Shelter Cove

Black Sands Beach

Good for Relax

7.5

/ 10 Good

#154 out of 385
in California

About

Black Sands Beach is located on the Pacific ocean and it is in the 154th place out of 385 beaches in the California region 275.9 km away from its center, the city of Sacramento. It is one of the beaches of Shelter Cove settlement, just 1.8 km from its center. The beach is located in an urban area, among the mountains, surrounded by the cliffs.

It is a spacious bay with turquoise water and gray fine pebble, so you don't need special shoes. The sharpness of entering the water is quite normal. This beach is suitable for different categories of people, lonely travellers, relaxation getaway lovers etc. It is almost deserted place even during the high season.

Black Sands Beach coast is free for all. It has no amenities, only nature. .

In addition to swimming and sunbathing, you can also take part in other activities.

This beach is easily accessible, it is located very close to road. Parking is located directly on the beach.

Weather

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Historical

+18 ^oC +10 ^oC

Air temperature

4.4 M/S

Wind

+12 ^oC

Water temperature

2.1 M

Wave height

Shelter Cove, California,

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Key features

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Beach overall scores

Water

Excellent

8.5/10

Cover

Bad

1/10

Cleanliness

Good

7/10

Amenities

Bad

1/10

Booking.com

Black Sands Beach is located in California within Shelter Cove, which makes it not only easily accessible, but even popular among tourists. However, during the high season it is quite uncrowded, which allows you to spend a comfortable time on the coast.

The beach stretches on the sunny coast, within the boundaries of the settlement, it is not difficult to get to it. If your stay is located not far from the beach, you can reach it by walking. In this case you will not be tied to finding parking or to the schedule of public transport. If you are traveling by car just use your navigator. In any case, do not forget about the availability of public transport and taxis.

User reviews

"The Lost Coast boasts one of the most stunning and easily reachable black sand beaches. While parking options are limited, you can always find a spot up the street and take a short walk to the beach. However, be cautious of the waves as they can catch you off guard and lead to a challenging day."

Jartellb

"This expansive and secluded shoreline boasts impressive swells, making it unsuitable for swimming. A designated parking area is available for those with specific requirements, while others can park a mere half block away and enjoy a leisurely stroll to the beach. I wholeheartedly endorse this location! Additionally, the constant breeze adds to the allure of this destination."

Zaiden Amir Ali

Booking.com

Photo of Black Sands Beach with gray fine pebble surface

Photo of Black Sands Beach with turquoise water surface

Photo of Black Sands Beach with spacious bay

Photo of Black Sands Beach with very clean level of cleanliness

Photo of Black Sands Beach and the settlement

Photo of Black Sands Beach surrounded by mountains

All photos

Panoramas

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User reviews

Jartellb

Zaiden Amir Ali

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Stays nearby

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Beach features

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General features

ownership
- Public free entry
- Virgin beach with no amenities
occupancy
- Deserted even in high season
sharks
- High prevalence of sharks
location
- Within the settlement, roads and buildings adjacent to the beach
size&shape

Access

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Booking.com

Beach surroundings

Transport Localities

Transport

FOB• 68km
Denny's• 70km
Mendocino Model Rail...• 70.6km

Localities

Shelter Cove• 1.8km
Sacramento• 275.9km

Travelers reviews

7.5/10 Good

Average Reviews rating

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Reviews
Q&A

7.5/10 Good

Average Reviews rating

Questions and answers

What is the water and sand quality of the Black Sands Beach?

The Black Sands Beach is covered with gray small pebbles. It's very clean, the surface is pure and unmixed. The water is impeccably turquoise. The entrance to the water is convenient from small pebbles.

What are the key activities at Black Sands Beach?

For the main activity - sunbathing, there are no sun loungers on the Black Sands Beach, so you need to take personal items with you and there is no natural shade, so be careful on a hot day.

Is the Black Sands Beach good for swimming?

The entrance to the water is gentle, the bottom is comfortable. The area has the high prevalence of sharks so all swimmers should be very careful.

The waves in the Black Sands Beach are usually strong.

Is the Black Sands Beach good for families?

Family travelers should consider the following features of the beach. This is the natural virgin beach with minimal amenities. It's covered with small pebbles and the entrance to the water is gentle.

Is the Black Sands Beach secluded and good for relaxing?

There are several buildings near the beach. In the high season, there are still almost no visitors, which makes this place ideal for a secluded holiday.

The following features add extra points:

Mountains/hills in the vicinity

Is there any food or beverages in the area of Black Sands Beach?

There is no restaurant or bar directly on Black Sands Beach.

How far is the Black Sands Beach from parking?

The Black Sands Beach has a parking spot. It is not very large, so in high season it can be busy. The approximate distance from parking is less than 100 metres.

What is the best time of the year to visit Black Sands Beach?

The month with the highest temperature in Black Sands Beach is August. Its average value reaches 25°C. The warmest sea is in September, the average value is 14°C. The coldest month is December with air temperature 13°C and water 12°C. See more details in weather section.

Is the beach good for sunbathing?

Black Sands Beach (California) is not fully equipped for sunbathing. However, if you are not picky and are willing to spread out on a towel, you can sunbathe here as well. The natural shade will allow you to hide from the scorching sun in the peak of its activity. Well, the photos of our visitors will be the best proof of that, all the available photos of the beach are above.This beach is poorly suitable for sunbathing. First of all Black Sands Beach (California) is completely lacking in comfortable sunbathe facilities. There are no sun loungers and umbrellas, this is usually not a problem for an unsophisticated tourist who can relax on a towel, but in this case the rest can be very uncomfortable due to pebbles.Lying on it is possible, but is far from comfortable. In addition there is a lack of natural shade, which leaves you alone with the summer sun. So our recommendation is that you can sunbathe comfortably on the Black Sands Beach for a short time, and not at the peak of sunbathing. If you want to explore the photos of this beach - they are above on the page.