Lighthouse Field State Beach — Attraction in Santa Cruz

If you’re looking for a quintessential California coastal experience, the lighthouse at Field State Beach in Santa Cruz is a must-visit. This spot blends history, stunning ocean views, and the unmistakable charm of the Pacific.

The lighthouse itself stands as a picturesque landmark, offering a perfect backdrop for photos, but the real magic happens when you take a moment to soak in the surroundings. The crashing waves, salty breeze, and panoramic views of the Monterey Bay make this a breathtaking place to just be.

And then, there are the sea lions—the real stars of the show! If you listen closely, you’ll hear their distinctive barking before you even spot them. Watching them lounge on the rocky outcroppings, slip in and out of the water, and playfully interact with each other is nothing short of mesmerizing. It adds a lively and wild energy to the already scenic coastal setting.

Whether you’re a nature lover, a photographer, or just someone looking for a peaceful spot to reflect, the lighthouse at Field State Beach is worth the visit. Come for the views, stay for the sea lions, and leave with a newfound appreciation for Santa Cruz’s...

I was spending a wk in Santa Cruz and wanted to explore sights away from the Boardwalk. Lighthouse Field Beach was on my list. I was pleasantly surprised by the diversity of experiences at the park. An amazing trail along the majestic cliffs overlooking the ocean from the Wharf to Natural Bridges. The area had many walkers, runners, bike riders. Surfers were easy to watch from the trail, a dog beach had its own four legged visitors. The elevated view allowed you to see an expansive view of the bay, and the waves up against the shorelines. There was the Surfer Museum at the Lighthouse, a small eatery by the parking lot, restrooms, and additional trails across the street. My experience was so memorable, I came back the next morning to run the trail along the water. My advice, get a short distance out of town and visit Lighthouse Field Beach State Park. Today I took another trip to the Lighthouse. Looking out to the ocean, slightly south, I saw a whale breaching & spouting water. Was a 1st for me. Also, waves were pretty big today. Over 50 surfers out in the water. Cool day by...

This should be named a dog park people let thier dogs run wild without leashes. I love dogs however sitting on the beach, relaxing eating our food over 10 dogs from various people let rhier dogs run up on our blankets while they were wet and covered in sand. Not to mention hungry trying to eat out food our of our hands and cooler. Dogs are dogs! but felt like the humans could atleast of said excuse me to us for being ran up on by thier unleased dogs. Dogs are supposed to be on a leash per the sign at the stair entrance. I'd say if your dog is trained not to jump on people laying or sitting down then its not a big deal but really if you have zero control over your big dogs maybe have some ettiqute or atleast say excuse me to folks when your dog tramples people. I even heard a dude tell his dog not to go in that...taking about myself and son. Wow people are thats now. Lol. Beautiful views from atop and an awesome...