This is a nice spot that's tucked away for you and your family to enjoy. Although I hate that some people trash the place and boats use it as a spot to unload their rope and waste. I'm thinking of getting a trash collector and picking up trash myself. I would not swim in it but it serves as a relaxing fishing spot. read more

See all

Quite busy today (3pm on Sunday) but otherwise seemed nice. Over all was clean from what I saw. I would recommend you get here early if you want a parking spot though read more

See all

Two boats pulled up right where the kids were swimming they were playing so we had to leave just glad parking was only $4 read more

This has beeen a favorite for a while now. The vibes are great and i love the little "beach" area, but there is a little trail way too if you want to be more secluded. Great spot over all! read more

It's an actual sandy beach along the river! I was delighted to find it and explore the little paths through the trees. It's small and tucked away but easy to access from garden Highway. read more

Cute little beach - not a far walk from sand to water at all! Good if you have small kids but I would recommend bringing a tent or some form of shade because there is nooo shade and it gets so hot ! But I love this beach read more

It's not bad really lots of shade area but the water is not as clean as I would like but for a small local beach in sac it's not really bad

It was actually very clean and nice I went out and sat out in the sand was very surprised how clean the area was but it was just a very nice place to be in and not crowded read more

Now that is's opened again, it didn't take long for everybody to use this spot as their own trash receptacle. It used to be nice here. Now it's full of crap. read more

Sand Cove Beach - Personal lunch trash.... - Beaches Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

One of Sacramento's hidden gems (although not so hidden anymore). Small parking lot gets full by noon, or earlier, so plan your visit accordingly. Parking is $4 for 4 hours and can be paid on the parkmobile ap or at the kiosk. I'm pretty confident parking enforcement checks often and hands out tickets freely to those parked illegally. You've been warned! There are trashcans and 2 porta-potties in parking area. No bbq'ing allowed. Grab a life vest for your kid on your way down to the beach. They are right there, free to use and could save your baby!!! Lots of swimmers, anglers, dogs, and kids sharing this little riverfront "beach" off Garden Highway. Keep it classy, Sacramento, and pick up after yourselves and your dogs. There are just a few coveted shady areas, so bring your canopies, tents, umbrellas, chairs, blankets, sunscreen, and hats. Another warning: that sand gets super hot! My feet were burning in flip flops just walking through. It's also a busy spot for boaters and jet skiers. We witnessed many who, sadly, did not respect waterway etiquette or rules. I've heard it gets pretty ratchet later in the afternoon, although the Saturday we were there, it started in the morning. LOL This is a nice little spot to fish or lounge by the water, as long as you find a parking space and don't mind crowds. You've been warned. read more

I almost didn't come to this "beach" because the most recent review made it sound like it wasn't going to be worth it. However! That's incorrect. Sand cove is actually pretty decent and nicer than what the Yelp pictures show. There is sand and a cool body of water that you can swim, wade or float. Lots of people brought their own Inflatables/kayaks/floating devices/etc. Loaner life jackets for kids are provided at the entrance. No dress restrictions that I noticed. I was able to go in the water with tights/shorts/tshirt and no one gave me a hard time about it. The temperature of the water was perfect to dip into. We went on quite a hot day and all the shaded areas were taken. The "beach" was definitely packed. Families with little kids, teenagers and loud music, couples hanging out, sunbathers and lots of dogs. No bbqs/fires or alcoholic beverages allowed. Some people were smoking. I didn't see any picnic tables. You have to bring your own beach towels or chairs. I'd also recommend water shoes. The sand could get really hot. You can't really walk around much. This is a sit down or swim kind of place. Not really much else to do but it's better than nothing. This is someplace young children would find much joy in. The dogs here also looked very happy. I'd consider it pretty safe and a nice place to check out at least once. We were there the whole day and noticed the best time to come would be after 5pm. That's when most people pack up and leave so the beach is less crowded. Parking is limited and there are two portable bathrooms in the lots which seemed to be unmaintained. Pay for parking online or at the booth. It's $3.00 for 4 hours or $6.00 for 8 hours. read more

See all

very pretty spot, clean and everyone was respectful. Not packed at all when I went. This place is a really cool find

Almost exactly 2 years ago I would have HIGHLY recommended this spot but in the past 2 months I can barely bring myself to give it 3 stars. I still love the sand, (clear than usual) river water and fishing here but not the crowd and chaos. Maybe its still got some peaceful charm in the middle of the week but this is your warning to prepare to leave by 3pm and definitely get the hell out of there before 5pm on the weekends. In the past month I've watching things go from bad to worse after 3pm. We've been arriving between 10:30-11am to find an already half full parking lot and families settled along the shoreline. We usually choose a spot on the far left closer to the trail so we are able to socially distance our selves from the crowd and fish where others aren't swimming. As the day passes you will noticed less spacing between groups on the beach and more boats and jetskis chopping up waves and also parking along the shoreline bringing more people. While I'm fine with this, for the most part since we are away in our own space it gets annoying when: 1. People blast their music from their boats and every other word is the F word. (No consideration for the young kids around) 2. People do not pay attention to the current and continuously drift in the water to where our fishing lines are settled. (Yes, we've hooked a few people before.) 3. People purposely walk infront of our chairs and fishing poles where we have settled without considering social distancing. Last weekend was a breaking point for me. We were in a very small sandy area surrounded by rocks on our left, right and behind us. Our fishing poles and chairs were spread out along with my son's toys. To my surprise a family came by and the parents actually told their two young children to come down and play in our area! They just started playing right next to my son's chair and toys. After I politly put a mask on my son and asked them to move further down the trail they ignored me. So as I prepared to cast my pole I asked them again and the father told me there were rocks over there. Sorry man, we were here first. I explained that none of them were wearing masks and we are trying to social distant. Finally they left. But can you believe that? You don't just walk into someone's area and start playing! That's like walking on someone's lawn or in their house! We've been staying longer but will definitely be leaving by 3pm from now on. The past few times have been quite a spectacle at 5pm. The beach becomes a spring break party nightmare and trying to get my 3 year old and parents out of their becomes a concern of safety and embarrassment. Meanwhile in the parking lot is line of cars trying to come in as police are ticketing those illegally parked on the grass and levy. The lines get so long that it becomes difficult to back out of parking spots and people lack the courtesy to move even though they want your spot. I kid you not. I even asked the guy blocking our SUV if he would mind backing up so that we could leave and he could have our spot. He actually told me he was going to wait in line to park on the grass (where police were giving tickets.) There is so much more I could rant about- the trash being left behind, crowding, drunken fools, smell of pot in the air, thong bikinis, social indecency... the list goes on but for now I will stop here and hope they raise parking rates or impost some better park regulations and monitoring because I'd hate to see this little gem get destroyed. read more

Nice place to take the family. Gets pretty crowded during the summer though. Wish they had more parking and a real bathroom. Also, if you like swimming far out just be careful because some boats dont slow down! Other than that it's a nice, pretty location. The water wasn't super deep so the younger kids were able to enjoy splashing around. They also had life jackets that you could borrow while there which was awesome. Parking was like $3 on the parking app. Bring an umbrella for shade as it gets pretty hot!!! read more

First time here was a year or so back and it was such an amazing little gem! We attempted to go again this past Monday and found it was closed. A sheriff ranger was onsite and we talked to him and he mentioned that it'll be closed indefinitely. He didn't mention why but I have a feeling it's due to past storms that came through. If you're planning to go here I advise to check with county sheriff office first because just a couple days ago it was mentioned to be closed indefinitely. read more

The words "beach" and "Sacramento" are never found in the same sentence. When you think of a body of water in California's state capitol, the first thing that comes to mind is the river or a backyard swimming pool. Well, let me tell you that "Sand Cove Beach" is one of Sacramento's best-kept secrets as it definitely does offer sand at a beach! I've been a resident in Sacramento for nearly 15 years and I've gotta tell you that I have never been to this place before! When I find a place to cool off on a hot summer day, I usually go to Discovery Park, Folsom Lake, the American River, or swim at a friends house. And as I am definitely a beach person, this place was truly a breath of fresh air in every way possible. I actually came here on two occasions in a 2-week span; the first on Sunday 4/26/15 and the second on Saturday 5/2/15; both very warm days in the Sacramento area. Before coming here, I would definitely program the address (2005 Garden Hwy) in your GPS because the entrance comes very quickly when traveling on a remote part of Garden Highway. Another thing that I advise is that you get here as early as possible because the parking lot can (and will) fill up very quickly. There are only about 50 dedicated parking spots so if you happen to come after 1:00pm, you're pretty much out of luck. The one beneficial part of this beach is that the parking is absolutely free! Another advantage is just how close the parking lot is from the actual beach. There is a small trail that begins at the parking lot and is only about a 50 yard walk that leads to the sandy area of the beach. This is great if you happen to bring towels, a blanket, food, and pets without having to walk a long way. The entire sandy area of the beach itself stretches out about 1/4 of a mile but still lots of room to walk or even go for a swim. Keep in mind that this beach does not allow alcohol on the premises. And one downfall is that since everyone brings food, the limited amount of trash bins fills up very quickly. One more negative thing is that there is only one porta-potty (located on the end of the parking lot) which I wouldn't advise using unless absolutely necessary. Other than the few minor issues, this is definitely a great place to relax and enjoy the day. And on any given day, you will notice people riding their jet skis, boats, and kayaks down the river. I'll definitely be making more future trips to "Sand Cove Beach"! read more

Sand Cove Beach - View of the sand and river - Beaches Near Me - Sacramento, California

I want to give this place a good rating but the water is not clear. It's short walk to the beach. It's a nice and hidden gem but I can totally relate to other yelp reviewers. People don't know their boundaries and will walk through other people's tent and come into their personal space. We had to cut our trip short due to ignorance of people. They can't maintain 6 feet distance on land or water. If you plan to go, pay for the parking to avoid ticket. read more

Great little sandy area for kids to play, lots of shade. We picked up quite a bit of trash when we first arrived. I don't mind doing it, we are happy to help keep an area we enjoy clean. Parking cost was very reasonable and the machine was easy to use. read more

Underwhelmed they definitely shouldn't call this place a beach and the sand is compacted and basically muddy looking I was able to capture a decent photo of the view but the surroundings are pretty trashy looking read more

Sand Cove Beach - Sand Cove Beach - Beaches Near Me - Sacramento, California

Perfect beach to visit! Definitely will be coming back soon & bringing the doggy. Spent a few hours with the girls & was super peaceful.

Wanted to go to the beach, but Santa Cruz weather isn't great. Too cold and windy. So we looked for something along Sac river and found Sand Cove. Figured we'd give it a shot. Glad we did. Think we've found a new favorite place to go. read more

Was not open when I arrived Sunday 5/1/22 at 9:18AM and signs posted "BBQing is not allowed." Really bummed website said it was open. Gates are chained up. Wasted a trip here. Did see a car with pallets stacked 3 times it's height on the out of this area though lmao. read more

Came to visit the Sac family and came to this spot to cool off in this 95 degree weather. We had a great time! They also let you borrow (for free) life vest for small children. Cool spot! read more

Sand Cove Beach - Beaches Near Me - Sacramento, California

PARKING TICKETS! BEWARE! The parking lot at this "beach" is extremely small and fills up by 11:00 am on weekends. There are no other safe options for parking. If you park along he Garden Highway, they Issue tickets and/or tow. If you cruise down into the neighborhood below there are No Parking signs everywhere and we know numerous people have have gotten $75 parking tickets there as well. Plus, on at least one occasion, there was a ranger hanging out at the top entrance citing people walking up from the neighborhood because the trek requires you to go over a berm that is posted as No Trespassing and is technically federal property under the control of the Army Corps. for flood control. In short, don't go. Not worth it. read more

Beach! In Sacramento! What a hidden gem. Parking is $3 for 4 hours. (be advised parking can only be paid by via credit card) Child size life vest are available. Oh, and no bathroom facilities. I believe I only saw one porter potty. You can bbq or use fire of any kind. If those don't bother you- obviously not an issue for me, they your in for a treat. Very kid friendly. Sand is soft. Now it is 104 degrees today, so the sand is hot! Great shades areas and view of the river. Very close to restaurants on the river. This trip we brought packed lunches and drinks. This is probably best if you don't want to leave and lose your spot. The area seems like it can get over populated if not how early. Had a good time and will be back! read more

See all

I love this little spot. It has a beach feel to it, without having to drive 2 hours to the bay. It's secluded, seems safe and a short drive from my house. This is a cool little chill spot if you want to go somewhere near water and clear your head. read more

Cool, low key beach! I recommend taking a towel or blanket to sit on. A perfect place to pack a picnic and enjoy eating by the water.

Such a nice little spot to relax and take in a little nature, especially during the weekday evenings. Downside is the people that like to blast their terrible music and not let others just enjoy nature. I'm most definitely a music lover but battling boom boxes coming at you from both sides is just a bit much. Will bring ear plugs next time! read more

Sand Cove Beach - Beaches Near Me - Sacramento, California

Loved the beachy-ness..sand, etc.. hated hated hated the trash there.. I spent like 20 minuets cleaning up the place. Easy parking, nice way to cool off during these hot Sacramento days read more

A fun little place to hang out with family and have a little picnic You do have to pay for parking using a mobile parking app but it's pretty cheap! (less than $5 for sure) read more

Cool little local spot. Came here with sis and nieces over the weekend. The girls had a great time swimming and playing in the sand. Not a good place to have open food or drinks though. Felt like i was in a sand storm every 10min. Sand all over my drinks and in my eyes. Other than that. This is a the closest beach in Sac!! Oh yeah...parking is not free!! read more

See all

Small beach - great sandy place when the water is low enough. Careful with the undercurrents though. Love it!

Who would have known there's a "beach" right off of Garden Highway? This a nice spot to hang out and enjoy the river. There are a few picnic tables and shaded areas for lounging and BBQ'ing. There's a lot of room on the sandy beach, and it seems like a great place to bring pets and kids. Being a city park, alcohol isn't allowed. There are several parking spots before the train leading to the beach. I recommend you check it out! http://www.sacramentoriver.org/access_site.php?access_site_id=200 read more

A small-scale comparison of a beach, this is one of the closest thing Sacramento has to a "beach". The crowd here can make or break the scene. I've been here various times and have caught wonderful sunset moments and colorful evening skies painted by the sun. There are moments here there are wonderful, but that requires going at the right time. For a more quiet scene shoot for weekdays, evenings, or possibly late mornings (brunch time). Pros: -"sandy beach" feel -nice getaway from suburbia -no fees -free parking & entrance Cons: -people leaving their trash behind (not a "leave no trace" zone) -walking past the stinky portal potty -lack of parking space read more

This was a nice little beach with a smallish parking lot. Not as trashy or crowded as Discovery Beach. Our friends could pull their boat right up to the beach! Only thing is that there was a fairly big pile of trash on the beach. People pick up after yourselves!!! read more

See all

Came to the park today and the gates were closed, no way in, no signs to let us know why.

I had a great time here with my mom and nieces. So close to our house, pleasant walk, low key and intimate beach... There was a couple blasting vulgar and profanity filled music with no regard to children present, but...whaddareyagonnado? Looking forward to going back, camping out a great spot, and enjoying some sunning, eating, and wading! read more

Little diamond in the rough in Sacramento. Wouldn't think that a beach would be right in the middle of the city, but it was. Came for a kid's birthday party. Hardly any shade, maybe one tree, closer to the parking lot. By the time we got there, it wasn't as packed as it was earlier in the day. Pets were allowed so the sand was iffy. Ended up one of the blankets ended up getting dog poop (we think) from the kids digging in the sand. hahaha. Yup that was it for me. People were launching their boats, saw a couple jet skiers right by the kids wadding in the water. To each is their own I guess. They do have life vests for kiddos or anyone actually that need them. That was a plus. Parking is scarce, get their early for sure. And you have to pay for it. Btw .. if you use the kiosk .. make sure you know which button you're pressing and how many times you press it. Chances are they'll get you with parking until 3am. My relative used the app to pay for parking and still got a ticket for the parking police. read more

Its ok for Sac. A lil dirty. Dogs roam around no leash. You do have locals whos backyard overlook the beach so you gonna remember there are eyes on you at all times. read more

Love this beach. It's more like a lagoon/lake. At least the area I went to. Great vibe, nice and clean.