California Best Beaches for Sea Glass

California Best Beaches for Sea Glass

California boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, offering stunning views, diverse ecosystems, and plenty of opportunities for sea glass hunting. Explore our list of the best beaches in California to discover your next seaside adventure.

California's 3 Best Sea Glass Beaches

ft bragg sea glass on beach

#1. Fort Bragg Glass Beach - Perhaps the most famous spot for sea glass in California, Glass Beach in Fort Bragg is renowned for its abundance of colorful sea glass. Adjacent to Glass Beach, MacKerricher State Park offers more opportunities for sea glass hunting along its rugged coastline.  Mendocino County, Northern California. Read more...

Seaside Beach, Monterey Bay, California, USA

#2. Seaside (Sand City) - Seaside, also known as Sand City due to its proximity to the sand dunes, is a delightful haven for sea glass enthusiasts along California's Central Coast.  Monterey County, Central California. Read more...

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#3. Davenport - The most exotic sea glass in North America. On most days you will not find any glass at all and the beach may be dangerous due to surf conditions - Santa Cruz County. Read more...

The following list is beaches that are reported to be among the top ten, not especially in order of the best. A lot depends on if you are looking for quality vs quantity or vice versa. 

More of California Best Beaches for Sea Glass 

  • Seacliff State Beach - Aptos: Located near Santa Cruz, Seacliff State Beach is another excellent spot for sea glass hunting. Visitors often find a variety of colors and sizes of sea glass scattered along the shoreline.
  • Pacifica State Beach - Pacifica: Just south of San Francisco, Pacifica State Beach is known for its scenic beauty and is a popular destination for surfers and beachcombers alike. It's also a good place to search for sea glass, especially after a high tide or storm.
  • Montara State Beach - Montara: Also near San Francisco, Montara State Beach offers a quieter alternative to some of the more crowded beaches in the area. Its rocky shores provide ample opportunities for finding sea glass, particularly in the tide pools and along the waterline.
  • Baker Beach - San Francisco: While primarily known for its stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Baker Beach in San Francisco can also yield some surprises for sea glass hunters, particularly after a storm.
  • Cayucos State Beach - Cayucos: Situated along California's Central Coast, Cayucos State Beach is a picturesque stretch of coastline with plenty of sea glass to be found, especially near the pier and rocky areas.

These are just a few examples, but there are many more beaches along California's coastline where you can find sea glass. Remember to check local regulations and respect the environment while collecting sea glass.

Whether you live in California or are just visiting, here you'll find the best beaches in the United State for sea glass fans.

For example, follow the link to the most well-known and reported beach in the United States, Fort Bragg California. Or go to the lesser-known but remarkably productive beach at Seaside on Monterey Bay.

You'll find details, photos and maps to help you make plans for your beach trips.

Other beaches on this California list may, of course, have less sea glass. But the rewards might be greater than you would think, as some have reported. For example, finding only one piece of sea glass in a couple of hours at the beach doesn't sound very good. Unless that one piece is a perfect red, orange or yellow.

What are the chances and where to look? You'll enjoy and profit from the linked reports to the many California beaches listed below.

For those just starting out, this California sea glass list of Best Beaches is a good place to begin. For those with a lot of experience, this list will be quite helpful in considering beaches not so close to home.

Whether you have recently moved to the California,  are vacationing here on the west coast, or are a long-time resident, you will enjoy seeing the variety of sea glass and beaches that California has to offer.

These best California beaches were gleaned from personal experience, friends, and your contributions.

Please enjoy your hunt for sea glass or beach glass, respect private property, and smile at the locals!

 Northern California Counties - California Beach Glass Reports

For purposes of these beach reports, Northern California County Beaches cover Del Norte, Humboldt,  and Mendocino Counties.

This coastal region includes the USA's best-known glass beach, Fort Bragg, as well as a number of small towns and many wild Pacific coast beaches.

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 Del Norte County - N. California Beach Glass Reports

Del Norte County is the northernmost coastal county in California. The main coastal city is Crescent City.





Del Norte County Beach Reports With Photos:

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 Humboldt County - N. California Beach Glass Reports

No Reports







Mendocino County - Sea Glass Reports





Mendocino County Beach Reports With Photos:

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Fort Bragg Glass BeachGo to Fort Bragg's Famous Glass Beach Page >>>

Other Beaches

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 San Francisco Area - California Beach Glass Reports

For purposes of these beach reports, these listed beaches include

As well as the Pacific Coast Counties of

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Sonoma County - California Beach Glass Reports

Sonoma's scenic coast is sparsely populated with a few small scenic villages along Highway 1. The two main towns are Bodega Bay (pop. 1077) in the south and The Sea Ranch (pop. 1305) in the north. 


Sonoma County Beach Reports With Photos:

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Marin County - California Beach Glass Reports


Marin County Beach Reports With Photos:

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San Francisco Area Counties and Bay Area - California Beach Glass Reports

The best beach for sea glass in the San Francisco Bay is Benicia's Glass Beach in Solano County.

San Fransisco Bay Counties

San Francisco City and County

San Mateo

Santa Cruz

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San Francisco Bay Counties Beach Reports With Photos:

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San Francisco City and County Pacific Coast - Beach Glass Reports




San Francisco County Beach Reports With Photos:

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San Rafael, CA (China Camp State Park, SF Bay see Facebook comments at end of this page)

Bayview District, San Francisco, California






San Mateo County - Sea Glass Reports

San Mateo County Beach Reports With Photos:

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Santa Cruz County Sea Glass - Beach Reports


Santa Cruz County Beach Reports With Photos:

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Central California Beach Glass Reports

Central California Best Beaches reports include the following counties:

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Monterey County - California Best Beaches Sea Glass Reports


Monterey County Beach Reports With Photos:

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Seaside Glass Beach - Monterey

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San Luis Obispo County - California Best Beaches Sea Glass Reports





San Luis Obispo County Beach Reports With Photos:

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Santa Barbara County - California Best Beaches Sea Glass Reports





Santa Barbara County Beach Reports With Photos:

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Southern California Best Beaches Reports

For purposes of these beach reports,  Southern California Best Beaches cover

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Ventura County -  California Beach Glass Reports

The main coastal cities in Ventura County are Ventura and Oxnard, both of which produce good sea glass.




Ventura County Beach Reports With No Photos:

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Los Angeles County -  California Beach Glass Reports

The main coastal cities in Los Angeles County are

Orange County -  California Beach Glass Reports

The main coastal cities in



San Diego County -  California Beach Glass Reports





San Diego County Beach Reports With Photos:

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Channel Islands -  California Beach Glass Reports





Channel Islands Beach Reports With Photos:

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Click or tap here to send in your California sea glass reports.

*Beach reports needed for Wake Island sea glass

Help us make an accurate list!

Click here to add a beach or to rate a beach.

Many thanks to those of you who have added beaches and ratings!

As you know, Lin and I (David) have spent years accumulating the information on these pages.

You can really help us to keep on doing this by visiting our associate advertisers such as our Zazzle Sea Glass products.

From our Facebook - California Reports

San Pedro, California

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