Sand Dollar Beach
Big Sur, CA
The largest sandy beach along the cliffs of Big Sur, reached by a short trail down from Highway 1, with the jade hunting cove of Jade Cove just south for anyone willing to scramble over rocks. Locals come for the jade, the tide pools, and the rare flat stretch of sand on a coastline mostly made of cliffs.
The largest sandy stretch on a coastline mostly made of cliffs, plus jade hunting nearby, cell service along this stretch of Highway 1 is genuinely unreliable.
How we score beachesCell service is spotty along this stretch of Highway 1, so plan your route before you lose signal.
Dogs are allowed on a leash no longer than six feet on the trail and beach.
Big Sur's coastal fog can sock in mornings through much of summer, so a clear afternoon isn't guaranteed even in July. September and October tend to deliver the most reliable sun, along with calmer water for jade hunting at low tide.
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