New Brighton State Beach

New Brighton State Beach is a coastal park with wooden bluffs overlooking Monterey Bay and direct access to sandy beaches. The 93-acre area includes observation points where visitors can watch marine life and the bay.

The area was adopted by the California Department of Parks and Recreation in 1933, transforming a former Chinese fishing settlement into a public space. This change marked the beginning of the park as a place for public recreation.

The visitor center presents exhibitions about regional animal migrations and the people who once lived along this coast through interactive displays. You can learn how the area's natural rhythms have shaped human activity here over time.

The park has 114 campsites with picnic tables and fire grills, including eleven sites with electrical hookups for recreational vehicles. The best time to explore tide pools is during low tide.

At low tide, visitors can discover small marine creatures in natural tide pools while watching sea otters, dolphins, and grey whales in the bay. This combination makes observing ocean life especially engaging.

Location: Capitola

Operator: California Department of Parks and Recreation

GPS coordinates: 36.97931,-121.92650

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:55