Visited Seacliff State Beach this past summer listened to history talk that seemed a bit dated and not inclusive. I sat and listened as women of a period were described as loose without much context garnering laughter while the men patronizing these women not were derided with the same negativity or derogatory or dehumanizing remarks, that was my first stop there. The history talk could be improved especially since the parks preach inclusiveness. Later, I decided to buy a small pricey gift in their visitor center and the lady told me one amount and asked if I wanted receipt and I replied no. Once back to my car I noticed my Apple Pay transaction was not for the amount she gave me verbally and had to return to ask them to make that transaction right. I'll avoid that one in the future since it did not feel sincere and seems like just another post pandemic oopsy on purpose especially since I opted for no receipt. Therefore, pay attention and get your receipts on your purchases and make sure what they tell you to pay and what they charged actually matches! read more

Wow!! This beach is amazing!! A coworker of mine always comes to this beach with his family and I had seen his pictures on Facebook. My husband and I finally made it here. This beach is huge! There is an area to play beach volleyball. They also have bathrooms and showers. It's about 15-20 minutes past Santa Cruz and definitely has a more laid back chill atmosphere. Dogs are allowed which we love since we have our dog we like to take to the beach. There is a pier you can fish from. We didn't head up there but there were quite a few people on the pier. The end part was closed off. There are gorgeous views of the beach from the top of the stairs. We paid for parking not realizing there is lots of free parking right outside the paid parking. Oh well. Live and learn. There is also a way to park down right by the beach. Not sure how you get down there and if it's free or not. read more

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The family and I came here with a large group of people for Memorial weekend. We obviously wanted to stay as far away from Boardwalk as possible and actually enjoy the beach in it's most natural state. Since this is a state beach there is a parking fee, $10 for cars and it was $50 since we took a bus. It's a new concept since many are used to free beaches, but the money goes into the maintenance and preservation of Seacliff. Parking is up top and you take a flight of stairs all the way down to the beach. This beach is pretty popular as we noticed as most of the BBQ grills were taken and the beach was full of people. It could've been just because of the holiday weekend though. There have an abundance of tables and grills available for the public, a snack shack, restrooms and showers. On the beach there was also a Volleyball net set up for people to play with. This place also seemed to attract the athletic, because of those long flights of stairs! The thing that stood out the most at this beach was the pier that leads to the concrete freighter, The Palo Alto, which has a bit of history to it. Many fishers also reel in some catches on right on the pier, after looking at the catches it looked like a good day! Though the concrete ship is no longer open to the public it's beautifully mysterious and eerie parked at the end of the pier. Great place for big group or even for those just looking for a place to walk. Definitely would recommend this place to anyone looking for a beach grill out! read more

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I checked out the RV campsites: There's no privacy at all; practically, every RV is parked right next to each other! The only RV campsites worth reserving are the campsites at either end of the campground; the best campsites are #25/#26 via a very ominous, grey rock, retaining wall which affords more space. I guess you might as well bring your own barbecue grill while you're camping here in your RV; I didn't see grills supplied by the campground. Meanwhile, I visited the other side of the park which had fewer parking spaces, whereas the upper parking lot has more parking spaces; the beach appears to be pretty clean. Above the beach parking lot, you may capture more panoramic views of Seacliff State Park's Beach below, more so than down at the beach level. When I arrived before sunset, the snack bar was already closed so, forget about watching the sunset enjoying your snacks; please buy your snacks and beverages before heading to this State Park. read more

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A little piece of heaven. Nice and clean walking path that leads to fun places to eat and drink. There is a gift shop, museum and a sunken cement ship which are all fun places to explore. Not too crowded. You can pay to drive in and park or you can walk in for free. read more

I love this beach, and because I only visit from time to time, I don't mind giving it a good review. I'm usually here walking off a margarita after a killer meal at Manuels but I always have my dog with me and she loves to run around chasing seagulls as well. The top of the stairs in the parking lot is a great place to watch the sunset. The stairs themself are a thing of beauty and a popular outdoor gym amongst the locals. There is technically a leash law but in the winter months (my favorite beach time in Caly) the rangers rarely come by. Enjoy! read more

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i'd become quite the beach bum this past summer, and this was one of my favourites! beach: beautiful, smooth, sandy beach, plenty of space for larger groups, lots of grills and picnic benches (first-come, first-served, free of charge) parking: pay $10 to park inside the proper lot (upper or lower, lower is right next to the beach & grills) or park near the downtown aptos area for free, and walk a few extra minutes restrooms: plenty of unisex, flushable toilets & running water adjacent to the beach (psa: no soap, so bring hand sanitizer and/or wet wipes) at the end of the pier/boardwalk, there is a sunken ship, the ss palo alto, which was formerly a hotel/bar/lounge that unfortunately went up in flames. this is a wonderful beach to spend the day with friends, away from the more crowded beaches in santa cruz & capitola. read more

Great place to have a get together. For us, it was a boot camp on the Beach! Plenty of bathrooms too which is really good, especially when they're appropriately stocked. Clean beach. Awesome sinking ship at the end of the dock. read more

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Beautiful and well run RV overnight camping. I believe they are closed n out w due to the Winter of 2023 storms.

My friend and I really enjoyed our visit to Seacliff beach. We went on a holiday and surprisingly it wasn't busy or packed at all. The ocean was a beautiful deep blue, and the beach itself was all sand, no rocks. There was no trash and minimal "gunk" on the beach, as well as no smells. We didn't have many snacks but the seagulls were a non issue. A few dogs here and there but not to crazy. Good vibes overall! read more

I liked this beach a lot, even if it was crowded to the max and I prefer more solitary beaches. However there was this kind of familiar in a nice kid of way feeling and then the image of the concrete ship there (the Cement boat) was like arriving to some sort of lost paradise. I liked also that there were tons of different areas for BBQs and picnics and people seemed genuinely happy building tipi tents out of wood. I had a nice picnic myself and will come back. Nice 'pier' too. read more

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I spent a good part of a recent Saturday here. I wanted to try someplace different, which is the main reason I picked Seacliff as my beach destination. I then deliberately avoided reading up on it. That caused me to be more than pleasantly surprised to find that it has a good long stretch of sandy beach for walking and it's really clean. I also discovered that it's the home of S. S. Palo Alto ("The Cement Boat") the West Coast's most famous concrete ship. Though deteriorated and too far gone to board, the S.S. Palo Alto is still visible off Seacliff Beach. Originally launched in 1919, it was once connected by a pier and used as part of a local amusement park in the late 1920s until the company that owned it went out of business at the start of the Great Depression. A winter storm broke the ship in two; it was stripped for salvage and turned into a fishing pier. The pier juts out to the edge of the ship. On the day I was there the pier was covered with sea birds, but very sparsely populated with other beach-goers. Oh, and here's an additional reason to visit Seacliff State Beach - dogs are allowed here on leash :-) read more

Seacliff State Beach - Parks Near Me - Aptos, California

A beach that has a classic ship near shore is a very rare type to come by and is arguably the main attraction at this beach. In 1929 a concrete ship arrived near the beach and sank so they decided to make it a tourist attraction. And to make it so they added a dance floor, café, carnival booths and more. But the company that did this became bankrupt half a year later and all these attractions were stripped off the ship. And afterwards people could still enjoy the ship since it had a dock leading to it but that changed in 2016 when a storm damaged the dock and ship making it hazardous. It looks a lot like a shipwreck and it is so damaged that even the fishing piers last part is blocked off from the public. But from the looks of it the birds love it because the have taken over that area. Never the less it is worth the visit and you can still have so much fun on the beach, on the pier, and under the pier. read more

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The cement ship is an iconic tourist attraction that used to be in better shape but it still brings tourists. Not sure why. read more

Seacliff State Beach - Parks Near Me - Aptos, California

This is the beach famous for it's shipwreck, fishing and odors. There is pretty much unlimted parking in the state park area which will cost you ten dollars per car per day. The good news is that the ten dollar entrance fee is good for all state beaches that day. So if you are in a group, need to drop off a ton of gear by the pic nic grills(or the beach itself), have mobility issues, or are planning to visit other state beaches this is the thing to do. For everyone else you can try for the perimeter unimproved parking just outside the state park, or if you feel lucky the nearby side streets. For the non state parking, early birds are most definitely rewarded. Once you get in there is a lot to offer. No permit is required for fishing off the pier, and due to the closeness of the marine sanctuary the fishing here is superb. For bird watchers both the shipwreck and the nearby cliffs have a lot of nesting/bird species to look for/at. There are campgrounds and an RV park. There is a fascinating shipwreck to take selfies with. The beach itself is more then a mile long with all the beach lounging awesomeness (DISCLAIMER-northern cali beaches can be chilly even in the summer, especially in the mornings and evenings. Bring a wrap and/or light jacket.) that you'd expect. There are grills for grilling, a small marine exploratory edutainment thing, showers, restrooms, and in the summer a snack/convenience stand. This is an excellent workout space as well. There are some outdoor gym thingys by the wooden stairs (midway down, past the shipwreck by the grill area) and many local use those stairs for cardio, and there are is walking trail going up/down that cliff. Not the best hiking, but does allow great views of the wreck. Oh and yeah due to the birds and fish (and the occasional die off of same) this place usually.....smells. More noticeable in the spring, not least because in the summer the winds tend to pick and blow it away. A dab of chapstick under the nose is at least as essential as sunblock at this location. Overall this spot offers quite a bit ocean beach based wonder which makes the small defects fade into inconsequence. read more

Beautiful setting, but the park ranger at the gate was rude and condescending when I asked her about the campsites. I would recommend visits here, but don't be surprised if you interact with a sour ranger. There are beautiful views overlooking the beach from above. The views of the ocean are spectacular! read more

Great place for a barbeque, sunning on the beach, fishing from the pier, place for RVS. Nice , calm vibe. read more

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I stopped by this beach on a road trip up north. It was a windy but sunny day, and the SS Palo Alto stood spookily in the distance (you can read up on the history here: https://www.californiabeaches.com/ss-palo-alto-concrete-ship/). Overall, it's a great beach, and the cliffs above provide a magnificent view for those unwilling to take the trek down the stairs to the sand. read more

Seacliff State Beach - SS Palo Alto: War ship turned entertainment ship turned modern art installation :) - Parks Near Me - Aptos, California

The ONE TIME I don't wear swimsuit bottoms as underwear and I end up at the beach. Ain't that some sh*t? I came here over the weekend, on the fly, and ill-prepared. It was getting close to the end of the day so it's not like there were a ton of people left sun-bathing or anything, but I was def the only person in all black and tall leather combat boots on the sand. I think my off-attire actually worked in my favor because people steered clear and left me alone to sit in peace, which was almost exactly what I wanted. You pay $10 at the gate to get in with your car and I believe there's lower beach-level parking, but that fills up fairly quickly so I park up top and hoofed it down the many flights of beach stairs to the shoreline. I actually think parking up top is the better bet as far as getting a great view is concerned. You can see almost everything and it's cool to get an aerial-type view of the old abandoned ship just west of the pier. I didn't do a ton of roaming on the beach because again, my attire wasn't super conducive to long, sandy walks on the beach, but from what I did see, it was nice. I found myself a nice, dry log that looked like it had minimal remnants of seagull poop and sand crabs and sat my ass down for some deep thoughts... just kidding, I mostly played on my smart phone, but every once in a while I looked up from my apps to see a few pretty cool IRL things like dolphins, pelicans, and screaming children. Sooooo many screaming children. Thank god for the screaming seagulls who kind of drawn out the kids. The beach was mostly clean, though there was definitely the occasional napkin tumbleweed that wafted towards me and my lucky driftwood real estate. People seemed nice, lots of folks brought their own grills and the smell of seared meat definitely fills the air. I liked that it wasn't a meat market type beach - mainly large group of families and I don't think I saw a single hard body here, which was refreshing and kind of reminded me of home in the midwest where everyone's just a little softer and totally ok with it. It was nice. Since it was just my party of one and I wasn't dressed for the occasion I didn't stay more than an hour or so, but I saw a lot of wildlife and really enjoyed my time. I know I'll be back, but maybe next time I'll break out some flippy floppies, a towel, and def my good underwear/swimsuit bottoms. read more

Seacliff State Beach - Pier - Parks Near Me - Aptos, California

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Wow! This beach is wonderful! I arrived here yesterday at around 11 AM with a friend of mines. We packed some food and drinks for a picnic on the beach. Some chardonnay too, but alcohol isn't permitted on the beach. Shhh! When we got here, all the picnic/BBQ tables were taken! I was amazed at how many people were here already! I knew it was the 4th of July weekend but I was still amazed! Thanks Hazel for the great suggestion! We parked on the cliff parking lot and were greeted by one of the longest flight of stairs that I have ever came across! The walk down was cool, but the walk up was pretty rough! LOL! Especially walking up with a bunch of things to carry! There was a pier that people were fishing off of and a wrecked ship at the end of the pier which gave the beach some character! We found a spot beach and set up a blanket and were there for quite a while. We picked out some food to snack on and wine to drink! It was a memorable experience! I jumped in the water a couple of times and was nice and refreshing! At around 5 we packed up and dropped the stuff off to my car and went back to walk along the pier and beach. I highly recommend coming here sometime with the family or friends! read more

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Seacliff State Beach - A family-friendly beach popular for fishing and its iconic Palo Alto cement ship that rests on the ocean bed at the end of the Seacliff Pier. The cement ship was originally built for World War I and then converted into an entertainment center. It is now dilapidated and sits at the end of the pier carrying its interesting history. Seacliff Beach - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/seacliff-state-beach-aptos?select=iUnn60uocrMgbjr9WyLMsg#kWbsv9JOcWJrURbNGJjyew What: - Beach - Palo Alto Cement Ship - Seacliff Pier - Camping - Fishing - Birds - Sea Animals - Tidepools More Info: - $10/car parking fee - Free parking at the junction of State Park Dr and Santa Cruz Ave - Restrooms and Visitor Center opposite to the Seacliff Pier - BBQ pits and picnic areas close to the beach Seacliff drive is popularly known for the dilapidated Palo Alto cement ship that rests firmly on the ocean bed and the Seacliff Pier that leads one to the ship. This family friendly beach is also a well-known destination for fishing, camping, surfing and other water sports. A little over an hour's drive from the Bay Area took us to Aptos, a low-key town situated a few miles south to Santa Cruz. The parking lot next to State Park Dr is at an elevation and there is also parking at the bottom of the bluff, right next to the beach. There is ample free parking in the neighboring streets. After parking the car, we walked towards the coastal bluff. A gorgeous view of the Seacliff Pier and the disintegrated Palo Alto cement ship awaited us. Seacliff Beach, as seen from top of the coastal bluff A few benches placed on the bluff serves those who want to ease off and enjoy the beautiful waters and the coastline that extends as far as the eye can see. To the immediate right, one can see the New Brighton Beach, then the Capitola Beach characterized by multi-colored buildings and then the Pleasure Point. The Pleasure Point extends into the ocean and cuts off the view of the rest of the coastline. Stairs leading to the Seacliff Beach - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/seacliff-state-beach-aptos?select=iUnn60uocrMgbjr9WyLMsg#HWutmm2AMCAAHwUejA3yQQ From the top of the coastal bluff, a fleet of stairs took us down to the Seacliff Beach. We walked on the pier reading about all kinds of birds and fish that one could spot here. People were standing on both the sides of the pier with their fishing poles trying to get their catch for the day. We walked all way till the end of the pier where the Palo Alto ship rests. Entry into the ship is not permitted and there is a gate at the end of the pier blocking the entrance to the ship. The dilapidated cement ship - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/seacliff-state-beach-aptos?select=iUnn60uocrMgbjr9WyLMsg#iUnn60uocrMgbjr9WyLMsg This damaged ship is home to many birds and sea gulls and pelicans are a common sight here. While simply standing on the pier and looking at all the birds around, we noticed a seal nearby. We then went to the Visitor Center to learn about the ship's history. The Visitor Center has rich information about its origin, artifacts of the ship remains, brochures (for free) and a lot of books for sale. A video also enlightens one about the ship's account. Information about high tides and low tides are also displayed in a board just outside the Visitor Center. The ship's artifacts inside the Visitor Center - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/seacliff-state-beach-aptos?select=iUnn60uocrMgbjr9WyLMsg#3EqMm-JZTM2NlEPutfjSpw The most unimaginable fact about the Palo Alto ship is that it is a cement ship. Apparently, it was constructed in 1918 in Oakland for World War I. Due to the shortage of steel during those times, they decided to build it using cement. The War ended by the time the ship's construction was complete, it was towed from Oakland to Seacliff Beach. In 1930, a pier was then built to the ship, which became an entertainment center attracting flocks of people to enjoy an upscale romantic dinner and ballroom dance inside this cement ship. Unfortunately, after two seasons, the Great Depression of 1930 took a toll on its operations and the ship's entertainment center was closed. It then served as a fishing destination where people would stand on top of the ship and fish. However, a 1983 wild flood destroyed the ship, making it perilous to access it. Since then, entry into the ship has been restricted and it has now become a tourist destination for people to come, see and learn about it. It was time for the low tides and we walked underneath the pier, hoping to see sea animals. The low tides revealed mussels and sea stars in the wooden pilings. The Seacliff Beach is great way to spend a few hours or even an entire day. One can enjoy a great picnic using the BBQ pits. We also noticed a dedicated parking lot for RVs. Tips: - Car parking is free at the junction of State Park Dr and Santa Cruz Ave read more

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Family day, family day, Oh la la family day! We did it. My obnoxious side of the family got up early on a Saturday (Shocking!) and caravaned in 2 cars out to Aptos. Get there early! Parking at the beach level fills up fast. We made it in just enough time to actually get a spot next to each other. Also, bring cash. Parking is not free. They don't take cards either. Which I find very frustrating. Once you're in you're in. Unload your gear and go. I will admit, this beach smells. It smells like dead fish. Why? I'm not sure. Maybe it's the old barge that's wilting into the ocean that's also covered in a massive layer of bird poop. I've sen other families being full on kitchen set ups, bbqs, deep fryers, giant tents, tables, chairs. They pretty much brought their house to the beach. We don't go that far. Some blankets, some umbrellas, a couple coolers with snacks and drinks. After that we're good to go. One of my favorite aspects of this beach is the wild life. I've yet to come here and not see either a dolphin or seal. How lucky of me! There's plenty of birds too. We catch little crabs sometimes and put them in our sand castles. The water is cold. I don't swim really. I walk in a bit then go back to my blanket. My sisters boogie board. Dogs are welcome on leash but we throw the ball for my sisters lab. The occasional local will give you shit about your dog being off leash. If your dog is well behaved tell them to eat it. We love this beach. If I say I'm going to the beach, this is the beach I'm talking about. You can't go wrong. read more

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I love to come here when in the area. Big hint just park up around the fence line and walk in for free and walk down the staircase to the beach and boardwalk. Or if you are coming for a nice sunset just park by the fence and walk across the parking lot and to the edge overlooking the beach below and enjoy. read more

Seacliff State Beach - Sunset in November - Parks Near Me - Aptos, California

After a day in the fun, but chaotic, Capitola area, Seacliff State Beach was the perfect spot for a nice coastal walk and relaxation before heading home. Free street parking is available on State Park Drive, as Anu M. mentions in her review. It works out well if you want to view the beach from atop the bluffs and don't mind walking down (and don't forget back up!) the long set of stairs to the beach. Being it was only Mid-April when I visited, the beach wasn't too crowded but still pretty buzzing. I loved that it was a wide, long beach-great for a stroll along the sand. Lots of space to set up a blanket and chairs to settle in for a beach day, which I hope to do at some point. There seemed to be lots of space to spread out and not be on top of your neighbors. If the waves crashing and ocean aren't enough of a view for you, there are dramatic bluffs and of course the Pier and Palo Alto cement ship. The pier was closed on our visit, due to damage sustained during winter storms-however you can still get some good photos from the shore of the Palo Alto. Great area for seabird watching-the ship was covered with Pelicans and I wish I brought binoculars for a closer look. Overall, a worthwhile stop along the Santa Cruz coast and I'd love to visit again and make Seacliff the focus of my day. read more

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"The early birds get the worm." If you're there to have a big party and want to reserve a table, get there early, first come first serve. Parking by the beach fills by 7:30-8am. The veiws are beautiful on a clear day. I love getting some cardio in with a couple of rounds of the stairs. The beach itself is nice and semi-clean. It's just amazing how irresposible and careless people can be with their trash. Other than that, just enjoy yourself and your company. You might get lucky and see some dolphins. Word of advice: BYO-toilet paper, hand sanitizer, trash bags. read more

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Parking = $6 No ALCOHOL! The beach is vast and long but parking is somewhat of a miss. I like how its setup with a second level so you don't have sand blowing into your food while your bbq, etc, but they need more entrances to the beach. The beach water is cold, but it gets warmer as you stay in the water. The beach and waves are perfect for skim boarding, boogie boarding, and what not. On the second level, there are benches (some covered) and a nearby bbq ready to go. I'm not sure if you can do bon fires though. read more

I saw dolphins and sea lions at this beach!!!!!!!!! The beach itself is fine - not amazing and not bad. There are picnic tables and there's a pier and at the end of the pier there is a decomposing ship that the birds have taken over. It's kind of cool. It's actually a historical ship - you can read more about it on the beach's brochure online. There were a lot of people fishing on the pier. Saw lots of runners and people walking their doggies. Lots of activity. It was overcast the day I went and there weren't too many people in the water. In the afternoon, we saw a ton of birds swarm over this one spot in the water - lunch time! It was the birds that drew our attention to the water, and then we saw the dolphins! It was so cool! They were all feeding together. A met a couple later who mentioned that it was the anchovies and that was also what was causing that really strong fishy smell. I went closer to the water to try and get a better look at the dolphins, and saw two sea lions bobbing up and down close to the beach! This is a state beach, so there's a parking fee if you want to park in the lot. You can park in the upper lot or down lower where the spots are adjacent to the picnic areas. If you park in the upper lot, there's a wooden staircase that takes you down to the beach level. I saw lots of people going up and down these steps for a workout. I had to go up and down twice and going up is definitely a good workout! read more

Seacliff State Beach - Beach - Parks Near Me - Aptos, California

This is by far my favorite beach in NorCal. It cost $10 to park here and you can go in and out as well as use the pass for other state beaches if used the same day. This beach is not really packed like some benches.They have a snack bar that sells ice cream, soft drinks, organic coffee, sandwiches etc...they also have benches and pits if you wanna bbq or bring food along. They do not have lifeguards here. Waves are very calm and people are very nice. And the beach is very clean. Lots of shops and restaurants nearby to grab food or drinks before heading down to the beach. Stop by Marianne's ice cream shop before heading home it's the best. :) read more

Seacliff State Beach - Parks Near Me - Aptos, California

This place is fantastic for RV camping. Reserve a spot on reserveamerica.com Right on the beach! read more

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I come here with my church every year. Yesterday was our 4th or 5th time? When we first went, there wasn't that many people, but now you have to go earlier to reserve your spot (first come first serve). My dad and I arrived later, so we had to park at the top, but the walk was only 5-7 minutes. Plus, we didn't have to pay the now $10 parking fee, which used to be $7. It's super chilly before 9am and after 5pm, so make sure you bring coats, jackets, and sweats! My lips turned purple cause I was so cold :( During peak hours (2-3pm) it is super hot. Wear your flip flops on the sand, or else you may get burned! I bought 2 $3 boogie boards from the thrift store and went boogieboarding with my friends. It is so much fun riding the waves. My only complaint is that there are a lot of rocks in some parts of the water so it hurts when you get caught by the wave and your leg scraped against the floor. Nevertheless, I love this beach. Bring your friends, your dogs, boogie boards, and food for a good time! read more

Sunset stroll at 1845.... Oh my....the serenity, the warm breeze..... Baptism was occurring in the chilled waters, doggies frolicking. Like....personal and local beach. Hidden beauty. Expansive, humbling ocean. read more

Great location. The end of the pier is is slowly falling into the sea but it looks really cool. The beach is cleaner then LA beaches and you can see for miles on a clear day. read more

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Went here for Mother's Day, and it was packed! Every table and grill was pretty much occupied, and my friends' parents (who I spent Mother's Day with) had to grab a table early in the morning in order for us to eat there for lunch time. There is a parking lot that is adjacent to the tables and grills so it is very convenient for one to set up a nice eating area without having to lug so many things. Your car can be pretty much right next to your dining area. You also get a really nice view of the beach as you enjoy your meal with your family/friends. Very kid-friendly/family-friendly beach, I'd recommend this beach if you want to BBQ some delicious food on a nice sunny day! read more

The beach itself is pretty awesome and is also a designated place for your camping trailers. It seems to be a pretty popular beach, and it tends to be clean and well-maintained as well. It's $10 for a day pass for parking (also valid that same day at other state beaches and parks). There's an upper parking lot right as you enter Seacliff State Beach itself, plus some at the lower level where the beach meets. In any case, you can walk up and down the stairs to reach both sections. Actually, there is free street parking right outside the main entrance if you don't want to pay the $10 fee. I enjoy walking up and down the pier as well as checking out the old abandoned ship at the very end. Mostly into photography when it comes to beaches these days, but there are lots of good spots to have a picnic, perhaps go swimming on a summer day, or just jog up and down. read more

We live in the most amazing area of the country and what's amazing about it, when it comes to the beach scene, is that you can find a beach on highway 1 practically every few miles. Much like anything else in life, there are good beaches, there are not so good beaches and of course b/c it's the Bay Area, there are nudist beaches. This particular beach was our escape from the daily grind this past Saturday and it was truly a wonderful and relaxing day. It was $10 to park/enter the park and that's no bueno BUT I guess it has a little bit to do with our gov't closing down so many of the national parks/beaches in the area, so I kinda sorta understand. The beach area was clean for the most part, the restrooms were semi clean and the scene was very cool. There is plenty of space for volleyball games, lounging, frisby tossing and to throw around the pigskin. I definitely will be back again in the near future b/c we had an amazing time and I know that you will too. read more

Made it just in time for the sunset! Such a gorgeous view!! The end of the pier kind of smells like bird poop though.... I think they use the ship at the end of the pier as their toilet...Hahaha. Gets a little windy and there are stairs to get to the beach. Careful! We didn't pay for parking, just parked a little further and walked. Not crowded surprisingly, especially for sunset time. read more

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First time at this beach... It was alright. I normally go to Carmel, but decided against it this time due to the Soberanes Fire and the traffic from Gilroy's Garlic Festival happening that weekend. Anyways, Seacliff is good if you're having a big picnic BBQ. There are lots of tables and BBQ grills along the side. Not sure if bonfires are allowed, but judging from the dirty sand, it looked like people lit fires anyways. Plenty of parking at the entrance, as well as below near the beach. There IS a fee of $10, but street parking is available on the left side in front of the entrance. You need to get there early if you want it (I arrived around 9am and it was about a third full). Overall I have to say I'm not impressed. Compared to Carmel, the sand is dirty and not nearly as soft. I was able to catch a lot of Pokemon though, so I guess it wasn't a total waste? read more

Seacliff State Beach - Not much of a view, but it'll do? - Parks Near Me - Aptos, California

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The State Park has shown major improvements in cleanliness and service over the past three years. The crowds have been well behaved and the supervision by the rangers has been improved in their professionalism and how quickly they work to resolve situations. Two major steps that need to be taken for further improvements are: Opening the new restroom facility....the pyramids were completed quicker that these restrooms. Fix the pier so that visitors can use the whole length. It is pretty clear that the State's strategy is to let it fully deteriorate and the close it. This would be a huge loss for those of us who live in the area and the visitors to the park. I am hopeful that the improvements continue. read more

This is by far, my favorite beach get-a-way in northern CA. My family and I have been going here for years and we have some great memories from our stays here. We usually use reserveamerica.com to reserve a trailer camp spot for any given weekend. If you plan on doing this, make sure you book the very moment you are allowed to by the site. Spots here fill up rather quickly, especially for holiday weekends. One thing you can count on here is great weather. We go here at throughout the year and even late in the season, like in November, the weather is always great. Infact, this weekend we are going down there and weather.com is predicting 75 degrees! That is amazing for the coast in the end of November. Seacliff State Beach has trailer spots with or without full hook ups. The bathrooms are always well maintained and the showers have plenty of hot water. read more

Could be better experience if they reinvested the money 55$ bucks back into the facilities. Half the bathrooms were locked and unavailable. Beach was average but not spectacular for the cost. Lots to homeless hanging around read more