Davenport Beach

Great clean place to come and relax. It’s not overcrowded unlike the other places. A must go to place for any photographer. Unfortunately the swing (Golden Arches) below the beach has been taken down recently.

Beautiful clean beach. Come early if you want to look for Seaglass. You may also want to bring something to dig with as you search for glass gems.
There are several beaches along this area with each one called something different. Ample parking. Dog friendly ~ as long as they’re on a leash. Would love to come back early morning to see this beach. It’s a little steep going down to the beach, but very doable. We had the most incredible sunset.

What a great getaway! This is my favorite of beaches, everything about it, is just breath taking.

I visited this beach on a Friday to watch the sunset while we were on our way to Santa Cruz.
For those traveling south on Highway 1, the turn off to park is going to be on your right hand side and there are a few cute shops lining the other side of Highway 1 on the left. In order to access the bluffs overlooking the beach from the parking area, you have to climb down a small hill with loose rocks and also cross a set of train tracks. I was wearing flip flops when I went and had wished that I had worn comfortable closed toe shoes instead. I’ll know to not wear flip flops when visiting next time.
There is a small trail were you can walk along the bluffs and also a danger sign reminding you to not get to close to the edge. I was reminded when Arch Rock collapsed at Point Reyes earlier this year, so I know how unstable these bluffs can potentially be. Enjoy it, but be careful!
To get to the beach, you have to go more down the hill which also has some loose rocks. The beach itself is not very big, so no long walks on the beach are available here (at least from what I remember). I did appreciate how it wasn’t crowded and was a peaceful place to watch the sunset.
I enjoyed visiting this beach and would come back again.

Secluded with breathtaking views of California’s coast makes this place special. Came here on a whim with a girlfriend and didn’t realize how close it is to Santa Cruz. We were interested in getting to the swing on the beach but didn’t want to risk the climb down in flip flops. Will definitely have to come back. To be continued…
Note: Free parking and a short walk across railroad tracks.

Don’t get me wrong, Davenport Beach is absolutely gorgeous… but pictures can only tell you so much. When you arrive at this beach by cautiously walking down a rocky cliff, stand near the waters and you’ll see for yourself. This place absolutely REEKS of rotten eggs, no joke. I couldn’t even get too close to the shore without feeling like I was suffocating — I had to continuously put my shirt over my nose to filter out the smell. I have never went to such a smelly beach before and hope that I never will again.
As for the view, I was definitely a happy camper. I love how this beach wasn’t too crowded like how Seabright or Boardwalk is on a busy weekend. Also, this beach is dog-​friendly and it was nice seeing a bunch of dogs run free near their owners as they frolicked into the waves or dodged them completely. What caught me by surprise were the number of animals at this beach. Within an hour of relaxing at the beach, there were hundreds of birds flying in the air or floating in the water. But the coolest part was that I was able to see several dolphins AND seals swimming near the shore. The seal heads would bob with the tides of the water in a very cute way and you would see the dorsal fins of the dolphins pop up every now and then.
This is definitely a beach worth visiting if you can tolerate horrible smells. Or, you can just bring a face mask and you’ll have a great time here!

I completely forgot about this beach! Less crowded than the usual Santa Cruz beach, dog friendly, and clean! Saw lots of dogs off leash on our most recent visit, which is great! I love dog friendly beaches and usually frequent Manresa SB but will now make more trips out here with Happy :)

This place was a great stop on the way home from Big Basin camping. It was much cooler than in the forest, but it was still around 70 degrees, even with the overcast. We climbed down from the off-​street parking (it’s steep, be Ye warned) and the first turn we made once making it to the beach was into a tunnel! It was awesome. The water was nice, and there are lots of coves and small cavelets all over the place. Sea lions off the coastline made it complete! Highly recommended!

It’s more like a 4.5 but this is a nice beach nevertheless!
My friends and I came to Davenport Beach this week to escape the summer heat! The beach is located down the hill from a small town off Highway 1. There’s a large dirt parking lot near the intersection, you can’t miss it. It’s a nice beach that’s not too crowded. There were a couple families and dogs when we went but nothing compared to the boardwalk. Sadly, I was hoping to check out the beach with the arches in the picture below but I think my friends and I came when the tide was too high. The other side of the beach is nice as well but it isn’t as unique in my opinion. This beach is a lot easier to get to compared to Panther Beach. There is an actual path that leads to the beach which is a lot safer and better for kids.
Rundown:
— Beautiful beach that isn’t too crowded
— You can look over the ocean if you climb up the hill instead of down
— The waves are huge so be careful
— Clean up after yourself and pick up trash.
— Not as nice as Panther beach but easier to access

Amazing here! Few people. Would come here again to just relax without the crowd. Had to go down steep, sandy stairs and cross the train tracks to get to the beach. There is a graffitied cave with really cold water. On the other side of the cave, it looks like an untouched magical place. I only made it halfway thru because it got dark and creepy.

One of my favorite spots is Northern Ca! Some days you have the beach to your self and some days its very growded! Because this beach is just few miles away from UC santa cruz, many of them parties at the beach. But its a perfect day to enjoy the sun, catch the waves, have a walk down the cave, watch the sunset and bonfire at night with cold beers A must to visit!

This is definitely almost like a private beach. There was not many people at this particular location. Just occasional dogs and some human owners who are also enjoying the scene.
There is 2 benches for you to enjoy the view as well as well as a swing for the younger ones. There is even a porch swing!
If needed, there is a bathroom provided as well.
The beach itself had a lot of seaweed strewn upshore but it was not super bad. One part of the beach has softer sand but the other part, the sand was more painful to walk on.
If you’re feeling adventurous there is also a cave to explore but I didn’t venture into it yet. Maybe next time when I go!
Definitely this place is my go to beach at Santa Cruz now! Can’t wait to go again with my friends.

I would give this place 3.5 stars.
Pros: nice beach with beautiful scenarios.
It’s not too crowded
Pets friendly
Great place to walk around and explore around
the beach.
Cons: the bathrooms were disgusting!!!
Be careful walking around where you will see
poopin the sand because people don’t clean
Up after their dogs.

I love this secret beach! I feel like this beach is so versatile because it can be a place to get your cardio on or relaxation on.
When the tide is high, it’s a beautiful outlook place to walk or run. Lots of grass & flowers & the breeze is just right!
When the tide is low, it’s a fun adventure into the caves & climb onto the rocks & side of the cliffs! It’s a great beach to relax & catch some sun. Yes! There are caves! I love the caves & how it looks! Mother Nature is just so beautiful. I like sitting in the sand & watch the waves crash against the rocks as it comes to the shore.
Not many people know this beach which makes it less crowded & more personal space to enjoy the calming waves.
Yes, the boardwalk is nearby, but I prefer the solitude here.

This is one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever been to. Take some time to walk up the trails on the side and you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful view of the beach. I would easily recommend this place to anyone who wants to go to a nice beach in the SF Bay Area.

OK! So now we have a third rescue! And it was time the whole pack (family) to get their paws wet and sandy! They all loved being able to run amuck off their leashes, but they still stayed close and came when called! Well… except for Pickles… she had to run and say ‘Hi!’ To every surfer and beach bum!

I almost don’t want to write a review because I’m selfish and I don’t want more and more people finding out about this beach. Luckily, the angel on my left shoulder persuaded me to just do one anyway.
I first found out about this beach about 3 – 4 years ago and forgot about it since then.
This summer, my boyfriend and I have been beach bums and we spent a handful of our time in beautiful Santa Cruz. That’s when it occurred to me that this beach existed.
I love how parking is so easy. It’s a little space, but at least 15 cars will fit, so it’s ok. There’s a sign that states no parking between the hours of 10P.M. and 6A.M. but who goes to the beach at that time anyway?
The walk down is fairly easy, but it depends on your hiking skills, to be honest. It’s not hard, but if you’re wearing flip flops or footwear that doesn’t have too much support, then it might hurt because it’s a rocky walk… So try not to step on the bigger rocks to avoid the pain.
Once you get down there, it’s frickin’ beautiful! I love that not too many people come. We were there just today and there were actually a couple of nudists sunbathing. I didn’t mind it too much because they respectively kept their distance while we kept ours.
The thing about this beach though, is that there’s flies!!! It’s gross because I was trying to relax and read my book and there would be little itty bitty flies buzzing around and landing on us. It grossed me out a couple of times, actually.
The sand is suuuuuper soft, it’s an incredible feeling between your toes, but once you get closer to the ocean, it turns hard and it starts to feel weird on your feet. And there’s even more flies flying around due to the seaweed that gets washed up on the shore.
This beach is much, much cleaner compared to the one in front of the boardwalk, but then there’s that occasional asshole that litters their Shock Top and Little Caesar’s pizza boxes. We saw that going back up. It’s so sad, because people don’t understand that the beach is not our home, it belongs to wildlife like birds, nature, and whatnot and us humans are just guests.
Other than that, this place is perfect to just relax and enjoy time with loved ones.

This beach is an ice little hidden gem less than 15−10miles North of Santa Cruz.
My friend and I drove up to this place on a complete whim, unguided, without anyone telling us it existed. We saw a couple of cars pulled over on the side of the road, and decide to see what was going on!
It was a very spread out beach with dogs and people spread out evenly. The sand here was remarkably soft! That is a huge thing that stood out to me. We walked back south along the water to where we got to some rocks where there were several shells. Our pooch was running up and down the water, meeting some dogs, and people! It was great!
Overall; Easy parking, soft sand, and dog friendly! Check it out!

Came here for the 1^st time today and had a blast. Upon parking I was disappointed to see how much trash there was in the lot and how there were no defined stairs down to the beach. The beach itself was beautiful with caves to explore and a little canal area where water splashed up to my chest (unexpectedly).
I had a blast here with my cousin and boyfriend because all three of us unexpectedly submerged in the water. You really have to be careful when going into those caves. Try timing your entrance with the movement of the big waves to avoid getting splashed.
There seemed to be a lot of teens/​yolk folk there which was a draw back for me. There was cussing and loud music and beer and it took away from the beauty of the location.

I absolutely love this beach, and it has become one of my all time favorites in the Bay Area. If you want to get away from the Santa Cruz crowds and just have a nice day at the beach with an amazing view, this is the place for you. In the past few months I’ve come to this beach at least twice a month, just to enjoy the view.
You can get absolutely amazing sunset photos here, and on a night with clear conditions, you’ll be mesmerized by just how many stars you can see from. If you come during high tide you’ll also be treated to the waves gushing through the cracks along the rocks. Come during low tide, and you’ll be able to climb onto the famous Davenport rock and get nice photos on there as well.
Parking is easy, you’re allowed to come 24 hours a day, and bonfires are allowed (but not after 10 pm).