The Most Unique Beaches of California
California has beaches of all shapes and sizes. It also has beaches of many colors from the white sand beaches of Carmel to the black sand beaches of Shelter Cove. But did you know it has a beach with purple sand?
Or a beach that is comprised of mostly glass? California also has several depressions known as blow holes and punch bowls. Then there are the beaches that can only be entered through a natural rock tunnel. Here are our favorite unique beaches in California.
Glass Beach, Fort Bragg
While Glass Beach is no secret, it still ranks high on the list of unique beaches anywhere. Tiny glass shards from an old trash dump on the beach have been churned around in the surf for years and turned into billions of colorful pieces of seaglass.
Although it is illegal, some of the glass has been stolen over the years, but much remains.
Purple Sands of Pfeiffer Beach, Big Sur
Pfeiffer Beach is known for the huge rock arch that waves spill through onto the beach. Professional photographers set up here in the evenings for epic shots of sunset rays passing through the hole.
Many who visit this beach don’t know that there is purple sand at the far north end. Some of this sand has unfortunately been “harvested” and is being sold on websites like eBay and Etsy, but luckily there is still more to see. Here are other beaches in California with uniquely colored beach sand.
Bowling Ball Beach, Point Arena
At this hard to find spot during low tides a beach full of round rocks resembling bowling balls is exposed. Pro photographers, like Mark Scheffer who took this photo, set up their tripods to capture this unique scene at Bowling Ball Beach.
The Crater, Sand City
The Crater is a depression in the sand dunes near the town of Sand City. High dune walls surround this low spot on all sides. Some are so steep they are hard to climb up, but they sure are fun to slide on, jump off, and fall down!
Secret Amphitheater of Point Reyes
This unique place has been created by erosion in the sandy bluff. It’s a natural amphitheater with high smooth walls and only one way in. A small opening at the bottom of the wall facing the ocean is where you enter. Sometimes you have to crawl through it when the sand level is high.
This spot is particularly hard to get to because of the long hike involved and the fact that it’s only accessible at low tides. Check tide tables and then head out to Secret Beach on the Point Reyes peninsula.
Little River Blowhole, Little River
A steep trail aided by a fixed rope is the only way down to this small sandy beach at the bottom of a deep hole in the Earth. Waves roll into the bottom of it at high tide, but at low tide it’s possible to walk out through a dark eerie tunnel toward the ocean.
Don’t head down to the Little River Blowhole unless you are comfortable with an exposed downclimb like this one, it is one of the hardest beaches in California to get to!
Devil’s Punchbowl, Mendocino
Like the Blowhole, this Punchbowl has a beach at the bottom of a 360 degree opening in the bluff. Unfortunately there is no way to get down to this beach, but it is still an awe-inspiring sight to see.
Russian Gulch State Park has much more to offer including an amazing beach, a picturesque concrete arch bridge, and a stunning waterfall.
Fern Grotto Beach, Santa Cruz
The Fern Grotto is a fern-draped cave at the back of a narrow deep cove in Wilder Ranch State Park. It’s along a scenic trail on a loop hike that has many colorful coves and rocks to witness.
Alamere Creek Waterfall Beach, Point Reyes
This beach is the site of Alamere Falls which cascades down the bluff in a remote part of Point Reyes National Seashore. There are few places in California where waterfalls pour right onto the beach.
McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer State Park is another, but that beach is off-limits to the public. See other waterfalls near California beaches.
Hole-in-the-Wall Beach, Santa Cruz
Hole-in-the-Wall is a unique beach because the only way into it’s through a natural arch in a rock wall from another beach. It’s a beautiful beach with high yellow sandstone bluffs behind it. And there are other beaches in California that can only be accessed through a rock arch or tunnel!
