Pescadero State Beach spans two miles and is adorned with sandy beaches, towering dunes, and dramatic rocky formations both offshore and along steep sandstone cliffs. As you explore, you’ll notice the enormous dunes that gracefully line the eastern edge of the beach, creating a natural barrier that separates this tranquil paradise from the hustle and bustle of the nearby highway.
This beach is a haven for wildlife. Here, you can marvel at a variety of seabirds and shorebirds, and you might even catch a glimpse of harbor seals, either lounging leisurely on the rocks or gracefully swimming in the tide. Venture up to the bluff tops, and you’ll be immersed in a diverse ecosystem, home to an array of native plants, lizards, mice, and rabbits. For visitors in the winter months, Pescadero State Beach holds a special treat: it becomes a nesting ground for the tiny, threatened Western Snowy Plovers, who find sanctuary in the beach’s sandy scrapes. This beach is not just a destination, but a vibrant, living ecosystem, offering visitors a chance to connect with nature in its most unspoiled form.