Beaches in Crescent City & Del Norte County, California

Let your spirit wander along endless Northern California coastline. Escape to a quiet cove. Explore craggy shores with waves that crash against mysterious sea stacks. Picnic, surf, beachcomb, whale watch, gather around a bonfire, or just be on the raw yet relaxed beaches of Crescent City and Del Norte County.

You can have campfires on the beach in Del Norte County, California, but you’ll need to get a fire permit (available online here) and also check for any current fire restrictions here.

South Beach

Stroll, surf, paddleboard or just watch the sun sink down into the Pacific Ocean. South Beach is a large sandy beach area located steps away from the Crescent City Harbor and Marina. Head to Local Boys Surf & Skate Shop in town for surfboard and wetsuit rentals, accessories and local surf tips. After your day at the beach, walk across Anchor Way to watch the sunset with a fresh seafood meal at one of the waterfront restaurants — Chart Room Restaurant and Schmidt’s House of Jambalaya.

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Pebble Beach

Crescent City’s Pebble Beach is a long span of rocky beaches and sandy shores stretching from Battery Point Lighthouse to the “end of the road” at Point St. George. Follow Pebble Beach Drive for a series of pull-outs, parking areas, overlooks and lighthouses. Pebble Beach offers a variety of activities like tidepooling, agate hunting, several surf breaks, sea kayaking, fishing and more.

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Kellogg Beach

Along the edges of Tolowa Dunes State Park and Lake Earl State Wildlife Area, you’ll discover a quiet beach. Wander miles of broad coastline along Kellogg Beach searching for agate and driftwood. Share a thrill with the people you love driving your car on sandy shoreline. Nestle down on some driftwood and watch the sunset.

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Crescent Beach

Plan a picnic at the foot of Crescent Beach. Mostly contained with Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, there are more than just scenic treasures at this beach. Study the sand dollars sprinkled in the shore and select one that makes your spirit sing. Ambling further south will reveal an excellent surf spot — South Beach.

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Tidepools at Enderts Beach

Descend down a bluff onto the secluded Enderts Beach. This rugged retreat is treasured by locals. Explore a jagged ravine to the east, layered delicately with ferns where Nickel Creek scores the hillside to join with the sand. Low tide reveals puddles of vibrant sea life. Gather around a tidepool and get nose-to-nose with a sea star.

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Klamath Beach

Say hello to the spirit of Oregos further south in Klamath. The Klamath River is home to the Yurok Tribe. At the mouth of the river as it flows into the ocean, you’ll discover a sandbar the Yurok Tribe considers the leg of Oregos. Each year she swings her leg so that fish can migrate and feed the people. The sandbar attracts both wildlife and sea life. Wildlife spottings even include bears and cougar swimming across the river.  Along the sacred grounds, you’ll also spot several traditional Yurok plank houses. History and life collide along Klamath Beach.

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Hidden Beach

Breathe in the calm, salty air of a cove at Hidden Beach. This almost 1.4 mile out and back hike starts from a semi-hidden trailhead next to the Motel Trees in Klamath (across from Trees of Mystery). The tiny trailhead is just north of the Motel Trees’ parking lot. At the end of the forested trail, you’ll be nestled into a tree-covered hillside looking out to over the ocean to loads of sea stacks. Spread out a blanket and share a meal or simply watch cormorants and pelicans take flight. Build a driftwood fort or go tidepooling. Driving isn’t an option to get to this secluded beach, you’ll have to hike to it. The trail to the beach can be muddy in places.

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Cover Photo by Xiong Thao Photography

Wander With Us

Wander through the California redwoods, surf rugged coastline, hike the California Coastal Trail, or savor a craft brew next to a cozy campfire along the Pacific Ocean. Follow our Big Adventures journal (and tag your photos #VisitDelNorte so we can follow along!) for things to do and ideas for exploring all parts of Del Norte County — from the Oregon border to Crescent City to Klamath, California.

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