One of my favorite beaches and campgrounds. Gets very narrow when the tide is in. Has interesting fossil cliffs on the western end. Waves are gentle and relatively safe. Not the most accessible, however. Very steep concrete steps at one end, lower steps at the other, both in moderate disrepair. Wildlife includes sea otters, sea lions, various seabirds. Staff at the kiosk were friendly, helpful, and welcoming. read more

New Brighton State Beach - New Brighton State Beach - Parks Near Me - Capitola, California

Somewhat selective enforcement of camping rules. As a result our camping trip ended before it even began. So last year my wife was diagnosed with cancer, so this year we decided to make the annual group camping trip a little easier by renting an rv. We rented a camper and arranged to have it dropped off to the campground, something the company had done regularly in the past. Unfortunately, a few weeks earlier, New Brighton started somewhat inconsistently requiring tow vehicles to be present at the campground at all times. I say inconsistent as it seems there are many campers at sites without tow vehicles present, and I am not sure why employees of the RV company we used, Alfredo and Roberto, had the lady at the gate so upset with them when so many other local campers seemed to have no issues. This afternoon, when Roberto was trying to drop off our camper at our campsite, she got so upset she threatened to call the police on him. I have some theories as to what might motivate the inconsistent treatment of visitors but I won't speculate openly. At any rate, with the camper denied entry, we dropped off our food at the campsite, which looked well maintained, and locked it in the generously sized bear locker for our friends before regrettably heading home - our weekend trip ending before it started. If you plan to camp here you should either plan to have your tow vehicle never leave, bring a drivable RV, or hey, maybe just not get the rules enforced on you because you were luckier than Alfredo or Roberto. read more

10$ parking for beach no matter if your only there for an hr. long walk from lot to beach, not for very young unless you carry or seniors. There were a lot of yellow jackets on the beach everywhere! read more

Beautiful state beach for either spending the day or overnight in one of the campsites! We stopped in on a Sunday around 1pm and wasn't crowded at all. Since we paid $10 at Seacliff state beach a few miles away it was free to enter with our receipt. We asked about the overnight camp sites and were told book in advance on www.parks.ca.gov. They did have some open sites although premium ocean view sites which I believe have hookups go quickly as are only around 9 of those. They are on the top of a tall bluff so do not have easy access to the beach. The beach is a further walk or drive to a separate area of the park. The beach area is pretty and would be a chill spot to enjoy the afternoon away from a ton of people. We enjoyed our time here. read more

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It started off a foggy morning the sun came out before noon then it turned into a beautiful mild day. A long walk down the beach sandcombing I found lots of fossils and driftwood right off the bat. A very family and dogs on leash friendly beach there was lots of kids laughing and playing in the surf making sandcastles. The $10 parking fee saves you the trouble of driving around looking for parking and possibly getting a ticket. Lots of boats, kayaks and fisherman were out enjoying all the beach & ocean had to offer. read more

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Nice beach and campground. Took a long hike through both. Lots of seaweed today which usually isn't like that. Dog friendly. read more

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I think of the camp sites we have been to thus far this place has been the best when it comes to group camping for beginners. There are three group camp sites, of which we were able to book sites 1 and 2 for a multi family camping getaway with 8+ families. The group camp sites have 3 to 4 picnic tables each, 1 fire pit, as well as a large bbq stand for group grilling. Plenty of flat ground as well to pitch tents at each site. Bathrooms and shower facilities are clean, though some of the shower heads may need to be replaced/have weak shower pressure. Coin op showers here so make sure to bring quarters. Short easy walk to the beach for a good daytime activity for the kids. It is also super convenient to nearby shopping such as Target or REI in case you forgot something. If you really do not want to cook or prepare food Doordash even delivers into the camp ground. Overall fantastic campsite and state beach we will plan many future group camping trips here! read more

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If there's one thing the California coast does well, it's dog beaches. I recently brought my dog here for a fun afternoon on the sand. While this beach is dog friendly, they do require you to have your dog on a leash. Buttt I'd be aware that there are plenty of people who do break this rule. Despite this, every dog seemed to be well tempered, and their humans did a good job of cleaning up after them! This beach also has gorgeous views of the sunbathing seals. As you walk down from the parking lot, you can see them play in the waves and lay on the cliffside rocks. Parking is a short downhill walk on a paved path. It's not too long, but I'd be aware that it's somewhat steep. Parking is at the top of the hillside and is typically $10 per car. If you have time for a picnic, I'd recommend checking out the nearby Gayle's Bakery for an assortment of sandwiches, salads, and baked goods. read more

Went camping from Sunday evening to Tuesday evening with friends, had a wonderful time. We had a great campsite, roasted marshmallows, hungout at the nearby beach, we went early in the day and got great spots, the water was nice and cold. The beach isn't too far from the campgrounds so the walk was easy (decently steep depending which route you go though). read more

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We stopped here this weekend and I was sure I had reviewed this place but I can't find it, so here goes: I have camped here on multiple occasions with my son and dog. The campsites are lovely and you have super easy access to the beach. There really is nothing like falling asleep to the sound of the waves. The campsites book up well in advance and the friend who originally turned me on to this area was a little miffed when I was able to get a spot two months out. He chooses his spot a year in advance to make sure they are able to come each year. I soon found out that was a fluke however as it never happened again. Although the sites are full, the campground is still fairly quiet and peaceful and no matter which site I have been assigned, you still feel as if you have privacy. The beach here is beautiful and there are great views and a convenient staircase down. We often see otters and the beach is so vast you can walk until you find a quiet spot if people aren't your thing. I have lots of great memories here and it is still just as lovely as I recall. read more

New Brighton State Beach - Parks Near Me - Capitola, California

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We visited this beach while camping this past weekend (campgrounds directly above, along the cliffs). The stairs connecting to the campgrounds are near campsite #90. The beach is pretty standard, but still beautiful, with smooth sand along the water, and giant rocks and debris closer to the cliff walls. Potbelly Beach can be found to the left (with private residences), and China Beach to the right, with steps connecting to the Day Use Parking Lot. We enjoyed a peaceful stroll here on a Sunday night, and found other visitors sitting on logs or giant rocks, and fishing along the shoreline underneath the night sky. And in the morning we stretched out our beach mat to enjoy the sunshine finding its way through the clouds, and dip our feet in the cold water. A nice atmosphere, pretty empty on a Monday morning, just a lovely setting to spend quality time with my favorite person. read more

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One of my favorite beaches in Santa Cruz County (in the winter months). A more secluded setting so chances of having some alone and quiet time is more possible. Just like today. The occasional local with his or her dog, a couple on trail bikes and my favorite group of brown pelicans very close to shore diving beak first into the ocean looking for food. Fresh crisp air, beautiful shining sun and an empty parking lot. Perfect! An entirely different feel than the Santa Cruz Boardwalk vibe just a few miles up the coast. Open sunrise to sunset. Long stretches of white, sandy beach. $10 entrance fee. Has much sought after camping sites available by reservation. This is a popular and busy place in June, July and August. Too popular. Need some ocean therapy. This is the place! read more

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Previously brought a tent while camping here. This time around, we managed to get sites at site 73 then 48 for a day extension. It was perfect for bringing the travel trailer. Site 73 is one of their premium sites with an ocean view and plenty of space. The con of this site in particular is that it sits next to the trail to the beach. The trail traffic was fine, but it was those with no etiquette that walk through the site. I can't believe these people think it's OK to do this. Who pays for a premium site to see their faces? It reflects who they are. Site 48 had water and electric hookups. This was very convenient especially during the weather. No traffic going through the site. Also, we were lucky that the site next door was vacant. I love this state park minus the inconsiderate campers who felt privileged. read more

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Beautiful beach just off highway 1. Beautiful weather, well kept sites, some nice trails. Restrooms on the beach. The beach is just a short walk from the campground or the daily lot. Gets really busy during peak season and on warm days. A great place for midweek just before or after peak season. A great place to watch the sunset. Quick access to Capitola. read more

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This beach is very ok. There are definitely better options around, with a longer stretch of sand, sandier sand, and less dried kelp on the sand. The water was rather brown too, and we didn't really go into it. Parking is $10 and park closes at sunset. I think the redeeming part of this beach is that there are fire pits. read more

I was in Santa Cruz for a weekend getaway and spent an afternoon here and enjoyed it. There's a big parking lot ($10 ) and you can walk down to the beach and take a nice walk along the beach or just settle in. It was a beautiful day, the sun was out but it was not too hot. We saw a lot of birds and seals! Any time I can just listen to the ocean, it makes my day. One con is that this beach was a little smelly (nature is not just roses) and there were a lot of bugs so avoid it if you are sensitive to it. read more

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This is a nice spot for a quick and convenient camping trip. We grabbed a last minute reservation for this place and were quite pleased. As California campgrounds go, it's not really anything amazing, but it works for what it is. That is a small park with a good number of campsites with easy access to a fairly nice beach. My kids actually learned to surf in these waters but we had no idea there was a state park between some neighborhoods in Capitola. There are better places if you want majesty, wilderness and a little privacy, but if you want a quick trip from SF/SJ area so your kid can get off your back about making s'mores on a campfire, this is a good spot. We got a campsite right above the beach and the sound of the surf crashing all night was really nice. read more

Way before COVID19 Or maybe it could've been... Two adults, two kids ventured to Capitola A better way to escape than drinking Coca Cola. A wide, sandy beach to explore Oh, what fun! Big rocks, little rocks Where is the sun? A huge fallen tree Scrambling over to the other side Children were carefree! Too cold to splash in the ocean Maybe play with sand until dark? Followed the railroad tracks instead which lead us to a really cool bike park. Climbing, running, laughing Uphill, downhill Kids can be so cunning Uhhh. I don't have any more to add Just check it out Most peeps think it's totally rad. read more

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This is one of my favorites places where I would like to relax and enjoy the sun and the sound of the waves. I come to this area at least once or twice a year for camping and this is the beach not far from our campsites. It is a beautiful beach and never too crowded. The water is a little too cold for me. But it is still many people swimming and have fun with the other water sports. read more

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Large, clean beach. No crowding on a Saturday afternoon in May. But most restroom locked.

A must stop, clean beach and State Parks does their best to maintain the place. We try to do our part by taking extra garbage bags and gloves there is always some A-hole who things privilege comes with an entrance fee and leaving debris behind is ok. For Feb. it was great day sun and light breeze. Fun watching surfers and just to relax read more

New Brighton State Beach - Parks Near Me - Capitola, California

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Okay, if had had to "ding" anything, it would be that is difficult to get a space here. We found ours apparently from a cancellation or would have stayed more than one night. So happy we got the chance! So happy to have scored a premium campsite (#079) on a beautiful bluff overlooking the beach. Just know, it's not like Half Moon Bay where you can run down the bluff from your campsite to the beach. You will have to walk the trail, but it's not far, and it's not long. It takes you to the parking lot entrance to the beach. A big plus, doggies are allowed too, but must be leashed (though there were a few off leash, but under owner's control (mostly).. if we had our old pup with, this would be an issue as he had severe anxiety with dogs running up to him and would act aggressive towards them. Not an issue with our current pup, but be aware if you have a dog that has this anxiety.. it's mostly all good, but a few folks playing fetch on the beach with their dog and then it runs over for a friendly "hello".. would not have bode well with our last pup. The campsite was huge! Had we had another night we would have popped up our tent too.. but for one night, we backed right in, the site was level and didn't bother to unhook for one night. We got right to the fun and down to the beach. We had generators along, but friends in the area arrived with pizza (which BTW can be delivered too!) and then enjoyed s'mores over the fire. Bathrooms were nearby and clean. Neighboring campers were all super friendly. If you want firewood, either bring a wagon or prepare to drive to pick it up, but it's available. The sewer dump area has room for 4 RV's at a time, 2 sides with 2 each (like a gas station). It stated they charged, but was free when we pulled through and we were the only ones checking out (weekday).. so took the time to do a proper cleaning of the tanks while we were there too after some trouble with tank gauges. This was great to not have a huge line behind us! It was a bit of a bummer after triple digit heat we hit the one "cool" (almost cold) day.. but still beautiful and can't fault the campground for mother nature. We are most definitely all thumbs up to return if we can get a spot. We had a huge premium space, but the others looked spacious enough as well and would take any of them on future visits. read more

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I love this campground. Normally. We just returned from a 5-day camping trip at site 30. First, the grass was 15 inches tall. Had not been mowed and I was surprised. You would think before Spring Break the sites would be ready. Additionally, some of the showers were so calcified the water spit out and you couldn't get clean well. They should be changed or cleaned. Also, why would you have the garbage dump trucks pick up at 6am on Saturday mornings? Really? Give me a break. As much time to plan in advance to get a spot along with the additional fees, you would think the State Park system would do a better job. read more

This is a a quiet and relaxing beach. Away from most of the tourist areas but at a camping spot so you'll find more of those kind of folks than the regular valley that hang near the boardwalk. Parking is easy too. Water stays calm here due to the point and it's natural geography. Also lately has more sharks in the water so tread carefully! I also wish they'd clean up the kelp a little more. Not a big fan of flies everywhere. But nice to take in the natural beauty here on the beach. read more

New Brighton State Beach - Parks Near Me - Capitola, California

New Brighton State Beach is an awesome place to go for a walk along the beach with a dog or a human friend. There is camping available, but make sure you make your arrangements beforehand. Sometimes I see people surf fishing here, but I don't know how successful they are. When the swell is just right, you will see surfers surfing here. Also, some people paddle board over from Capitola by the sea. Furthermore, you can walk at the base of the cliffs from Capitola by the Sea during a low tide. A few years ago, there was an abundance of little fish (possibly sardines) that brought in dolphin, whales, and I even saw orcas. There were so many birds feasting on the fish I could hear their cries of joy from the top of the cliff--it was an amazing time!!! You never know what you will find. I find the best time for solitude is around sunrise (and taking pics, too). When, I came here last week, the day use parking lot was not available because it was being refurbished. There is parking on the street, but be careful, I accidentally brushed some poison oak walking down the hill into the park last time. read more

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Came here recently during the great heat wave of 2023 and it was a cool experience. Thanks very much to the free state parks library pass I thought I give this place a try. If you are staying for the day this is a good beach to try as it is closer than other places in Santa Cruz County. It is indeed a pretty standard beach and it is full of families hoping to beat the heat as well as dogs that want run around. Even better if you are renting a vacation home nearby this beach has a direct connection. The dudes are at the entrance are also very cool as well. Either way it's either here Sunset or Sea Cliff. Warning: Wear a lot of sunscreen because you can easily get burned here. Bring a tent as well. When going in the water be careful where you are because there is a lot of sea debris here. Note: if you want to camp or rent a vacation home here please book ahead because it can be hard to find a spot read more

Our favorite place to camp. Premium spots are the best over looking the beach. We have camped here many times and our recent trip, we were very surprised to come across a huge snake along the trail down to the beach. We were lucky to also spot two bald eagles. read more

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It's weird to write a review for a beach, but then again, 2020 is full of weirdness, right?! So here I go with my review for New Brighton! It's one of my favorite beaches in Santa Cruz County, especially for a long walk or a beach run. During the past 8-9 months of this global pandemic and the need for social distancing, this beach has been our go-to place for active social distancing and much needed doses of fresh air, "ocean therapy," and getting out in the great outdoors. There's always plenty of space to walk far from anyone else who's also enjoying the beach on any given day, especially during low tide. You can pretty much walk (or run) for what feels like miles and miles without interruption! You'll get the occasional seal swimming close to shore, seagulls & pelicans flying and diving, and those adorable sand pipers sprinting across the sand away from the crashing surf! Definitely a local gem that's a treat year round. FYI: There are bathrooms and showers closer to the main parking lot, but that main parking lot has been closed during Covid. Please make sure to leave the beach better than you found it (i.e. pack your trash, respect the ocean, and avoid leaving plastic items on the beach). Enjoy :) read more

I much prefer this beach to the Capitola Beach downtown. It's got a more low key vibe, better scenery and isn't as crowded. Parking does come with a fee but you can use your California State Parks pass to get in for day use at no cost. There are dramatic cliffs, some rocky shoreline and plenty of driftwood for your scenic coastal photos. There also is more room to spread out your blanket/chairs and relax without the collegiate bro-dude crowd. It seems many local families frequent this beach as well as dog walkers. I can't speak for any swimming or camping as I've only been here for a short beach walk. Both times I've visited were off season so I also can't speak for the summer crowds. Lovely little state beach with shells and some sea glass - great for relaxing and beach combing. Love it here! read more

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Amazing, beautiful, and there was a great camping area. The dog and my daughter had a great time. read more

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- The ocean view was beautiful. The location was ok, too far but worth the drive. Wish it was a 5 mile drive from EPA ( East Palo Alto). Having to pay $10 for parking, you would expect that someone would have been paid to clean the beach from all the dead seaweed debris. Not standing in the box only (freaken Casey) taking money, and telling people that the receipt is good for all local state beach parks. Really, really Casey? This other guy Casey (park rangerish) thinks we want to go beach hopping. No Casey, we want to enjoy this beach. That's why we came here . The weather was perfect, the location was beautiful. Again please clean the seaweed off the beach. - La vista al mar era hermosa. La ubicación estaba bien, demasiado lejos, pero vale la pena el viaje en coche. Ojalá estuviera a 5 millas en automóvil de la EPA (East Palo Alto). Teniendo que pagar $ 10 por el estacionamiento, usted esperaría que alguien hubiera pagado para limpiar la playa de todos los restos de algas marinas muertas. No paro solo en la caja (freaken Casey) tomando dinero, y diciéndole a la gente que el recibo es válido para todos los parques locales de playa estatales. Realmente, realmente Casey? Este otro tipo, Casey (guardabosques del parque) cree que queremos ir de playa en playa. No Casey, queremos disfrutar de esta playa. Por eso vinimos aquí here. El clima era perfecto, la ubicación era hermosa. De nuevo por favor limpia las algas de la playa. - Ang tanawin ng karagatan ay maganda. Ang lokasyon ay ok, masyadong malayo ngunit nagkakahalaga ng biyahe. Wish ito ay isang 5 milya biyahe mula sa EPA (East Palo Alto). Ang pagkakaroon ng magbayad ng $ 10 para sa paradahan, inaasahan mo na ang isang tao ay mabayaran upang linisin ang beach mula sa lahat ng patay na mga dumi ng damong-dagat. Hindi nakatayo sa kahon lamang (freaken Casey) ang pagkuha ng pera, at nagsasabi sa mga tao na ang resibo ay mabuti para sa lahat ng mga parke ng lokal na estado sa beach. Talaga, talagang si Casey? Iniisip ng iba pang lalaki na si Casey (park rangerish) na gusto nating pumunta sa beach hopping. Walang Casey, nais naming tangkilikin ang beach na ito. Iyon ang dahilan kung bakit kami ay dumating dito . Ang panahon ay perpekto, ang lokasyon ay maganda. Muli linisin ang seaweed mula sa beach. read more

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I'm not quite sure I've been to this beach.. I'm new to the area and I'm near a beach.. I love the f****** beach here.. I could truly call this place home at least for a while.. the beach I went to which is a boardwalk is actually something on my bucket list to go to and I am more than beyond Joy for the experience! Beautiful place beautiful people.. Santa cruz, California, oh yeah! read more

Love this place. One of my favorite places to camp is the new Brighton state beach . This beach is calm during weekday at least . Went during spring break . Loved the it has nice trails that are available at the parking lot . Beach is clean , water is clean . read more

It's $10 to park to go to the beach. The beach was covered in kelp and the little flies that are attracted to it. Not much shore to layout on. Dog friendly but dogs must be leashed at all time. Plus is that there are actual restrooms and an outdoor shower to rinse off. read more

New Brighton State Beach - Scooby and lots of kelp! - Parks Near Me - Capitola, California

Great park....knock & cranny trails. Great for dog walks....and camp sights. State park...thank you to the ranger for their service. read more

$10 to park but if you purchase an annual pass to all the state beaches / parks, it will cost you $125 which is valid for 365 days. Thanks to a local, I was enticed. I cannot wait till my kids are old enough and when I have a dog so I can fully take advantage of the awesome deal. Such a short drive from the house. I reckon I will be a returning Santa Cruz resident once the weather warms up. I like that the parking lot is easily accessible from the beach - just a small stairway down to the sand. Kids in their wetsuits. Adults in their wetsuits. Surf boards and body boards galore... it makes me feel empty that I have neither. This summer, that will change. I am going to get geared up for some surfing. Very dog friendly. Love it. read more

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Review #217 - 2018 After our lunch, my brother and his family wanted to go to Monterey and get some pictures taken at the wharf. It was around 3:30 PM so it was prime traffic time and we were already tired from walking around at the Boardwalk so my other brother and I decided that Monterey wasn't a good idea after sitting in non moving traffic for about 15-20 minutes. I felt bad so I decided to Yelp the nearest beach and we ended up here. The photos on Yelp looked nice so I was hoping that it would be good enough. Sadly, it wasn't as nice as I'd expected, especially since we had to pay $10 for parking. The beach was going through some construction so it didn't seem completely safe around the parking lot. The water looked dirty and the sand wasn't as pretty nor clean as the other beaches that I've been to recently. Although, we did get some pretty decent photos after spending about an hour there. I guess I was slightly disappointed since I was trying to give them a nice experience being that they were visiting from another country. read more

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PRIVACY is a real issue here because first, I reserved campsite #77: People from other campsites sashay their fine selves onto my campsite with no regard and no respect heading towards the bathroom and showers. Secondly, someone actually had the NERVE opening the wooden food cabinet next to my campsite's picnic table checking if anything is worth taking!! Grrrrr ~('* ~ *')-Augh! I became completely exasperated so, I drove to the Park Ranger Kiosk requesting moving to campsite #27: This campsite wasn't an improvement due to the incorrigible campers behind me kept trespassing onto my campsite so, they may use the bathrooms and showers! I had a complete melt down inside my gut but, calmly stated to the female campers, "Please don't enter my campsite as an easement access to your campsite; thank you." To my utter dismay, the teenage, female camper retorted, "You don't have to be SO RUDE!!" Why I outta!!! I reported the campers to the Campground Host and Park Ranger; let's see who's going to be rude now!! Humpf!! So, overall, reserve campsite #76 which is a premium campsite or any premium campsite: No camper will have the nerve encroaching onto your campsite; however, there's virtually little or no shade so, bring a 10 x 10 canopy tent with screen walls should you reserve any campsite from 60 to hike and bike campsites. The other campsites I recommend are the campsites AWAY from campsite #27 because these campsites location are amongst the tall trees where I might add, are larger campsites than the surrounding campsites anywhere via #77 and #27. Did you get that information down? Good! read more

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New Britain state beach is one of my favorite campsites on the coast, family camping, close to the Ocean short walk down the stairs. Camp host is wonderful Sell great firewood. DJs market at the end of. Beware of local Skunks they out roaming around campsites 100 area dogs got skunked at 11:30pm heard from others this happens regularly! read more

This is a beautiful beach. Period. You can park in the neighborhood for free & walk down the hill to the cliffs & stairs down to the beach. Many folks had their dogs there also which was an added bonus! (If you are building a tent city on the beach, this is probably not the best route.) There's only 1 lifeguard post. *sharks present & water cleared while there * (7.14.19) read more