Santa Cruz - Pet-Friendly Beaches

Pet Policy Dogs allowed on leash Twin Lakes State Beach is a sandy beach with a bird-watching lagoon behind it. The main beach in Twin Lakes State Beach is at 9th Avenue and East Cliff Drive in the Live Oak area of Santa Cruz. This state park extends for a mile along this shoreline including the beaches on both sides of Santa Cruz Harbor and the beach in front of Bonita Lagoon (aka Black’s Beach). At 9th Avenue there is a freshwater lagoon called Schwan Lake across Cliff Drive that is good for bird-watching. Nearby to the north at the harbor there are shops, restaurants, and volleyball courts. A few parking spots for the Twin Lakes main beach are provided at 9th Ave but they fill up. Street parking spots in the area are permit only on weekends so at those times it’s probably best to park at Santa Cruz Harbor Beach and walk south to this spot rather than risk a parking citation.

Its Beach is the perfect place to bring your dog. Although there are signs posted that prohibit dogs being on the beach between the hours of 10am-4pm, and signs that prohibit off-leash dogs, Santa Cruz locals treat this beach like a dog park. At any given time you will see find dogs of all breeds frolicking freely on the beach. If you don't like dogs this is surely not the beach for you, but if you have a friendly pooch this is the perfect beach for a game of fetch.

Dogs permitted on leashes.