Crescent Beach
Crescent City, CA
Crescent Beach runs along Highway 101 just south of Crescent City, a wide sandy stretch popular with surfers and one of the few beaches in the area with a real parking area right off the road. Picnic areas sit partway down, and a scenic overlook at the south end doubles as the trailhead toward Enderts Beach further into Redwood National Park.
Reliable surf and easy roadside parking make it a regular stop, though it lacks the scenery or quiet of the bluffs and hidden coves nearby.
How we score beachesPark at the picnic area partway down if the main lot is full, it's a shorter walk to a quieter stretch of sand than the north end gets.
Free parking is available directly off Highway 101, with additional pullouts at the picnic areas further south.
The main beach is reached directly from the roadside lot; the picnic areas and south end overlook connect via a path along the bluff.
Dogs are welcome; check posted signage for specific leash rules.
Winter swells bring the most consistent surf here, while summer mornings usually start under fog. Water stays cold year round, typical of the far north coast.
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