Location: County: Santa Cruz. Nearest City: Watsonville.
Campsites, facilities: There are 90 sites for tents
or RVs up to 31 feet long. Rest rooms, showers, fire grills,
and picnic tables are provided. Leashed pets are permitted, except
on the beach.
Reservations, fees: Reservations are recommended from
mid-March through November; reserve by phoning 1-800-444-PARK/7275
($7.50 reservation fee); $17-$18 per night, $1 pet fee. First
come-First served November through mid-March.
Contact: Phone the park rangers at 1-831-763-7063 or
1-831-429-2850.
Sunset SB
201 Sunset Beach Rd
Watsonville, CA 95076
Operating hours, seasons: Call the beach for information;
open all year round.
Park Kiosk Hours:
Directions: From Highway 1 near Watsonville, take the
Riverside Drive exit toward the ocean to Beach Road. Drive 3.5
miles on Beach Road to the San Andreas Road exit. Turn right
on San Andreas Road and drive about 4.5 miles to the beach. From
Santa Cruz the beach is 16 miles south via Highway 1 and San
Andreas Road.
Weather, clothing: The weather can be changeable; layered
clothing is recommended.
Trip notes: Sunset State Beach features pine trees,
mountainous sand dunes, and ocean side picnic spots. Bordered
by large agricultural fields between the cities of Santa Cruz
and Monterey, the beach is a year-round destination for thousands
of visitors. On clear evenings, the sunsets here look like they
are imported from Hawaii. The camp is set on a bluff overlooking
Monterey Bay, making it a short traipse for a beautiful beach
walk. It is also a good spot for Pismo clams during minus low
tides. The best weather is in late summer and fall. Spring can
be windy here, and early summer is often foggy. Reservations
are often needed well in advance to secure a spot.
© 2001, Miwok Lodge 439, Order of the
Arrow, Santa Clara County Council Inc., BSA
Revision 1.2
