Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay, super close to the road that you can take to go to Big Basin. This is not a lying around type of beach. It is very raw and very windy for some reason. Lots of seabirds on parts of the beach, lots of stranded seaweed and due to the wind, lots of white water surf. And a big attraction here actually is due to the surf and wind conditions. Lots of surfers and wind-surfers here that it'll catch your eye even from the highway. Wind surfers are these skilled and brave souls that go out in rough seawater with a parachute like apparatus connected to them, as so they can take flight and take leaps almost at bird level. And they are able to surf more waves without being pounded by rough waves, as they are able to jump from wave to wave via air/wind. Even tho it was too windy for me to sit out there for longer than 30 minutes, it was a blast watching these guys bounce and float around in what would otherwise be dangerous waters. I'm eventually going to knock out all the beaches from Santa Cruz to Half Moon Bay, and this one was a special one to knock out.

    Such a beautiful beach! It was very windy and cold and I imagine it's like this all the time. But I…read morestill enjoyed my 2 mile walk along the beach. This place has bathrooms and parking. It's pretty big so I can't see it getting crowded.

    Photos
    Waddell Beach - Vibe

    Vibe

    Waddell Beach
    Waddell Beach

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    4 Mile Beach - Cool tunnel

    4 Mile Beach

    5.0(1 review)
    3.4 mi

    Enjoying this secluded beach starts with a small concrete parking lot with severely damaged uneven…read moresurface and plenty of dips, and no actually "spaces" (just find a way to make your car fit)... an adventure for your car! The trek from there involves following a dirt path among plantlife and walking down a rocky hill, even crossing over train tracks along the way... only a quarter mile, but feels a lot longer (Is that why they call it "4 mile"?!?). It's all worth it once you lay eyes on the beautiful sandy shore, And the moment you enter and step onto the sand, there's a small pond to your right with ducks! What a pleasant surprise to be found at the beach :D On a Sunday afternoon, there were just a handful of visitors, couples and families stretched out on their mats or little tents, enjoying the sunshine and sound of the waves. Surfers doing their thing on the water. A few dogs running free. Surfboards sitting inside a small cave-like tunnel, a cool formation along the mudstone cliffs, that you can actually go inside. A piece of advice, on a windy day, be prepared for sand to blow onto your belongings, especially if you have food or drinks, you may want to have your back to the wind to prevent the sand from ruining a good meal while picnicking. But it's easy to shake off your blankets and tents and such, so don't be afraid to get a little dirty as you lie in the sun and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. One thing I did not like is that there is no cell service here (T-Mobile). But other than that, I loved everything about this place. And if you're not a big fan of all of the crowds closer to the Boardwalk but you want to be near the water, Four Mile Beach is definitely worth checking out.

    Photos
    4 Mile Beach - Rocky area

    Rocky area

    4 Mile Beach - Pond with ducks

    Pond with ducks

    4 Mile Beach - Beach

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    Beach

    Boony Doon Beach - Beach sign

    Boony Doon Beach

    4.0(9 reviews)
    3.0 mi

    Absolutely appalling. A nude beach -- with zero warning signs posted anywhere. How is this even…read moreallowed? We saw families arriving with young children, completely unaware of what they were walking into. Two different families set up early in the morning, only to pack up and leave within the hour -- we quickly realized why, I'm sure they didn't want their family around all this. Nudity shouldn't be allowed on a public beach with zero warnings. As noon approached, the beach filled with fully nude adults, many of them elderly. Even if they stayed in their own area, they were still completely visible to everyone on the beach. It was disturbing and frankly disgusting. We didn't have kids with us, so we stayed a little longer, but it ruined our Sunday morning. There should be clear, visible warnings -- this should not be allowed in a public space without them. I attached pictures of the signs...not a single warning or disclosure that nudity is allowed.

    First time in the area, very beautiful hike and views. We took the trail from shark fin cover and…read morefound this beach. Had no idea it was partial a nudist beach. Until we saw them from above (no big deal) we thought it was cool. We kept on with our hike and on our way back we see a 3some going on. Two guys and a woman. Broad daylight, there's kids and families to the left of them about 100 feet but it's an open concept so I'm sure it was visible to them. Just wasn't expecting to come across that on a Monday evening. Rules should definitely be enforced specially since it's also gonna be a family beach.

    Photos
    Boony Doon Beach - Beach sign

    Beach sign

    Boony Doon Beach - Nice place to relax.!

    Nice place to relax.!

    Boony Doon Beach

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    Coast Dairies - The path from the lot is steep.

    Coast Dairies

    3.3(10 reviews)
    1.9 mi

    This beach is picturesque, but dangerous and difficult to access. It's not recommended for children…read moreor anybody who can't handle the steep incline. There's no bathrooms, jellyfish are abundant on the shore and wash up and back with the waves...with violent riptides even near the shore. Out on the rocks people are able to fish for perch, but the whole area is very windy and when lying down you'll be inundated with sand. The parking area is the second one past Laguna when driving north on PCH. It's far easier to navigate the steep cliff going down in shoes. Many of us were barefoot or in sandals and it really slows you down. As such, you're not going to easily get large objects like cool chests down to the beach. You'll not likely want to make multiple trips to the car either. The trash is still a concern as young people leave cans and bottles everywhere. Like some Yelpers have posted, I didn't experience any nudity, nor did anyone ask me to have sex with them, however, I suspect this area is not patrolled often because of it's limited access. I saw people drinking beer without impunity and so it's not hard to imagine, given this beach also appears in nudist beach listings in search results. In my experience, it was younger adults in groups, everyone was dressed. Two people were fishing. There's an arch in the cliffs which leads to another beach to the left, and then rock formations you can carefully walk out on to the right and fish from. It appears high tide covers these areas, so keep that in mind. There were at least 60 people on the beach, so I don't understand the posts about being quiet and secluded, either. This property used to be owned by a dairy company and was ceded to the state, which explains it not having a long public history and the abandoned railroad tracks paralleling PCH. Nobody was surfing or out in the water and that's good, because the riptides are especially fierce and very close to shore. If there's no jellyfish you can walk in the surf washing up but that's about it. I wouldn't recommend going into the water and wouldn't stay on the other side of the arch on the beach when the tide is rising. I also noticed there's no cellular reception, either.

    Beautiful, hidden beach with crashing waves and nary a soul. Park at the dusty little lot straight…read moreoff of Laguna Rd on Hwy 1. If you can't find it, the coordinates are (36.986927, -122.156281). From there to the beach, cross the road, go over the railroad track, past the field of poison ivy and down the sandy, rocky ledge. Needless to say, this path is not for the handicapped. The waves are rough and the wind strong; swimming is not advised. But the sand is warm and untouched. Walking further along, there's a lagoon of waste water surrounded by seagulls (and seagull poop!) Along the cliffs at the edge of this small stretch of peaceful and picturesque, tide pools with sea anemones and sea snails can be seen at low tide. This is your chance to go off the beaten track and take the road less traveled. At least until this too becomes popular.

    Photos
    Coast Dairies
    Coast Dairies
    Coast Dairies

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    Greyhound Rock State Marine Conservation Area

    Greyhound Rock State Marine Conservation Area

    4.0(2 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    Greyhound Rock is one of my favorite stops along Highway 1. There's lots of parking, the beach…read moreitself is massive, and it's easy to spread out and explore. The tide pools are fantastic, and there's so much marine life to find -- I even saw my first octopus here, which was incredibly exciting. The beach is full of different little areas to wander, and it's a great spot if you enjoy exploring and looking for critters. That said, the access is a real problem. The trail down is very steep and not elderly-friendly at all. The main path has collapsed toward the end, and while there's an alternative route, it's not well set in or particularly safe. The trail is also very overgrown, which makes the descent even more difficult. The park service really needs to address the access issues, because the beach itself deserves better infrastructure.

    To me and my BF Joe K, there is nothing better than visiting a coastal town or city along the…read morePacific Ocean. Santa Cruz is one of our favorite vacation spots. And what is even better, we can visit a marine conservation area. While we were visiting a friend who lives in said city, he gave us a site seeing tour of a few of his favorite public beaches that were actually somewhat secluded. Davenport is a nearby town outside of Santa Cruz, where you will find some nice accessible beaches, like Greyhound Rock. It doesn't look like a Greyhound to me, but it is grey. It almost seems like a private beach, because there are less tourists who are aware of this location. There is plenty of parking in the lot with restrooms nearby. It is government protected and mostly the locals seem to make use of the area, because it is a bit out of the way from the more touristy places of Santa Cruz. We spent some relaxing and leisurely time gazing from the look outs and listening to the crashing waves of the ocean. I never get tired of the scenic views, and contemplating and appreciating what Mother Earth has created. I just wish that all human beings were aware of how important protecting this planet is for our survival....

    Photos
    Greyhound Rock State Marine Conservation Area
    Greyhound Rock State Marine Conservation Area
    Greyhound Rock State Marine Conservation Area - Tide pools!

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    Tide pools!

    Davenport Beach - beaches - Updated May 2026

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