Central Coast State Parks |
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Central Coast State Parks Overview
The state park system is responsible for almost a third of California's scenic coastline. State parks include underwater preserves, parks, redwood forests, plant and wildlife reserves, state beaches, recreation areas, wilderness areas, reservoirs, historic parks & homes, Spanish buildings, lighthouses, ghost towns, waterslides, conference centers, and off-highway vehicle parks. Below you'll find a list of the more popular Central Coast state parks and ones we personally recommmend from Natural Bridges in Santa Cruz to El Capitan in Santa Barbara. |
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Central Coast State ParksNatural Bridges is located just west of Santa Cruz. The park features hugh rock formation arches that rise from the ocean. A very large sandy beach, tidepools and coastal meadows are other natural features. Park amenities include picnic areas, restrooms, barbeques and a visitor center. The Seymour Marine Discovery Center is situated next to the park. From mid-October through February, over 100,000 Monarch butterflies make their home in the Monarch butterfly preserve that is located in the park. New Brighton State Beach is located off PCH (highway 1 - Pacific Coast Highway) in Capitola. This park features picnic areas, swimming, fishing, camping and a nearby forest of Monterey pine and Coastal Live Oak. Sea Cliff State Beach is located off PCH (highway 1 - Pacific Coast Highway) in Aptos. This park features a large sandy beach popular for swimming. A pier ends at a partially sunken, concrete ship that used to be a source of entertainment. On the ship was a dance floor, cafe, swimming pool and carnival concessions. Today the ship is inaccessible but makes for good fishing off the pier. Camping is available for RV's only, no tents. Manresa State Beach is located off PCH (highway 1 - Pacific Coast Highway) west of Watsonville. This park features picnic areas, camping, swimming, fishing and clamming. Sunset State Beach is located off PCH (highway 1 - Pacific Coast Highway) in Watsonville. This park features pine trees, sand dunes, camping and ocean side picnicking. Bordered by large agricultural fields west of the city of Watsonville, the beach is a year-round destination for locals and tourists alike. Salinas River State Beach is located between Monterey and Santa Cruz off PCH (highway 1 - Pacific Coast Highway) in Moss Landing. Wide sandy beach backed by sand dunes, farmlands and estuary. Activities include swimming, hiking, fishing, bird watching and horseback riding. Monterey State Beach is located along the northern side of beautiful Monterey, just past Fisherman's Wharf. The park includes a long sand beach, tidepools, sand dunes and an underwater preserve. Activities include swimming, fishing, boating, volleyball, hiking, kayaking, diving and snorkeling. Check out our Cool Towns page for more details on Monterey. Point Lobos State Reserve is located south of Carmel off PCH (highway 1 - Pacific Coast Highway). Half of this park is underwater and favored by scuba divers and snorkelers. The other half includes picnic areas, hiking and jogging trails. This used to be an old abalone fishing village and main attractions are Whalers and Bluefish coves. Other activities include fishing and sightseeing. Check out our Cool Towns page for more details on Carmel. 
Pfeiffer-Big Sur is located off PCH (highway 1 - Pacific Coast Highway) in Big Sur. This park hugs the ocean at the mouth of the Big Sur River. Spectacularly beautiful McWay Fall drops 80-feet onto the sandy beach at water's edge. A lush redwood forest provides habitat for black-tail deer, gray squirrels, raccoons, skunks, and birds, such as water ouzels and belted kingfishers. The Big Sur Lodge and campsites along the river accommodate visitors. Activities include camping, hiking, swimming and picnicking. Limekiln State Park is located off PCH (highway 1 - Pacific Coast Highway), 2 miles south of Lucia, in Big Sur. The park features breathtaking views of the Big Sur Coast, the beauty of the redwoods, the rugged coast and the cultural history of limekilns. Activities include camping, fishing and hiking. 
Hearst Castle State Historical Monument is located off PCH (highway 1 - Pacific Coast Highway) in San Simeon. Construction originally began on this mansion in 1919. It was the home of William Randolph Hearst who made his fortune in the newspaper and movie industries. The mansion contains 115 rooms, guesthouses, roman pools, and museum quality antigues & sculptures all atop a 250,000 acre ranch. Past guests include Winston Churchill, Charles Linbergh, Charlie Chaplin and more. 
San Simeon State Park is located off Highway 1 just north of Cambria. The park includes sandy beaches, coastal wetlands, a freshwater creek and coastal bluffs. An interpretive trail follows the creek through the wetlands to picturesque vantage points. Activities include camping, hiking, fishing, surfing, wildlife viewing and more. Morro Bay State Beach is located off Highway 1 at the southern end of Morro Bay. The park features a lagoon and natural bay. The bay’s most prominent landmark is Morro Rock. Activities include camping, sailing, kayaking, fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing and more. An onsite museum has exhibits of cultural history, Native American life, geology, and oceanography. The park also has a marina and an 18-hole public golf course. South of the park is an estuary that is popular for bird watching. 
Montaña de Oro is located off Highway 101 just south of Morro Bay. Views of Morro Bay and the coastline are spectacular from many of the hiking trails. The beautiful Spooner's Cove is easily accessible and located halfway into the park, adjacent to the campground. Several hiking trails lead to large coves and sandy beaches. Activities include primitive camping, hiking, surfing, horseback riding, swimming and picnicking. 
Pismo Beach is located off Highway 1. This beach has so much to offer. To the north is a wide sandy beach, a pier and a thriving beach community. To the south is a wide sandy beach, camping, a Monarch Butterfly preserve and off-roading in the Pismo and Oceano Dunes. Popular activities include surfing, fishing, butterfly viewing, off-roading and camping. Gaviota is located off Highway 101 in Goleta, approximately 30-miles northwest of Santa Barbara. The park is a popular spot for camping, hiking, swimming, picnicking and fishing. A pier on the west end of the beach is used by divers and surfers. A Southern Pacific railroad trestle crosses the creek above the day-use parking lot. Hiking trails lead to a natural hot spring and offer views of the coast and Channel Islands. 
Refugio is 20-miles west of Santa Barbara off Highway 101. This is a popular swimming, picnicking and fishing beach. Camping is also available up on the bluff. A bike trail connects Refugio to El Capitan State Beach to the east. El Capitan is west of Santa Barbara off Highway 101. This is a very popular beach for camping. Camping is offered among sycamore trees and several creeks flowing to the ocean. A day use area includes picnic tables, barbeques and trash cans on a grassy knoll on the beach. The beach is a long stretch of sand with boulders and tidepools at either end. A bike trail connects El Capitan to Refugio State Beach to the west. Carpinteria is located south-east of Santa Barbara and offers a long sandy beach and tidepools. Camping, swimming, surfing and tidepool exploration are popular activities. McGrath is located 5-miles south of Ventura off Highway 101. A nature trail leads from the beach and sand dunes, up the mouth of the Santa Clara River, to an estuary preserve. Camping, surfing, fishing and bird watching are popular activities. |
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