This is one of the main beaches in SC, right by the wharf. Note that parking is very limited and it gets beeezeee, like super busy. Best to come early in the day and claim some space before it gets overrun. The views are amazing and the water is perfect ,but I prefer some of the other beaches that are not as busy. read more

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I really like how the beach is next to the Boardwalk. It's very convenient for people who want to come here after riding in different attractions, playing arcade, eating, and doing other activities. I usually walk around back and forth and being close to the ocean. The water is pretty much cold though and I think it builds a better experience for families especially children. I think they have volleyball courts there since I've seen people play in these courts. Coming here is very relaxing especially if you feel the need to revisit nature and relieve yourself. read more

Visited the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, and spent some time relaxing and lying in the smooth sand on a warm and sunny Saturday afternoon. It can get crowded, even during the winter, but maybe that's cuz there was an event going on this past weekend. I also took a stroll along the beach to the wharf not too far away where it's usually a little less crowded. The only thing that really makes it stand out from other beaches is the boardwalk (access to activities and vendors, plus regular events such as movies on the beach under the stars). But that can be a pro or a con depending on what kind of environment you're hoping for... something more lively with entertainment, or somewhere more peaceful and secluded? If looking for the latter, there are definitely better options than this beach (I recommend those in nearby Davenport). read more

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Nice large beach with lots of sand, the light noise from the nearby pier, boardwalk, and beachgoers give a nice energizing and active vibe. The main beach has 13 volleyball courts and you can walk right into the boardwalk for food and bathrooms. We prefer the Cowell beach side, there is a small river going into the ocean on the left and rocks and cliffs to explore on the right. It was chilly when we came here so the kids did a combo splashing in the waves and then running around the sand with a towel draped over them. There are way less people on the Cowell beach side as well so it was easy to find a nice patch of large open space for ourselves. There are "contamination" warning signs which probably keep most people away but check water conditions and you might find yourself a gem. read more

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We were staying at the Sea & Sand Inn, and took a leisurely walk on this connected beach. It was nice to be able to not only see this beach from our hotel, but have easy access to it. The weather was very nice, as we took in the ocean air, got sand in our shoes, and did some site seeing along the water. This isn't probably the most beautiful beach I have been on, but it was adequate enough to pass the time. We didn't get to see many active birds as we were hoping, but did find a few hunting at the surfs edge. We are avid bird watchers, and found them not only interesting to watch, but entertaining. We came early in the morning, so there weren't too many visitors to obstruct our view. The Santa Cruz Wharf and the Santa Cruz Boardwalk are also connected to this beach, so it can get very busy with tourists and locals depending on the time of day or even the time of year. There are public restrooms and outdoor showers close by. (Water conservation is a high priority here). A few shops, eateries, and convenience stores are also available for easy access from the beach. At least our walk was casual and relaxing until it came time for us to check out of our hotel. I'll miss the continuous sounds of the crashing waves.... read more

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A nice beach with soft sand & chilly NorCal water! The water felt great on a nice 86 degree day, it was quite refreshing to cool off with a dive into the water! read more

Main Beach/Cowell Beach - Beaches Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Arrived bright and early (8am) for a morning walk on Memorial Day and was surprised to find that there weren't that many people on this beach. Usually its extremely crowded due to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, so this is definitely a nice change of pace. Parking is, for once, so easy to find! The beach itself is pretty clean and walk-able. There was, however, a ton of oyster shells today lying around - makes me wonder if some nearby restaurant dumped all their eaten oysters into the ocean :( Just a side note, the beach is closed from 11-5 every day in this time. read more

Main Beach/Cowell Beach - There's practically no one here! A first! - Beaches Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Pretty, fun area to hang out, especially at low tide. The cliffs are beautiful, and so is the ocean, and you have the options of walking along the boardwalk or the wharf if you're looking for more entertainment or food. Very relaxing, and I saw several surfers as well. A must if you're in Santa Cruz. read more

A few minutes away from the busy and busting Boardwalk, this beach is not only clean, it's quiet, and semi secluded. If you are staying at The Dream Inn or dining at Aquarius then you will surely appreciate this beach. It's secluded per se. Great for families w/ children or if you just want to sit and watch the waves w/ your loved ones or enjoy some peace and quiet, I can't think of a better beach to that. I usually shy away from beaches as I have a fear of showing too much skin but for some reason, this beach, that day, or maybe it was the company - I was completely at ease. I can't wait to return this Saturday for some fun on the waves. I'm excited to see the kids frolic and join in w/ me (hopefully the weather will cooperate). - suicide runs - standard push-ups - burpees - walking lunges - squats - run backwards - let the waves carry me to show - dig a big hole to put either self or daughter in - build sand castles w/ my youngest - possibly ice cream afterwards Sounds like an awesome Saturday to me! See you in 2.5 days! read more

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Review from my kid: I really like this beach to play with monster trucks, and the monster trucks got dirty and then clean. This is a really good beach to play with monster trucks and you can make ramps in the sand and use water and make traps and parking garages. the end. Grownup review: Good beach, friendly people, and has bathrooms and food places across the street. Lots of room and the sand was good. Picturesque and easy to relax. read more

Cowells!! Surfing USA!! The main beach and Cowells are always jam packed on a hot summer day. Love living close enough to the beach that I can ride my bike for 5 mins and be there playing in the waves or laying out on the beach. Pack your trash. Our marine life depends on you. Thanks. read more

We have been coming to Santa Cruz for 70 years and have never witnessed such disrespect from the city in allowing vagrancy on a beautiful beach that brings families and visitors from around the world here. Is this really the image the city of Santa Cruz wants? My grandma brought me here in the 50's and now we own a property here for the last 25 years. Felt very fortunate until now. Do not want to bring my grandchildren to play on the beach amongst tents inhabited by who knows what. Shame on this city whoever thinks this is acceptable. Fix it or you Will Lose It. read more

I readily admit - my love of sand, surf and sun leaves this review slightly biased - any activity that combines the three pretty much automatically gets four stars in my book - in all truth it's probably more like a 3.2. Anyhow - a girlfriend and I parked ourselves near the volleyball courts at the edge of the boardwalk on the first warm-ish day this season and were quite pleased with our location. The sand, while not quite clear enough to walk barefooted on (I would recommend some sandals, as there are lots of rocks, wood and other natural debris), is for the most part clean, and hot! The volleyball courts are great, and open for pretty much anyone to start or join a pick-up game - talent level irrelevant. The crowd is diverse (we sat next to some very interesting and colorful characters!) but everyone is respectful of each others space (physical, but also noise-wise in terms of music, etc.). Overall a great day at the beach, with the minor note that the California sun is quite powerful, especially between 11:30-4:30...and I would recommend using sunscreen, which I can only tell you from learning the hard way is a very good decision! read more

Main Beach/Cowell Beach - Gorgeous day on the ocean - Beaches Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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I came to this beach yesterday, and to put it simply, it's just another beach to me. It is conveniently located near the wharf so there are always people here and parking isn't an issue if you are willing to pay. If you plan on paying for parking, I would recomend not only going to the beach, but traversing the Santa Cruz Wharf, along with the Santa Cruz beach Boardwalk not very far from here. Anywho, the beach isn't huge, but it is cozy. The rock wall and the North Eastern part of the beach provides some shade for those who want it. and the water isn't very far from the main roadway, or parking. The water does have loads of seaweed, so don't elt that startle you. Unfortunately, this beach is NOT dog friendly, which is a bummer. Overall; a simple beach if you don't want to trek through a ton of mounds or a forrest to get to read more

Liked the beach for a 70.3 triathlon swim around the wharf, and for end of course festivities. Sorry to say it is not secluded, though people and seals seem happy and cheerful as they co-exist. Clear water was say 63 degrees on September 9, which was a bit warmer than expected. Minimal waves and no chop. Some bark at shoreline, which was to be expected with Redwoods just inland. Thankfully, nearby bar/restaurants provide nice venues for 20 or so triathletes having pre-race get togethers. read more

This is the main reason 40,000 people come to santa cruz every weekend in the summer. There is considerable parking areas close by in addition to street parking on the way in. Mostly this is shared with the santa cruz municipal wharf(an excellent parking choice) and the santa cruz boardwalk both of which are co-located with the main/cowell beach and are considerable draws in their own right. What this all means is that in the tourist season-roughly june, july and august-there will be both considerable traffic with limited availability in parking. My comment about forty thousand people isn't really an exaggeration, and on those days unless you are in the first wave in the morning, you'll need to plan ahead. In case it matters the downtown area also has parking, is within walking distance, and in the summer the city typically adds a free (or nearly free at 25 cents) shuttle. Main beach and Cowell beach are separated by the wharf. Cowell beach is overlooked by a couple of hotels, is slightly more family friendly, and offers mellow novice friendly surf. If you have never surfed before ever in your life, this is where surf instructors like to start you off, especially in the summer when the waves die down a bit. The surf here can be fierce in the winter, but in the summer? Not so much. Main beach is much larger. It's not quite the unlimited expanse you'll find in san diego or santa monica, yet is still long enough to accommodate thousands. Because it's fronted by the boardwalk, with parking options reasonably close by, it's a popular choice for , well, everyone. Large family groups are very common, as the adults can settle in for a relaxing day at the beach while kids run amok at the boardwalk and teens congregate at the volleyball courts or the wharf. Lots of stuff to see and do nearby, and yeah there is literally something for everyone. In the summer there will be beach movies, salsa/bachata dance and free music on the weekends. Typically you'll find decent fishing from the wharf as well. Also the occasional car show, surf competition, and marathon. It's not all super awesomeness. As with any spot of paradise there will be a down side and your experience at the beach will largely depend on your interior mind set and what you chose to do. This beach isn't the party beach-that is to say getting stone cold stoned or falling down drunk isn't necessarily the smartest thing do, but that doesn't stop anyone from trying it out. You will see falling down drunks being sick or otherwise making a disgusting fool of themselves. There will be drug activity of the highly organized kind. There will be mentally ill homeless. There may be people encouraging their (not allowed on the beach but present anyway) dogs to "play" with baby seals. Lots of folks don't see the need to put their trash up even if they are 20 ft away from a trash can, and the water here is has one of the highest concentrations of organic pollution in California. And yet........this is still a great destination. You can have a great time with friends or just wandering around solo. Lots of sea, sand, sky, and happy wonderful people having a great mellow happy time. Should you be upset you saw something bad? Well, that's up to you. Everyone has to enjoy things in their own way.You can either live with some bad or you can't. Either way that's going to be totally dependent on how you feel. read more

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It really depends on what you are looking for in a beach. The good. It is a big beach with lots going on. The sand is great, and the beach is huge. There is great people watching and many attractions to see while you are at the beach. You can take a stroll down the wharf, go to the Boardwalk, or watch a game of volleyball. If there is ever a special event going on, it most likely is going on at Main Beach. The bad. Parking is not ideal and could cost you a buck or two. If you like to go swimming this beach isn't for you. Seriously, don't swim in the water. Especially at Cowell's beach west of the Wharf. It consistently has bacteria counts that get an F grade from the beach report card. If you are going to swim at Main beach, do it as far away from the wharf as possible. Keep an eye out for don't swim signs. Overall: This is a great beach as long as you don't want to go into the water. Soak up some sun, enjoy the people and the fun, and spend some cash at local places, especially the Picnic Basket. read more

I prefer this beach in the off season when the parking is free and the beach isn't crowded. It's a nice spot to zone out and feel the sand between your toes or maybe play some volleyball. The sand is quite nice, the kind that puts me in a day dreamy mood when I run it between my fingers. The waves are calm and probably make for a good spot to learn how to surf. If you arrive in the summer be prepared for big time crowds and the garbage that comes with them, paid parking, and aggressive seagulls. Wait, the seagulls are aggressive all year. Be prepared to do some air karate to keep the seagulls from snatching food out of your mouth - actually, you're better off not even trying to snack on anything. Eat before you come. read more

A pretty nice beach, even though it was a bit crowded on the recent sunny Saturday that I visited. The beach was pretty clean, except for a few cigarette butts (EWWW!!!! Why do people do that??? Don't they realize that is disgusting???). I spent about an hour on the beach enjoying a beautiful sunny morning until I couldn't control my urge to learn how to surf. There are at least three places (Cowell's Beach and Bikini, Shoreline, and that place with the trailer parked right on the beach) within a block of the beach to rent wetsuits and boards. Cowell Beach was a great place to learn to surf (with the boyfriend as impromptu surf instructor) because a lot of the other people there are also beginners, so you don't feel too stupid when you can't stay on the board despite three hours of trying. However, it does get pretty crowded in the late morning/early afternoon. I can't wait to go back with more instruction and hopefully more success. read more

I have a very soft spot for Cowell's beach. I may have grown up in Hawaii, but I never learned to surf until I got to this beach. I was so addicted to the long, gentle, slow-rolling waves that one summer I was here every weekend trying to improve my skills. If there is any beach that's forgiving, yet useful for beginner surfers, this one would be it. The only problem is that it gets ridiculously crowded in the summer, and the biggest danger is ramming your board into another beginner surfer. So all you newbies out there, please watch where you're going! read more

This is a great place for beach volleyball. There are tons of tournaments hosted here, and plenty of games going on most of the day. There are 16 permanent courts open to the public, nearby restaurants/cafes, and walking distance to downtown Santa Cruz. More toward the boardwalk is considered the "touristy" section, whereas the beach volleyball courts and more toward the dream inn is more frequently populated by locals. There is free parking at the meters by main beach until 10am, but BEWARE! The meter maids come by RIGHT AT 10! Don't push your luck. There is free parking a couple of blocks away in residential neighborhoods. During summer this beach can get a little too busy for comfort, and in that case I'd recommend Harbor beach, but during Fall, Winter and Spring, Main beach is the place to be. Bottom line: Busy during summer, great for beach volleyball. read more

Lots of action going on here in the summer and not so much except for volleyball in the winter. The Boardwalk is right down the beach so you will get a lot of people walking down the sidewalk looking and smiling at you when you are hitting the volleyball around. If you want privacy, go to Cowell's, you can learn to surf there too if that is your main interest. Cowell's is also the start to the walk along the beach bluffs all the way to Natural Bridges. A beautiful walk but bring your coat and sweater because it can get really cold. See my review of the Boardwalk if you want a list of all of the activities you can do on these beaches. They are both really fun, flat and nice ones. read more

Surfing, the boardwalk, the wharf, close to downtown, this has to be one of the best beaches on earth. The amount of stuff you can do on this beach are nearly endless. Volleyball, great spot for Frisbee, jogging on the beach...just plain fun. Parking on a host summer day is rough, but most coastal beaches get bad in the summer as far as crowds. read more

This is on the other side of the boardwalk and pier. It's a beautiful beach. We usually drive over to the neighborhood past the hotels and luckily we usually we find a parking spot. People are constantly passing, walking, riding bikes, walking dogs, etc. it's a nice view of the ocean, beach, boardwalk, and the pier. It's so relaxing just to sit and chill, take pictures and to people watch. read more

there are two sides of the beach. The first side is the the one in front of the Boardwalk. This place sucks during the normal operating hours of the Boardwalk, mainly Summers. There are so many people, and it's way too many people. In the off season its not bad, and the best times in Santa Cruz are Spring and Fall. The second portion of the beach is on the other side of the wharf. This place is an awesome place to learn to surf. The beach is less crowded as well. read more

Great surf for beginners. Hard to find parking if you're trying to get to the beach but it's free before 8am at least (for sunrise surfing). Overall dirty sand and usually crowded with people from the boardwalk. read more

It's very hard for me to rate a beach less than four stars simply because it's a beach full of water and that, for me, equals serenity and peace. I've enjoyed this beach. I also enjoy walking out onto the wharf and watching the sea lions. There's a patio to the left of the whart that houses Ideal Grill and a latin dance session. There's also a section for beach volleyball to the left of the patio. Just a nice place to sit, people and wave watch. read more

I went to Cowell's over the weekend to practice my less than stellar surfing skills. Apparently this is THE spot to learn to surf, because it was over-crowded with teachers and students, and I got there around 8:00 am. The point was ridiculous, it looked like there was at least 50 people all sitting on their boards, waiting for the same few waves. I decided to stay closer to the entrance point, but the longer I stayed in the water, more and more class groups got in. Granted, I didn't check the reports before I went out, but the swells were so far and few between, and much softer than what I am used to. Maybe I like it rough, but I seriously could not catch anything on these soft waves! All in all, I bet this would be a great place to learn if it weren't so crowded with other people with the same idea. read more

Beautiful beach with excellent views. Nice sand, cold Pacific ocean water and plenty to do. There's surfers and sea lions around. Lifeguard on duty so go have a swim. Play on the beach: spikeball, volleyball, frisbee. Bring the sunscreen! Park in the streets a mile away with the meters and walk over so you aren't stuck in all the traffic. read more

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Review for Cowell Beach only! Tourist/non-surfer... Up the street, between the Boardwalk and Steamer Lane. TONS of surfers, and no dedicated parking lot. Seems to be a lot of nearby street parking. Maybe we just had the parking gods with us, but we had no trouble finding a spot right across the street. Great views of the surfers and the boardwalk. Can go for a walk up the street to Steamer Lane and Lighthouse Field State Beach. Much better than going down the Boardwalk - not jam-packed full of tourists. read more

Came here to do some night fishing We had a good time!! Plus we got to stay till 2am until the renta cop kicked us out Very nice night..Didnt catch anything but it was worth it Its even funner during the day read more

Awesome. Fifteen+ volleyball courts and plenty of ocean are all you need. The nearby boardwalk is a decent place to blow some quarters on video games, grab some shopping mall food court style food, and then lose it on the rides. The pier is similar but without the games or rides. read more

Checked out this beach on a slightly chilly Saturday. On one hand, the beach wasn't that crowded, but I'd hate to see this place on a really sunny day. The public bathrooms were decently clean, but there was a long line. Parking wasn't difficult to find; there's a free three hour parking lot nearby. The beach was a little dirty, and the quality of the sand isn't that high. At the beach you can lie around and sun, or, what I do, watch the surfers and laugh at them when they wipe out. Ahh, entertainment! read more

Spouse and I took the dogs for a walk starting just north of the lighthouse on down to the main beach...at night. Really was a nice jaunt. A liiiittle interesting down by the boardwalk at night. read more

Big hint, if you want a quiet spot, hit the Cowell's side, more specifically Collins Cove against the rocks. If you want people watching, hit Main Beach. Whether a rec player, or pro, there is always action on the volleyball courts. If you're looking to learn to surf, and the waves are small, Cowell's is the spot, with a number of shops/schools to serve you. For all, the Arcade, Surf Bowl, and the Boardwalk are right down the sidewalk. Recommended walk: Cowells to Natural Bridges and Back. Locals night: Fireworks in October. Parking tip: park up the road by Depot Park for free and walk to the beach, or better yet, walk or ride a bike to get here. Best eats nearby: Ideal restaurant on the patio. read more

I never send anyone here and avoid ever going here myself, even though I live and work a 2 minute walk away. It's worth it to walk over to sea bright/twin lakes. read more

I love Main/Cowells beach, especially in the summer time, it's the place too be. If your the kind of person that loves beautiful sunny, hot beaches with lots of people in the summer, it's a great place too go, great place too get your tan on! Plus the volleyball scene is pretty fun. It's steps from the boardwalk, best beach to go too, in my opinion. It's a must in the summer time. read more

Usually the best family friendly beach with good waves in the area. Has a fun river running through the beach that during the beginning of high tide will wash you up stream. Also, I hear that there is a kelp bed that surrounds this whole area that prevents sharks from entering... read more

This beach has it all! You can walk the boardwalk or enjoy the beach. There are also some really great sand volleyball courts. The pier has restaurants and shops that you can walk out on and from there you can view sea lions about midway down the pier. Of course, this is Santa Cruz so you will have the homeless population in the area especially with the closing of the shelter about 4 months ago. We walked the beach and the pier and enjoyed the area throughly. It is still beautiful for sunsets and we had a great time! read more

Great place for a beginning surfer. It can get a bit crowded even on weekdays, but it's a very nice place to relax.