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Sandy beach
Yes
Hike-in Required
No
Surfing
Yes
Snorkeling / SCUBA
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Pico Creek Beach fronts the the commercial portion of San Simeon, made up of a sandy shore and surf-friendly breaks just south of the Big Sur area.

The wide sandy waterfront tends to be popular for local surfers who ride the long breaks, but aside from this, tends to remain pretty quiet. Many of the resorts have quick walking access to the bluff-top trail stretching along the shore, with benches and interpretive signs offering vantage points over the beach making perfect spots to catch the sunset.

The northern end of the beach tends to be smoother and sandy, while the southern end has a few more rocks, though is more popular with the surfers looking to get away from the more crowded waters who will paddle out beyond the rocks.

Pico Creek flows from the Santa Lucia Mountains and calmly flows out at the beach's northern end.

In all, Pico Creek Beach is often visited by surfers and travelers staying at the hotels in San Simeon. During the right conditions, the bluffs above the beach offer an ideal spot to catch the colorful sunsets from.

Aside from trash cans, there are no amenities of any kind at the beach, however groceries are available at the small markets in town. No lifeguards are present at the beach. There is free onstreet parking along Pico Avenue, with the stairway access to the beach at the end of the road.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Summer
Fall

Congestion

Low

Parking Pass

None

Open Year-round

Yes

Pros

Few crowds. Beautiful sunset viewing.

Cons

Limited parking.

Pets allowed

Allowed with Restrictions

Features

Whale watching
Surfing
Family friendly

Location

Nearby Adventures

Santa Maria Valley + Santa Lucia/La Panza Mountains, California
Santa Maria Valley + Santa Lucia/La Panza Mountains, California

Nearby Lodging + Camping

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