Sand Dollar Beach, Pacific coast beach in Big Sur, United States.

Sand Dollar Beach stretches roughly half a mile along the California coast and features a sandy shoreline set between cliffs of Los Padres National Forest. The cove sits sheltered in a valley and connects to hiking trails that lead into the surrounding woodlands.

Sand Dollar Beach lies within Los Padres National Forest, the federal reserve that covers much of the Big Sur coast. The beach sits across Highway 1 from Plaskett Creek Campground, and its parking area is run by a concession company. The surrounding Santa Lucia Mountains and the offshore Plaskett Rock frame the shoreline.

Sand Dollar Beach sits across Highway 1 from Plaskett Creek Campground, whose picnic area, restrooms and barbecue pits serve beach visitors. The access path runs through a row of Monterey pines to a trail along a grassy bluff top, with a short southern spur ending at a wooden-railed overlook.

Access comes down wooden stairs from the parking area to the shore, with restrooms and picnic facilities available nearby. The pathways can become slippery when wet, so sturdy footwear is a sensible choice.

Plaskett Rock, a large white sea stack, can be seen from the shore; Plaskett Rock Point, the headland separating Sand Dollar Beach from Jade Cove, is the vantage point. The cone peak of the Santa Lucia Mountains is visible to the northeast.