Santa Cruz, California, is a wonderful city with many beaches for surfing and swimming. It’s also home to magnificent state parks. If you are thinking about visiting the area with your dog, you will be happy to know that there are several places in and near Santa Cruz where you can take your pet to cool off and have fun.
Top 9 Dog-Friendly Beaches in & Near Santa Cruz, CA
- Twin Lakes State Beach
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A post shared by koathecairmal (@koathecairmal)
🗺️ Address: 📍 995 Live Oak Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
🕐 Open Times: Sunrise to sunset
💲 Cost: Free
🐕 Off-Leash: No
Plenty of room to run or walk
Swimming with lifeguard
Bathrooms
Lighthouse nearby
- It’s Beach
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A post shared by Meeko (@meekopup_)
🗺️ Address: 📍 Santa Cruz, CA 95060
🕐 Open Times: 7 a.m. to sunset
💲 Cost: Free
🐕 Off-Leash: Yes
Close to a lighthouse
Plenty of room to run
Specific area of Lighthouse Field State Beach where dogs can be off leash
Access to water
- Seabright Beach
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A post shared by Lola 🐶 & Artemis 🐱 (@lols.and.mismis)
🗺️ Address: 📍 Santa Cruz, CA 95062
🕐 Open Times: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
💲 Cost: Free
🐕 Off-Leash: Yes
Swimming and surfing
Plenty of room to run
Sailboat races and nearby lighthouse
- Natural Bridges State Beach
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A post shared by Sandra Linke (@sandralinke)
🗺️ Address: 📍 2531 W Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
🕐 Open Times: 8 a.m. to sunset
💲 Cost: Free
🐕 Off-Leash: No
Amazing rock formations
Plenty of parking
Picnic areas
- Lighthouse Field State Beach
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A post shared by Native Santa Cruz (@nativesantacruz)
🗺️ Address: 📍 700 W Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, United States
🕐 Open Times: 7 a.m. to sunset
💲 Cost: Free
🐕 Off-Leash: No
Surfing museum
Large area
Includes It’s Beach, where dogs can be off leash
Surfing and swimming
- Mitchell’s Cove Beach
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A post shared by Local Getaways (@localgetaways)
🗺️ Address: 📍 Santa Cruz, CA
🕐 Open Times: Sunrise to sunset
💲 Cost: Free
🐕 Off-Leash: Yes
Plenty of parking
Large beach
Access to water
Friendly pet owners
- Hooper Beach
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A post shared by Jayne Harris (@jayneharr33)
🗺️ Address: 📍 Capitola, CA 95010
🕐 Open Times: Sunrise to sunset
💲 Cost: Metered street parking
🐕 Off-Leash: Yes
Fishing pier
Access to water
Clean beach
- Black’s Beach
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A post shared by Kaia Belle (@a_chug_named_kaia)
🗺️ Address: 📍 Twin Lakes, CA 95062
🕐 Open Times: Sunrise to sunset
💲 Cost: Metered street parking
🐕 Off-Leash: Yes
Benches to sit on
Close to the lighthouse
Lifeguard for swimming
Not too crowded
- Palm Beach State Park
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A post shared by Melissa Lopez (@gnarlydoggang)
🗺️ Address: 📍 2660 Beach Rd, Watsonville, CA 95076
🕐 Open Times: Sunrise to sunset
💲 Cost: Free
🐕 Off-Leash: No
Restrooms
Water fountains
Several shaded trees
Summary There are several dog-friendly beaches in Santa Cruz, California, including Twin Lakes State Beach, which has plenty of room to walk and run, and Seabright Beach, which provides space for your dog to play and is also great for swimming and surfing. While many beaches require you to keep your pet on a leash, a few will let dogs run free in certain areas or at specific times.
Featured Image Credit: sharkolot, Pixabay
Santa Cruz, California, is a wonderful city with many beaches for surfing and swimming. It’s also home to magnificent state parks. If you are thinking about visiting the area with your dog, you will be happy to know that there are several places in and near Santa Cruz where you can take your pet to cool off and have fun.
Top 9 Dog-Friendly Beaches in & Near Santa Cruz, CA
1. Twin Lakes State Beach
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by koathecairmal (@koathecairmal)
🗺️ Address: 📍 995 Live Oak Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
🕐 Open Times: Sunrise to sunset
💲 Cost: Free
🐕 Off-Leash: No
Plenty of room to run or walk
Swimming with lifeguard
Bathrooms
Lighthouse nearby
2. It’s Beach
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Meeko (@meekopup_)
🗺️ Address: 📍 Santa Cruz, CA 95060
🕐 Open Times: 7 a.m. to sunset
💲 Cost: Free
🐕 Off-Leash: Yes
Close to a lighthouse
Plenty of room to run
Specific area of Lighthouse Field State Beach where dogs can be off leash
Access to water
3. Seabright Beach
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Lola 🐶 & Artemis 🐱 (@lols.and.mismis)
🗺️ Address: 📍 Santa Cruz, CA 95062
🕐 Open Times: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
💲 Cost: Free
🐕 Off-Leash: Yes
Swimming and surfing
Plenty of room to run
Sailboat races and nearby lighthouse
4. Natural Bridges State Beach
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Sandra Linke (@sandralinke)
🗺️ Address: 📍 2531 W Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
🕐 Open Times: 8 a.m. to sunset
💲 Cost: Free
🐕 Off-Leash: No
Amazing rock formations
Plenty of parking
Picnic areas
5. Lighthouse Field State Beach
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Native Santa Cruz (@nativesantacruz)
🗺️ Address: 📍 700 W Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, United States
🕐 Open Times: 7 a.m. to sunset
💲 Cost: Free
🐕 Off-Leash: No
Surfing museum
Large area
Includes It’s Beach, where dogs can be off leash
Surfing and swimming
6. Mitchell’s Cove Beach
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Local Getaways (@localgetaways)
🗺️ Address: 📍 Santa Cruz, CA
🕐 Open Times: Sunrise to sunset
💲 Cost: Free
🐕 Off-Leash: Yes
Plenty of parking
Large beach
Access to water
Friendly pet owners
7. Hooper Beach
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Jayne Harris (@jayneharr33)
🗺️ Address: 📍 Capitola, CA 95010
🕐 Open Times: Sunrise to sunset
💲 Cost: Metered street parking
🐕 Off-Leash: Yes
Fishing pier
Access to water
Clean beach
8. Black’s Beach
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Kaia Belle (@a_chug_named_kaia)
🗺️ Address: 📍 Twin Lakes, CA 95062
🕐 Open Times: Sunrise to sunset
💲 Cost: Metered street parking
🐕 Off-Leash: Yes
Benches to sit on
Close to the lighthouse
Lifeguard for swimming
Not too crowded
9. Palm Beach State Park
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Melissa Lopez (@gnarlydoggang)
🗺️ Address: 📍 2660 Beach Rd, Watsonville, CA 95076
🕐 Open Times: Sunrise to sunset
💲 Cost: Free
🐕 Off-Leash: No
Restrooms
Water fountains
Several shaded trees
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by koathecairmal (@koathecairmal)
A post shared by koathecairmal (@koathecairmal)
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
- Plenty of room to run or walk
- Swimming with lifeguard
- Bathrooms
- Lighthouse nearby
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Meeko (@meekopup_)
A post shared by Meeko (@meekopup_)
- Close to a lighthouse
- Plenty of room to run
- Specific area of Lighthouse Field State Beach where dogs can be off leash
- Access to water
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Lola 🐶 & Artemis 🐱 (@lols.and.mismis)
A post shared by Lola 🐶 & Artemis 🐱 (@lols.and.mismis)
- Swimming and surfing
- Plenty of room to run
- Sailboat races and nearby lighthouse
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Sandra Linke (@sandralinke)
A post shared by Sandra Linke (@sandralinke)
- Amazing rock formations
- Plenty of parking
- Picnic areas
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Native Santa Cruz (@nativesantacruz)
A post shared by Native Santa Cruz (@nativesantacruz)
- Surfing museum
- Large area
- Includes It’s Beach, where dogs can be off leash
- Surfing and swimming
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Local Getaways (@localgetaways)
A post shared by Local Getaways (@localgetaways)
- Plenty of parking
- Large beach
- Access to water
- Friendly pet owners
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Jayne Harris (@jayneharr33)
A post shared by Jayne Harris (@jayneharr33)
- Fishing pier
- Access to water
- Clean beach
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Kaia Belle (@a_chug_named_kaia)
A post shared by Kaia Belle (@a_chug_named_kaia)
- Benches to sit on
- Close to the lighthouse
- Lifeguard for swimming
- Not too crowded
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Melissa Lopez (@gnarlydoggang)
A post shared by Melissa Lopez (@gnarlydoggang)
- Restrooms
- Water fountains
- Several shaded trees
Summary
There are several dog-friendly beaches in Santa Cruz, California, including Twin Lakes State Beach, which has plenty of room to walk and run, and Seabright Beach, which provides space for your dog to play and is also great for swimming and surfing. While many beaches require you to keep your pet on a leash, a few will let dogs run free in certain areas or at specific times.
Featured Image Credit: sharkolot, Pixabay
