Twin Lakes State Beach
Photo Gallery






















About Twin Lakes State Beach in Santa Cruz, California
Twin Lakes State Beach is a sandy beach on the east side of the entrance to Santa Cruz Harbor. The main beach access in Twin Lakes State Beach is along East Cliff Drive between 5th and 9th Avenues in the Live Oak area of Santa Cruz. At the harbor entrance there are sand volleyball courts plus shops and restaurants that overlook the beach and the jetty.
This state park extends for one mile along the Santa Cruz waterfront shoreline including the beaches on both sides of Santa Cruz Harbor – Seabright Beach, Harbor Beach, and the beach in front of Bonita Lagoon (aka Black’s Beach).
At 9th Avenue there is a freshwater lake called Schwan Lagoon (or Schwan Lake) across Cliff Drive that is good for bird-watching. This inland park has trails for walking and viewpoints over the lake. For trail access you can find parking and the trailhead at Simpkins Family Swim Center / Live Oak Community Center (979 17th Avenue, Santa Cruz). More parking can be found at the south end of El Dorado Avenue near Edmar Lane.
A few parking spots for the main part of Twin Lakes State Beach are provided at 9th Ave but they fill up quickly. Street parking spots in the area are permit only on weekends so at those times it’s probably best to park at Santa Cruz Harbor Beach and walk south to this spot rather than risk a parking citation.
- Address
- E Cliff Dr and 9th Ave
Santa Cruz, CA 95062 - Park Name
- Twin Lakes State Beach, Schwan Lake Park
- Owner
- State Park
- Pet Details
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Activities
- Swimming, Sunbathing, Picnicking, Birdwatching, Bonfires
- Amenities
- Restrooms, Showers, Lifeguard, Lagoon, Fire Pits, Wetlands

Nearby Beaches
Santa Cruz Harbor Beach
0.1 miles away
Santa Cruz Harbor Beach is a south-facing beach at the corner of 5th Avenue and East Cliff Drive in...
Blacks Beach
0.2 miles away
This local beach in the Live Oak area of Santa Cruz goes by many names. Some call it Black’s...
Sunny Cove
0.4 miles away
Sunny Cove Beach is in a deep cove filled with sand in eastern Santa Cruz, CA. The cove has...
Nearby Attractions
Walton Lighthouse
0.2 miles away
Some cities would enjoy claiming rights to a single lighthouse. Santa Cruz enjoys two beautiful structures and though the...