5 Secretly Hidden Beaches in Northern California to Visit ASAP
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One of my favorite things to do whenever we’re road tripping or hiking along the coast is to hunt for hidden beaches, especially in Northern California. Don’t get me wrong. I love all of California, but I love the more mystical and Pacific Northwest feel of the region. There are SO many beautiful secret beaches to find and explore.
Lists like this tend to mention the same spots over and over again. But doesn’t that sort of defeat the purpose of calling them “secret”? That’s why I included beaches we specifically found ourselves on our recent Pacific Coast Highway road trip, many of which we didn’t know existed before we stumbled upon them.
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5 Secret Beaches in Northern California That Are Perfectly Hidden Away
There is no shortage of tucked-away beaches that are just waiting to be explored and admired once you hit the redwoods in Northern California. If you’re planning on doing some hiking at any of these beaches, come prepared with appropriate waterproof hiking shoes (or cross training shoes) and a tide chart.
1. The Lost Coast in Humboldt County, California
The Lost Coast is a giant, hidden coastline full of beaches in the King Range Conservation Area, and it’s also a hiking trail. It’s an absolute pain to get to, but 100% worth the trip. What makes the Lost Coast so secret is that you have to make a real effort to get to the place. You’ll need to take Mattole Road out of Ferndale, all the way down to the coast. This road is mostly gravel and is pretty tricky as it goes through several elevations and dense forest with steep inclines until you get to the coastline.
Make sure you have good tires. When you see the Point of Cows, you’re just a few minutes from hitting Black Sand Beach. And yes, the sand is actually black.
The Lost Coast is divided into north and south sections. The north part of the trail is 24.6 miles long, and the south is 9 miles. These take several days to hike, and are not for the faint of heart. Either way, if you want to hike the rest of the coast after Black Sand Beach, other beaches you’ll come across on the trail are Sea Lion Gulch, Little Black Sands Beach, Usal Beach, and Punta Gorda Beach, which leads to an abandoned lighthouse.
In addition to the cows that greeted you when you got to the coast, there are tons of wildlife that you’ll see on your trek. Keep an eye out for elephant seals, otters, eagles, bobcats, and look for sea lions at Sea Lion Gulch. Play in the tidepools that line your entire route and take in the beautiful bluffs that are covered in flowers. The best months for wildflowers are April, May, and June.
Getting there: From Ferndale, take Mattole Road west to the coast. The nearest town for supplies is Ferndale or Petrolia. This is a remote, multi-day trail. Plan accordingly.
Best for: Serious hikers, backpackers, and road trippers willing to detour deep into one of California’s most untouched coastlines.
Pet policy: They’re allowed, but not recommended because of the rough terrain.
2. Baker Beach in Trinidad, California
We stumbled upon Baker Beach when we were staying at an Airbnb in Trinidad, about a half mile up from it. Baker Beach sits at the end of a trail through old-growth forest, and you’ll probably only see one other person on the beach, if that. The hike down is only about a mile, but it winds through redwoods and ferns right up to where the trees part and you’re suddenly standing on a windswept stretch of Pacific coastline.
The beach itself is on the dramatic side. You’ll see sea stacks, crashing waves, and driftwood scattered everywhere. It’s not a swimming beach, though, and is more suited for wandering, exploring the tidepools, climbing on rocks, and just existing. But remember to bring layers, because the wind off the ocean comes in a little harshly.
If you’re already in Trinidad, walk the Trinidad Head Trail for sweeping views of the coastline before or after. It’s a perfect half-day combo.
Getting there: From Trinidad, follow the signs toward Luffenholtz Beach and look for the Baker Beach trailhead. The hike is about 1 mile each way through coastal forest.
Best for: Hikers, tidepool explorers, and photographers chasing that brooding NorCal coastal light.
Pet policy: They’re allowed as long as you clean up after them.
3. Glass Beach in Fort Bragg, California
Glass Beach has gotten a little more well-known in recent years, but I’m keeping it on this list of secret Northern California beaches because it’s still in an area where tourists don’t spend much time in when compared to the big national parks and more well-known beaches.
Glass Beach has a very strange story, but with a GORGEOUS result. Fort Bragg used to dump its trash directly onto the cliffs above the ocean (yes, really), and for decades, the sea tumbled broken glass, pottery, and metal against the rocks until it smoothed everything into little frosted gems. The beach is literally covered in sea glass, along with tidepools stocked with cute little sea critters.
It’s a surreal experience to walk along it and look at all of the tumbled glass. You’ll find gems in every color, and the texture crunches differently under your feet than any other beach you’ve ever been on. Don’t go barefoot anywhere near the tidepools, though. When you’re done with the beach, consider hiking Noyo Headlands Coastal Trail, which is 5 miles total.
A few things to know: the glass is protected now, so you can’t take any home. The main access point at the end of Glass Beach Drive is the most visited, but if you walk north along the bluffs, you’ll find quieter stretches with just as much to discover. Go at low tide for the best experience.
Getting there: Take Glass Beach Drive off Highway 1 in Fort Bragg. Parking is free. Walk north along the bluffs for quieter, less-visited sections.
Best for: Families, curious road trippers, and anyone who loves rocks and tidepools.
Pet policy: They’re allowed as long as they’re leashed.
4. Hidden Beach in Klamath, California
It’s fitting that one of Northern California’s most secret beaches is literally called Hidden Beach. The beach is located in Del Norte County near Klamath and is tucked away, literally “hidden” from the road in a hillside. Completely invisible. The only way to reach it is by trail, which is a moderate half-mile hike and can get muddy (so bring appropriate shoes, preferably waterproof). The trailhead is across from the Trees of Mystery, and the entire trail totals 1.5 miles.
There are almost never crowds here, and you’ll even have better luck not seeing many people if you go in May. But think twice about bringing your furry friends. Dogs aren’t allowed on the trail. The best months to visit Hidden Beach and the trail are May through September.
Getting there: Look for trail access near the Trees of Mystery or Klamath River area in Del Norte County. Minimal signage is part of what keeps it hidden, which is also kind of the point.
Best for: Solitude seekers, hikers, and tide poolers.
Pet policy: Pets aren’t allowed on the trails or the beach.
5. Bowling Ball Beach, Mendocino
Bowling Ball Beach is exactly as it sounds. It looks like a surreal beach full of bowling-ball-like rocks, scattered across the sand and water. It’s the perfect road-trip stop to see something you’ve never seen before. It’s located just south of Point Arena on Highway 1, and you’ll need to keep a close eye out for the trailhead, because you can easily miss it. But hike down the bluff, and you’ll find the beach.
What causes this geological formation of the rocks is something called concretion, which is the process of minerals slowly building up around a central point over a long period of time. These form the near-perfect looking spheres that sit in the sand after the softer surrounding rocks erode away.
The best time to visit is during low tide, and the trail starts off Highway 1 near Schooner Gulch State Beach. There are actually 2 trailhead access points that are accessible from the parking area. The north trailhead will get you to Bowling Ball Beach, and the south trailhead leads to Schooner Gulch Beach.
Getting there: Look for the Schooner Gulch State Beach trailhead on Highway 1 south of Point Arena. The hike down to the beach is short but steep. Check tide charts at tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov before visiting.
Best for: Geology nerds, photographers, and road trippers on the Highway 1 Mendocino stretch.
Pet policy: Pets are allowed as long as they’re leashed.
Planning Your Northern California Hidden Beach Road Trip
If you want to string several of these secret Northern California beaches together into one big national park road trip, Highway 1 (a.k.a. the Pacific Coast Highway) does most of the work for you. Bowling Ball Beach and Glass Beach both sit on the Mendocino coast and make for a perfect back-to-back visit. Hidden Beach is further north near Klamath, which puts it in easy range of the Lost Coast if you’re doing a full Northern California coastal drive.
Baker Beach in Trinidad fits perfectly into a Humboldt County leg of the trip. Pair it with a redwoods stop at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park or Fern Canyon, which is just up the road and equally beautiful.
A few general tips for visiting secret beaches in Northern California:
- Tide charts are your best friend: Several of these beaches (especially Bowling Ball) are WAY better during low tide.
- Dress in layers: Expect mornings to be cold and foggy (even during the summer), the coast to be a little windy, and wear as much waterproof clothing/shoes as you can.
- Have cash on hand: Some trailheads and day-use areas charge small fees and don’t take cards.
- Leave no trace: Don’t leave trash behind or take anything from the beaches before you leave either.
Have a secret Northern California beach we missed? Drop it in the comments!
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Dani is an entrepreneur and one of the creators of hikingandroadtrips.com. She is obsessed with everything outdoors, especially hiking, traveling and will take any opportunity to #getoutside for adventure or to just vibe with the earth.