With its expansive coastline, California has hundreds of beaches that resist simple categorization. They range from sun-soaked summer getaway spots to shiver-inducing strips of sand covered at high tide. Few of these beaches face north, which might be advantageous for a surfer hunting a rare swell or simply a unique opportunity for the average beach enthusiast. Still, the intrepid beachgoer will find several north-facing beaches running from San Diego up to the Oregon border.
La Jolla Cove Beach -- La Jolla
- The cozy La Jolla Cove Beach is among the most photographed in Southern California, and a true local treasure. Just 15 miles northwest of the center of San Diego, this tiny beach is hidden away among sandstone cliffs, and experiences mild waves throughout the summer due to its relative coastal seclusion. While fishing is prohibited, scuba diving and snorkeling are encouraged at the beach, where swimmers may enjoy visibility of more than 30 feet in the water.
Municipal Beach and Del Monte Beach -- Monterey
- Within minutes of downtown Monterey in Central California sit two of the state's few north-facing beaches -- Municipal Beach and Del Monte Beach, the western extension of Monterey State Beach. The sand at both beaches is relatively shallow to accommodate the city's development. They enjoy protection from the Pacific Grove peninsula and Monterey Bay, but can still experience fairly rough surf. The beaches are hotspots for a host of water activities and sports, including surfing, boogie boarding and body surfing.
- China Beach -- San Francisco
- Named for Chinese fishermen who made it their base camp in the 1800s, China Beach is another gem hidden among the San Francisco cityscape and larger neighboring beaches, Land's End to the west and Baker Beach to the east. While China Beach is too small for many activities beyond picnicking and sunbathing, it has gorgeous, unrestricted views of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands to the north.
Mendocino Headlands State Park -- Mendocino
- About 150 miles north of San Francisco, on the relatively undeveloped northern California coast, Mendocino Headlands State Park offers a respite from the crowded cities in the central and southern sectors of the state. The park offers an enviable range of outdoor activities, from surfing to hiking. It also covers a wide swath of oceanfront property, including beaches along its northern edge -- where visitors can sometimes track the migration of the grey whale and take in wide-open ocean vistas from atop the cliffs.
