Skip to main content
University of California Press

About the Book

From the majestic redwoods and rocky shores in the north to the palm trees and wide, sandy beaches in the south, the California coast is an area of unsurpassed beauty and diversity. This thoroughly revised and expanded 7th edition of the California Coastal Access Guide is an essential travel handbook for both new and seasoned visitors exploring California's majestic 1,271-mile shoreline. With up-to-date maps and information, it is an invaluable travel guide for all coastal visitors—beachgoers, hikers, campers, swimmers, divers, surfers, anglers, and boaters—detailing where to go, how to get there, and what facilities and environment to expect.

The 7th edition features:

--Information on more than 1,150 public access areas

--Descriptions of campgrounds, trails, recreation areas, and visitor centers

--Addresses, directions, and phone numbers

--Information on wheelchair-accessible trails and facilities

--Easy-to-read charts listing facilities and amenities

--More than 170 color maps showing roads, trails and topography

--More than 360 color photographs

About the Author

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 maximize public access and public recreational opportunities along the coast in a manner consistent with environmental preservation. The California Coastal Access Guide, which was created with the objectives in mind, will prove indispensable to anyone with a desire to explore the magnificent diversity of California’s beaches.

From Our Blog

A Reading List for International Surfing Day

Established in 2005 International Surfing Day is a worldwide celebration of the sport and surf culture, and is also used as an opportunity for the surfing community to give back to the environment by organizing educational events, beach clean-ups, dune and habitat restoration, and other activist cam
Read More

Table of Contents

Introduction
Using This Guide
Map Legend
Del Norte County
Humboldt County
Mendocino County
Sonoma County
Marin County
San Francisco County
San Mateo County
Santa Cruz County
Monterey County
San Luis Obispo County
Santa Barbara County
Ventura County
Los Angeles County
Orange County
San Diego County

Afterword
Acknowledgments
Index

Features:
Explore the California Coastal Trail
Fishing (for Beginners)
Join a Beach Cleanup
Discover the Coast after Dark
Visit a Lighthouse
Board a Historic Ship
Look for Wildlife
Visit a Seaside Amusement Park
Go Horseback Riding
Enjoy Recreation on the Water
Get Away to an Island
Explore Your Watershed
Visit the Coast with Small Children
Camp Near the Shore

Reviews

"Kick off those flip-flops, and prepare to nestle your toes in the sand. The California Coastal Commission's newly updated 'California Coastal Access Guide' will guide you to every nook and cranny along the Golden State's 1,271-mile coastline."
San Jose Mercury News
"Nothing less than a bible.... The guide is no doubt the most comprehensive look at California's coastline published to date."
—Oakland Tribune

“Wonderfully detailed maps. The graphics are clean, the design so clear that the book is splendidly easy to use.”
—Los Angeles Times

“A mandate becomes a masterpiece."
—Santa Barbara News Press


“If you love to hike the coastline, visit tidepools, or simply get your feet wet in the surf, make a place on your shelf for the latest edition . . . ”
Bay Nature

“The release of the latest book comes as welcome news . . . an invaluable resource.”
Sunset Magazine

“This mainstream publication does a good job of integrating access information throughout the book.”
Emerging Horizons