Three Mile Beach
Santa Cruz, CA
Three Mile Beach is another of Wilder Ranch State Park's named coastal access points, with unimproved parking and real tide pools along the rocky edges. It sits between Four Mile Beach and the developed beaches of Santa Cruz, a genuinely quiet middle ground.
Genuinely quiet with real tide pools worth timing a visit around, though it shares the same unimproved access as its neighbor at Four Mile.
How we score beachesTime a visit to low tide if the tide pools are part of the draw, the rocky edges here are worth exploring when the water's out.
Free but unimproved parking is available at the trailhead.
A path and blufftop trails lead from parking to the beach.
Dogs are not allowed at Three Mile Beach, part of Wilder Ranch State Park.
Fog is common most mornings year round, typical of the Santa Cruz coast.
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