Pelican State Beach, State beach in Del Norte County, California, United States
Pelican State Beach is a five-acre sandy beach in Del Norte County immediately south of the Oregon state line, making it California's northernmost state beach. Grassy dunes and driftwood lie above the sand, and the site has no facilities; it is also the northern terminus of the California Coastal Trail.
Pelican State Beach is a five-acre California State Beach in Del Norte County, immediately south of the Oregon state line on US Route 101, 21 miles north of Crescent City. It is the northernmost California state beach and the northern terminus of the California Coastal Trail. Its remote setting and easy-to-miss access road earned it the description "the loneliest beach in California".
The beach's name comes from the pelicans seen along this coast. Because the access road is easy to miss and the site is remote, it has been called "the loneliest beach in California". Visitors walk and comb the sand for driftwood along the five-acre shore.
Pelican State Beach sits just off US Route 101, 21 miles north of Crescent City and immediately south of the Oregon state line; the access road is easy to miss. Parking is available but there are no facilities, so bring water and supplies. Winters are cool and rainy, while spring and fall are often very sunny.
Visitors can walk about one mile northward to the Winchuck River, which marks the boundary between California and Oregon. This short journey connects two states in a single walk.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,894 contributors worldwide.