For travelers looking to get to know the many-varied charms of the Golden State, discovering it through the best beaches in California is never a bad idea. The state’s coastline spans a vast 3,427 miles after all. Among its 420 public beautiful beaches are plentiful opportunities to swim, lay out, look at tide pools, surf to your heart’s content, or watch the sunset. Of course, a list of California’s best beaches is never quite complete and all-encompassing, no matter how you slice it. Still, we must start somewhere—and with these eight is where we’ll begin.
Perhaps you’re envisioning the kind of sun-soaked day of sand and surf the beaches of Malibu, San Diego, or Orange County could fulfill. Or maybe you’ll be best suited by the moody, rocky shores of Central and Northern Cali, landscapes of twisting cypress trees and foggy-grey skies. From the craggy cliffs and purple sand of Big Sur to the luxurious white sands of Carmel, the California coastline has something to offer virtually anyone looking for the perfect beach day.
El Matador Beach, Malibu
Consider this a hidden gem, as many tourists to the Malibu area often miss the tucked-away charm of El Matador. Prepare to hike down a dirt trail and then a narrow, steep stairwell that gives way to epic rock formations and captivating sea caves. I’ve personally spent hours here, watching dolphins and exploring the secluded coves carved out by contorting rock formations. There’s a picnic area and bathrooms at the top of the trailhead, if you’d like to stick around long enough to catch El Matador’s breathtaking sunsets.
Where to stay near El Matador Beach:
Pfeiffer Beach, Big Sur
An exploration of California’s beaches is never truly complete without a few good stops in Big Sur. Pfeiffer Beach is a standout here, both for its famous purple sand and its Keyhole Arch. The former is caused by manganese garnet sediment and quartz that wash down from nearby cliffs, giving the sand an amethyst-like radiance. Pfeiffer Beach is beautiful every day, but there are a few key times to visit that’ll get you more bang for your buck: The first is after heavy rains, when more of the purple minerals will have washed down to the shore. The second is in the weeks around the winter solstice. This is when the sunset lines up perfectly with the hole in the Keyhole Arch. Photographers flock to the area during this time, hoping to capture the natural glory of the sun shining through the archway.
