Lighthouse Field State Beach
Also known as Its Beach
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 6 a.m. – sunset
- Entrance fee
- See fee details
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed6-ft leash
- Camping
- None listed
- Official site
- parks.ca.gov(831) 423-4609
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
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In Santa Cruz County, in Santa Cruz, Lighthouse Field State Beach covers about 39 acres.
Things to do include historic sites, fishing, wildlife watching, geocaching, and biking. Water access includes a swimming beach.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 6 a.m. – sunset | — |
| Park | Daily | 8 a.m. – sunset | — |
Official wording
Park: 6 am to sunset
Parking Lot: 8 am to sunset
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Los Angeles).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| No Fees at this Park Unit | Free |
Official wording
Special rates may apply for peak season, high demand holiday periods, and during weekends. Prices are subject to change without notice. • No Fees at this Park Unit: Free
California park passes
- California Explorer Annual Pass — $195. Vehicle day-use entry to 134 state parks incl. high-demand Southern California beaches Details
- Golden Poppy Annual Pass — $125. Vehicle day-use entry to 112 state parks Details
- Historian Passport — $50. Admission for up to four people at per-person-fee State Historic Parks Details
- Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Annual Pass — $50. Entry to State Vehicular Recreation Areas that collect day-use fees Details
- SNO-Park Pass — $40 season / $15 day. 18 SNO-PARK winter recreation areas Details
From the California state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveCalifornia
- Phone
- (800) 444-7275
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed · leash up to 6 feet
Are dogs allowed? Yes: Dogs allowed on leash including the beach. Leashed dogs are allowed on grass next to the lighthouse and across the street on West Cliff Drive. Dogs may not be left unattended and must be on a leash no longer than six feet. For a list of locations that you can take your dog to in Santa Cruz County, view Where Can I Take My Dog?
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Things to do
Historic sites and toursFishingWildlife viewing and birdingGeocachingHikingBiking
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Drinking water
- Nature center or museum
- Parking
Water
- Swimming beach
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Overview
Lighthouse Field State Beach forms the northern boundary of Monterey Bay and is home to a variety of wildlife including sea lions, Black Swift, and wintering Monarch butterflies. The park is a popular destination for beach access, surfing, hiking, and picnicking. Phone (831) 423-4609 for more information.
Picnic Area
Four accessible picnic sites are available along the accessible trail near Parking Lot B. Accessible parking is available in all the parking lots off West Cliff Drive. Generally accessible restrooms are available at the Steamer Lane Supply building, situated between Parking Lots C and D.
Trails
The Multi Use Trail is a 0.95-mile loop trail that meanders through a lightly wooded grassland. Along the trail, hikers will encounter picnic sites, benches, and viewing areas for spotting wintering Monarch butterflies. Refer to the Picnic Area description for parking and restroom details.
Trail Name Running Slope Cross Slope Trail Width Trail Surface
Multi Use Trail 2% Average 2% Average 10 FT Average Soil
6% Maximum 5% Maximum 5 FT Minimum
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 711 West Cliff Dr
Santa Cruz, CA 95060 - Nearest town
- Santa Cruz
- Coordinates
- 36.9522, -122.0270
- Phone
- (831) 423-4609
Entrances
- Directions point
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
The beach is on West Cliff Drive in downtown Santa Cruz.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- California State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- California State Parks Listing page (one link per unit, page_id = officialId), unioned with the CSP Enterprise GIS 'ParkEntryPoints' ArcGIS layer (coords, address, county, unit number, management status) and the 'CSPParkUnit_CurrentStatus' layer (open/partial/full closure)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
- Photo: Bill Henry, director of Groundswell Coastal Ecology, and Emma Pelton, conservation biologist with The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, discuss data. (38735362730).jpg — Public domain (US federal government work), Pacific Southwest Region USFWS from Sacramento, US
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology