Pets allowed
Allowed
Guided tours
No
Backcountry camping
No
Lodging
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.

Greyhound Rock is a County Park and public fishing access point 20 minutes north of Santa Cruz. Two parking lots, a small restroom, picnic tables, and viewing benches are all located on top of the cliffs that tower over the beach. A short, paved walkway descending the cliffs will take you to the shore. This is a short and steep trail with a few spots to stop and catch some great ocean views along the way. Pampas grass and ice plants are very prevalent, and the vegetation overgrowth creates narrow paths that are a little difficult to negotiate when people pass you from the other direction.

This beach is sandy with a rocky shoreline that is littered with tide pools and huge mudstone rocks. The biggest of these rocks is "Greyhound Rock," the park's namesake. Some of the waves can be turbulent near these rocks, but this is a decently sized beach, and there is plenty of room for swimming, surfing, or soaking up some sun. 

 

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

Moderate

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Beautiful shoreline. Free parking. Dog friendly.

Cons

None.

Features

Flushing toilets
Picnic tables
Surfing
Fishing
Bird watching
Whale watching

Location

Nearby Adventures

San Francisco Peninsula + Santa Cruz, California
San Francisco Peninsula + Santa Cruz, California

Nearby Lodging + Camping

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