Western Santa Cruz County
29 of 29 beaches scored, 0 good now
4.5FairAverage Beach ScoreBest: Bluffs Beaches, 4.5
- Water
- 18°C65°F
- Wind
- 13 km/h8 mph
- Waves
- 1.7 m6 ft
Natural Bridges State Beach, Santa Cruz CountySanta Cruz County beaches
Which Santa Cruz County beach is best right now? 59 beaches ranked by live weather, wind, waves and water temperature.
- Beaches59
- Good now0 of 59
- Water18°C64 to 65°F
- Best now38th Avenue Coastal Access4.7Fair
Updated 9:30 pm local timeScores from Open-Meteo forecasts, refreshed hourlyColors follow the lifeguard flags
Top 3 right now
16 beaches score 4.7 right now. These three have the best stretch ahead, then the lightest wind.
14.7Fair38th Avenue Coastal Access
Santa Cruz County
No good stretch left today- Air
- 16°C62°F
- Water
- 18°C64°F
- Wind
- 3 km/h2 mph
- Waves
- 1.0 m3 ft
Tomorrow, hour by hourBest 5 pm, 7.5
24.7FairBlack's Beach/Lincoln Beach
Santa Cruz County
No good stretch left today- Air
- 16°C62°F
- Water
- 18°C64°F
- Wind
- 3 km/h2 mph
- Waves
- 1.0 m3 ft
Tomorrow, hour by hourBest 5 pm, 7.5
34.7FairCapitola Beach
Santa Cruz County
No good stretch left today- Air
- 16°C62°F
- Water
- 18°C64°F
- Wind
- 3 km/h2 mph
- Waves
- 1.0 m3 ft
Tomorrow, hour by hourBest 5 pm, 7.5
Santa Cruz County today
A fair day for the beach across Santa Cruz County: 0 of 59 scored beaches are good right now, water is 18°C64 to 65°F, and wind averages 10 km/h6 mph (light wind). Read at 9:30 pm; everything below is computed from that reading.
Eastern Santa Cruz County
30 of 30 beaches scored, 0 good now
4.7FairAverage Beach ScoreBest: 38th Avenue Coastal Access, 4.7
- Water
- 18°C64°F
- Wind
- 6 km/h4 mph
- Waves
- 1.1 m4 ft
Calmest sea
1.0 m3 ft waves
38th Avenue Coastal Access
Santa Cruz County. Wind 3 km/h2 mph. Level with 15 other beaches.
Best for families
4.7 Fair
Black's Beach/Lincoln Beach
Santa Cruz County. Top score of the 2 scored beaches tagged with lifeguards.
Best hours
The best hour left today is 6 pm (5.0); the weakest is 3 pm (3.6).
No stretch reaches a good score.
Santa Cruz County tomorrow: the best hour is 4 pm (7.4) and the weakest is 1 pm (6.1).
The strongest stretch runs 2 pm to 7 pm.
7 to 10, green flag4 to 7, yellowUnder 4, redAverage of the scored beaches, each hour
All Santa Cruz County beaches
Every Santa Cruz County beach we track, ranked by its live Beach Score. Hover a row to find it on the map.
- 4.7Fair
38th Avenue Coastal Access
Santa Cruz County
1.0 m3 ft waves, light wind and 18°C64°F water.
- Water18°C64°F
- Air16°C62°F
- Wind3 km/h2 mph
- Waves1.0 m3 ft
- Free parking
- 4.7Fair
Black's Beach/Lincoln Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.0 m3 ft waves, light wind and 18°C64°F water.
- Water18°C64°F
- Air16°C62°F
- Wind3 km/h2 mph
- Waves1.0 m3 ft
- Lifeguards
- Free parking
4.7FairCapitola Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.0 m3 ft waves, light wind and 18°C64°F water.
- Water18°C64°F
- Air16°C62°F
- Wind3 km/h2 mph
- Waves1.0 m3 ft
- Paid parking
4.7FairEsplanade Park Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.0 m3 ft waves, light wind and 18°C64°F water.
- Water18°C64°F
- Air16°C62°F
- Wind3 km/h2 mph
- Waves1.0 m3 ft
- Paid parking
- 4.7Fair
Hooper Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.0 m3 ft waves, light wind and 18°C64°F water.
- Water18°C64°F
- Air16°C62°F
- Wind3 km/h2 mph
- Waves1.0 m3 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
- 4.7Fair
Lincoln Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.0 m3 ft waves, light wind and 18°C64°F water.
- Water18°C64°F
- Air16°C62°F
- Wind3 km/h2 mph
- Waves1.0 m3 ft
- Free parking
- 18°C64°FNo photo yet4.7Fair
Moran Lake Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.0 m3 ft waves, light wind and 18°C64°F water.
- Water18°C64°F
- Air16°C62°F
- Wind3 km/h2 mph
- Waves1.0 m3 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
4.7FairNew Brighton State Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.0 m3 ft waves, light wind and 18°C64°F water.
- Water18°C64°F
- Air16°C62°F
- Wind3 km/h2 mph
- Waves1.0 m3 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
4.7FairPotbelly Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.0 m3 ft waves, light wind and 18°C64°F water.
- Water18°C64°F
- Air16°C62°F
- Wind3 km/h2 mph
- Waves1.0 m3 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
- 4.7Fair
Private's Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.0 m3 ft waves, light wind and 18°C64°F water.
- Water18°C64°F
- Air16°C62°F
- Wind3 km/h2 mph
- Waves1.0 m3 ft
- Free parking
- 4.7Fair
Private's Nude Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.0 m3 ft waves, light wind and 18°C64°F water.
- Water18°C64°F
- Air16°C62°F
- Wind3 km/h2 mph
- Waves1.0 m3 ft
- Free parking
4.7FairSanta Maria's Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.0 m3 ft waves, light wind and 18°C64°F water.
- Water18°C64°F
- Air16°C62°F
- Wind3 km/h2 mph
- Waves1.0 m3 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
- Timelapse
4.7FairSeacliff State Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.0 m3 ft waves, light wind and 18°C64°F water.
- Water18°C64°F
- Air16°C62°F
- Wind3 km/h2 mph
- Waves1.0 m3 ft
- Paid parking
- 4.7Fair
Sunny Cove Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.0 m3 ft waves, light wind and 18°C64°F water.
- Water18°C64°F
- Air16°C62°F
- Wind3 km/h2 mph
- Waves1.0 m3 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
4.7FairTwin Lakes Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.0 m3 ft waves, light wind and 18°C64°F water.
- Water18°C64°F
- Air16°C62°F
- Wind3 km/h2 mph
- Waves1.0 m3 ft
- Free parking
4.7FairTwin Lakes State Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.0 m3 ft waves, light wind and 18°C64°F water.
- Water18°C64°F
- Air16°C62°F
- Wind3 km/h2 mph
- Waves1.0 m3 ft
- Paid parking
- 4.5Fair
Bluffs Beaches
Santa Cruz County
1.8 m6 ft waves, gentle breeze and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air15°C59°F
- Wind14 km/h9 mph
- Waves1.8 m6 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
4.5FairChina Ladder Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.8 m6 ft waves, gentle breeze and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air15°C59°F
- Wind14 km/h9 mph
- Waves1.8 m6 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
4.5FairDavenport Landing Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.8 m6 ft waves, gentle breeze and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air15°C59°F
- Wind14 km/h9 mph
- Waves1.8 m6 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
4.5FairGreyhound Rock Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.8 m6 ft waves, gentle breeze and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air15°C59°F
- Wind14 km/h9 mph
- Waves1.8 m6 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
- 18°C65°FNo photo yet4.5Fair
Las Trancas Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.8 m6 ft waves, gentle breeze and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air15°C59°F
- Wind14 km/h9 mph
- Waves1.8 m6 ft
- Free parking
- 4.5Fair
Scott Creek Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.8 m6 ft waves, gentle breeze and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air15°C59°F
- Wind14 km/h9 mph
- Waves1.8 m6 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
![500px provided description: Light and dark sand ripple texture. Waddell Creek Beach, CA [#beach ,#sand]](https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Aeolian_Sand_Ripples_1_%28173891135%29.jpeg/500px-Aeolian_Sand_Ripples_1_%28173891135%29.jpeg)
4.5FairWaddell Beach (County of Santa Cruz)
Santa Cruz County
1.8 m6 ft waves, gentle breeze and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air15°C59°F
- Wind14 km/h9 mph
- Waves1.8 m6 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
![500px provided description: Light and dark sand ripple texture. Waddell Creek Beach, CA [#beach ,#sand]](https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/Aeolian_Sand_Ripples_3_%28173891129%29.jpeg/500px-Aeolian_Sand_Ripples_3_%28173891129%29.jpeg)
4.5FairWaddell Beach (State Parks)
Santa Cruz County
1.8 m6 ft waves, gentle breeze and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air15°C59°F
- Wind14 km/h9 mph
- Waves1.8 m6 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
- 4.5Fair
Waddell Creek Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.8 m6 ft waves, gentle breeze and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air15°C59°F
- Wind14 km/h9 mph
- Waves1.8 m6 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
4.4FairBonny Doon Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.8 m6 ft waves, gentle breeze and 18°C64°F water.
- Water18°C64°F
- Air15°C59°F
- Wind16 km/h10 mph
- Waves1.8 m6 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
4.4FairDavenport Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.8 m6 ft waves, gentle breeze and 18°C64°F water.
- Water18°C64°F
- Air15°C59°F
- Wind16 km/h10 mph
- Waves1.8 m6 ft
- Free parking
4.4FairShark Fin Cove (California)
Santa Cruz County
1.8 m6 ft waves, gentle breeze and 18°C64°F water.
- Water18°C64°F
- Air15°C59°F
- Wind16 km/h10 mph
- Waves1.8 m6 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
4.4FairShark Fin Cove Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.8 m6 ft waves, gentle breeze and 18°C64°F water.
- Water18°C64°F
- Air15°C59°F
- Wind16 km/h10 mph
- Waves1.8 m6 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
7.4GreattomorrowBeer Can Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.0 m3 ft waves, light wind and 18°C64°F water.
- Water18°C64°F
- Air14°C57°F
- Wind9 km/h5 mph
- Waves1.0 m3 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
7.4GreattomorrowManresa State Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.0 m3 ft waves, light wind and 18°C64°F water.
- Water18°C64°F
- Air14°C57°F
- Wind9 km/h5 mph
- Waves1.0 m3 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
- 7.4Greattomorrow
Rio Del Mar Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.0 m3 ft waves, light wind and 18°C64°F water.
- Water18°C64°F
- Air14°C57°F
- Wind9 km/h5 mph
- Waves1.0 m3 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
7.3Greattomorrow2222 Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.4 m4 ft waves, light wind and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air14°C57°F
- Wind10 km/h6 mph
- Waves1.4 m4 ft
- Free parking
- Timelapse
7.3GreattomorrowCowell Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.4 m4 ft waves, light wind and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air14°C57°F
- Wind10 km/h6 mph
- Waves1.4 m4 ft
- Paid parking
- 7.3Greattomorrow
De Anza Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.4 m4 ft waves, light wind and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air14°C57°F
- Wind10 km/h6 mph
- Waves1.4 m4 ft
- Paid parking
7.3GreattomorrowFern Grotto Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.4 m4 ft waves, light wind and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air14°C57°F
- Wind10 km/h6 mph
- Waves1.4 m4 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
- 7.3Greattomorrow
Harbor Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.4 m4 ft waves, light wind and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air14°C57°F
- Wind10 km/h6 mph
- Waves1.4 m4 ft
- Paid parking
7.3GreattomorrowIts Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.4 m4 ft waves, light wind and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air14°C57°F
- Wind10 km/h6 mph
- Waves1.4 m4 ft
- Free parking
- Dogs allowed
7.3GreattomorrowLighthouse Field State Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.4 m4 ft waves, light wind and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air14°C57°F
- Wind10 km/h6 mph
- Waves1.4 m4 ft
- Free parking
- 7.3Greattomorrow
Mitchell's Cove Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.4 m4 ft waves, light wind and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air14°C57°F
- Wind10 km/h6 mph
- Waves1.4 m4 ft
- Free parking
- Dogs allowed
7.3GreattomorrowNatural Bridges State Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.4 m4 ft waves, light wind and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air14°C57°F
- Wind10 km/h6 mph
- Waves1.4 m4 ft
- Free parking
- 18°C65°FNo photo yet7.3Greattomorrow
Sand Plant Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.4 m4 ft waves, light wind and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air14°C57°F
- Wind10 km/h6 mph
- Waves1.4 m4 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
7.3GreattomorrowSanta Cruz Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.4 m4 ft waves, light wind and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air14°C57°F
- Wind10 km/h6 mph
- Waves1.4 m4 ft
- Paid parking
- No dogs
7.3GreattomorrowSeabright Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.4 m4 ft waves, light wind and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air14°C57°F
- Wind10 km/h6 mph
- Waves1.4 m4 ft
- Free parking
7.3GreattomorrowSwift Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.4 m4 ft waves, light wind and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air14°C57°F
- Wind10 km/h6 mph
- Waves1.4 m4 ft
- Free parking
- 7.3Greattomorrow
Wilder Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.4 m4 ft waves, light wind and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air14°C57°F
- Wind10 km/h6 mph
- Waves1.4 m4 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
7.3GreattomorrowYounger Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.4 m4 ft waves, light wind and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air14°C57°F
- Wind10 km/h6 mph
- Waves1.4 m4 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
7.1GreattomorrowCable Car Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.4 m4 ft waves, light wind and 18°C64°F water.
- Water18°C64°F
- Air14°C57°F
- Wind5 km/h3 mph
- Waves1.4 m4 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
- 18°C65°FNo photo yet6.8Goodtomorrow
Palm Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.2 m4 ft waves, gentle breeze and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air15°C58°F
- Wind14 km/h9 mph
- Waves1.2 m4 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
6.8GoodtomorrowSunset Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.2 m4 ft waves, gentle breeze and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air15°C58°F
- Wind14 km/h9 mph
- Waves1.2 m4 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
6.3GoodtomorrowFive Mile Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.8 m6 ft waves, gentle breeze and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air16°C61°F
- Wind15 km/h9 mph
- Waves1.8 m6 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
- 18°C65°FNo photo yet6.3Goodtomorrow
Four Mile Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.8 m6 ft waves, gentle breeze and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air16°C61°F
- Wind15 km/h9 mph
- Waves1.8 m6 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
- 18°C65°FNo photo yet6.3Goodtomorrow
Laguna Creek Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.8 m6 ft waves, gentle breeze and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air16°C61°F
- Wind15 km/h9 mph
- Waves1.8 m6 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
6.3GoodtomorrowPanther Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.8 m6 ft waves, gentle breeze and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air16°C61°F
- Wind15 km/h9 mph
- Waves1.8 m6 ft
- Lifeguards
- Free parking
- 6.3Goodtomorrow
Red, White and Blue Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.8 m6 ft waves, gentle breeze and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air16°C61°F
- Wind15 km/h9 mph
- Waves1.8 m6 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
- 18°C65°FNo photo yet6.3Goodtomorrow
Strawberry Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.8 m6 ft waves, gentle breeze and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air16°C61°F
- Wind15 km/h9 mph
- Waves1.8 m6 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
- 6.3Goodtomorrow
Table Rock Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.8 m6 ft waves, gentle breeze and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air16°C61°F
- Wind15 km/h9 mph
- Waves1.8 m6 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
- 18°C65°FNo photo yet6.3Goodtomorrow
Three Mile Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.8 m6 ft waves, gentle breeze and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air16°C61°F
- Wind15 km/h9 mph
- Waves1.8 m6 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
- 6.3Goodtomorrow
Yellowbank Beach
Santa Cruz County
1.8 m6 ft waves, gentle breeze and 18°C65°F water.
- Water18°C65°F
- Air16°C61°F
- Wind15 km/h9 mph
- Waves1.8 m6 ft
- Free parking
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Coastlines: Natural Earth, public domain. Pins are live scores.
7 and up4 to 7Under 4No live score hereHover a beach to find it. Click a group to zoom in.
Stays near Santa Cruz County’s best beaches today
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Santa Cruz County beach questions
Answered from today’s data. Numbers change as the forecast does.
What is the best beach in Santa Cruz County right now?
38th Avenue Coastal Access has the top Beach Score right now: 4.7 Fair, with 3 km/h (2 mph) of wind. Scores are ranked from live forecasts, so the order changes through the day.
What is the water temperature in Santa Cruz County today?
Sea water is 18°C (64°F) across the 59 scored beaches. The warmest is Bluffs Beaches, at 18°C (65°F).
Where is the sea calmest in Santa Cruz County right now?
38th Avenue Coastal Access has the smallest waves, at 1.0 m (3 ft) with 3 km/h (2 mph) of wind. 15 other beaches are level with it.
Which Santa Cruz County beaches have lifeguards?
2 of 59 listed beaches are tagged with lifeguards on OpenStreetMap, including Panther Beach and Black's Beach/Lincoln Beach. Tags can be out of date, so follow the posted flags and staff on the day.
What is the best time to go to the beach in Santa Cruz County today?
Averaged across the scored beaches, the best hour today is 6 pm, at 5.0 Fair. Each beach page has its own hour-by-hour forecast.
Are there live beach cams in Santa Cruz County?
No live cams are listed for Santa Cruz County yet. If you run one, you can list it free.
How many beaches does Check the Beach cover in Santa Cruz County?
All 59 beaches in our data for Santa Cruz County are scored live on this page.
Sources: Open-Meteo weather and marine forecasts; facilities from OpenStreetMap. All sources.
More areas in California
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Run a cam on a Santa Cruz County beach? List it free.
Surf shops, hotels and lifeguard clubs: put your cam next to a live Beach Score and send beachgoers your way.
- Free listing, with a credit and a link to your site on the beach page
- Works with YouTube streams and most IP cams
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List your beach camTakes about 5 minutes.