Beaches and Parks from San Francisco to Monterey

Many of California’s most alluring attractions are found along the coast from San Francisco Bay to Monterey Bay: Alcatraz Island, San Francisco’s waterfront, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and Point Lobos. This easy-to-use, up-to-date, comprehensive guidebook is the essential companion for visitors—sightseers, hikers, swimmers, surfers, campers, birders, boaters, and anglers—who want to explore California’s fabulous shoreline. The book describes some 350 shoreline destinations, including every known publicly accessible beach along the coast of Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, and Monterey Counties. It also lists wildlife reserves, marinas, and public parks, and includes descriptions of plants and animals, places where dogs are welcome, nature centers, aquariums, and much more. The guide features:

• 53 color maps that show topography, roads, trails, bicycle routes, and other features

• 299 color illustrations

• Sidebars on shipwrecks, railroads, aviation, and other aspects of California history

• Descriptions of geologic formations, wildflowers, tidepools, and beaches

• Information on recreational outfitters, whale-watching trips, surf shops, and more

The California Coastal Commission was created by the voters of California, who adopted an initiative measure in 1972 that formed the Commission and gave it broad powers to plan and protect the coast. Later, the California Coastal Act of 1976 established the Commission as a permanent state agency with a mission to protect, maintain, and enhance the quality of the coastal environment. One of the Commission's principal goals is to maintain public access and public recreational opportunities along the coast, in a manner consistent with environmental preservation.

Introduction
Using This Guide
Map Legend

MARIN COUNTY
Tomales/Dillon Beach
Tomales Bay/East Shore
Point Reyes Station
Tomales Bay/West Shore
Tomales Point to Point Reyes Lighthouse
Limantour Beach/Olema Valley
Bolinas
Stinson Beach
Muir Beach Area
Marin Headlands

SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY
San Francisco North
San Francisco Northeast
San Francisco Presidio to Land’s End
San Francisco West

SAN MATEO COUNTY
Daly City and Northern Pacifica
Pacifica
Montara to Pillar Point Harbor
Half Moon Bay
Cowell Ranch to Pomponio State Beach
Pescadero State Beach to Butano State Park
Pigeon Point to Año Nuevo

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
Santa Cruz County North
Wilder Ranch to Natural Bridges
Santa Cruz Central
Santa Cruz Harbor
Santa Cruz East
Capitola to New Brighton State Beach
Aptos and Rio del Mar
Santa Cruz County South

MONTEREY COUNTY
Northern Monterey County
Salinas River to Sand City
Seaside to Monterey
Monterey Central
Monterey and Cannery Row
Pacific Grove
17-Mile Drive
Carmel Area
Big Sur North
Point Sur to Big Sur Valley
Pfeiffer Beach to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
Esalen to Mill Creek
Big Sur South

FEATURES
Caring for the Coast
San Andreas Fault
Mosses, Fungi, and Lichens
The Ocean
Northern California’s National Marine Sanctuaries
Farallon Islands
Geology of the Golden Gate
San Francisco Bay and Estuary
Ocean Beach Seawalls
Beach Sand
Geology of the Santa Cruz Mountains
Santa Cruz Boardwalk
Shore Protection in Santa Cruz
Monterey Submarine Canyon
Elkhorn Slough
Monterey Bay Dunes
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Monterey Pine Forest
Rocky Shore
Rivers and Streams
Colors of the Coast
Protecting Coastal Resources

Afterword
Acknowledgments
Glossary
Selected State and Federal Agencies
Bibliography and Suggestions for Further Reading
Index