Black Sand Beach
Shelter Cove, CA
Part of the Lost Coast, one of the last stretches of California shoreline with no highway running along it, so getting here already means you have made an effort. The dark, mineral rich sand and the total absence of crowds are the payoff for the drive.
Part of the Lost Coast with no highway running along it, the mineral rich sand and total absence of crowds are the payoff for a genuinely long, winding drive in.
How we score beachesThe drive in involves miles of winding mountain road, so fill up on gas before you leave Highway 101.
Leashed dogs are welcome on the beach year-round, with leashes required near areas where seals haul out.
The Lost Coast sees its heaviest rain from November through March, and the mountain road in can turn rough during storms. Summer and early fall bring the clearest driving conditions, though the water itself stays cold enough for a wetsuit any month.
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