Waddell Beach

Waddell Beach is a wide beach on Highway 1 where Waddell Creek meets the Pacific, about 17 miles north of Santa Cruz and directly across the highway from Rancho del Oso, the coastal unit of Big Basin Redwoods State Park. California State Parks calls it one of the world's best-known spots for windsurfing and kiteboarding, thanks to steady, strong northwest winds and good surf. Dogs are not allowed.

Windsurfing, Kiteboarding and Surfing

The agency describes Waddell Beach as known worldwide for windsurfing and kite surfing. Strong northwest winds and steady surf let the best windsurfers launch off incoming waves and complete full loops. Surfers and bodyboarders use it too.

California State Parks is clear that this is not a beginner's beach for windsurfing: winds are strong and the surf is occasionally heavy. Watch from the sand or the ocean overlook before going in, and know your limits. No lifeguard service is listed for Waddell Beach, so do not assume one is on duty.

Parking

The Waddell Beach parking lot is at 3640 Cabrillo Highway, Davenport, about 18 miles north of Santa Cruz and 30 miles south of Half Moon Bay. California State Parks says day hikers and cyclists can park in the lot next to the beach or on the inland side of Highway 1. West of Highway 1 there is also an ocean overlook parking area with accessible parking and a restroom.

Day use on the Rancho del Oso side is free and needs no reservation; the agency does not list a separate fee for the beach lot.

Wildlife and Tide Pools

California State Parks counts the beach and dunes as one of seven ecosystems in the Waddell Valley. Shorebirds and salt-tolerant plants live here, tide pool animals show when the sea pulls back from the rocks at the shore's edge, and marine mammals can sometimes be seen offshore. More than 250 bird species have been recorded in the valley and on Waddell Beach, including snowy plovers, osprey and bald eagles. The Theodore J. Hoover Natural Preserve, across the highway, is the agency's pick for birdwatching.

Across the Highway: Rancho del Oso

The yellow gate opposite the beach lot leads into Rancho del Oso: a 0.4-mile walk past the marsh to the Welcome Center and the walk-in campground. The Hoover Trail there climbs for views back over the marsh, the beach and the ocean. The Nature and History Center is on the south side of the Waddell Creek Bridge.

The Name

Waddell Creek, Waddell Valley and Waddell Beach are named for William Waddell, a lumberman who ran a mill in the valley in the 1860s and built a tramway and a wharf at Año Nuevo. California State Parks acquired Waddell Beach in 1977 with part of the Rancho del Oso ranch.

Rules to Know

• No dogs on Waddell Beach or anywhere in Rancho del Oso
• No drones anywhere in Big Basin Redwoods State Park
• Beach fires are prohibited for Rancho del Oso campers
• Pack out food and trash: the park is Crumb Clean, to protect the endangered marbled murrelet

Good For

• Experienced windsurfers, kiteboarders and surfers
• Birdwatching and beach walks paired with the Rancho del Oso trails

Maybe Skip If

• You want calm water for children: State Parks warns of strong winds and occasionally heavy surf
• You are bringing a dog: see dogs for where dogs can go in the park