Sunny Cove Beach in Santa Cruz offers a more secluded alternative to the crowded stretches of coastline you’ll find downtown. Getting down to the sand requires navigating steep wooden stairs carved directly into the cliff face—there are no handrails, so you’ll need to watch your footing and keep a close eye on your dog, especially if they’re excitable or easily distracted. The stairs are narrow enough that you’ll want to let other people pass if you encounter them on the way down.

The cove itself is small and intimate, with a sandy beach backed by dramatic cliffs. During calm days, the water stays relatively protected, and you’ll often see people swimming and wading. Your dog needs to stay leashed the entire time, which is worth planning for if you’re hoping for a good off-leash run—you might want to combine this with a nearby on-leash walk along the bluffs instead.

Parking is genuinely tight here, especially on weekends and during summer months. The lot fills up quickly, and there’s limited street parking in the surrounding residential neighborhood. Your best bet is arriving early in the morning or going on a weekday if possible. The walk from where you park to the stairs can vary depending on how far away you end up, so factor that into your timing.

The beach itself stays relatively quiet compared to Main Beach or the Santa Cruz Wharf area. Bring water for your dog since there aren’t facilities at the cove, and remember that the stairs going back up are the same steep, narrow route you came down on—it’s more of a workout on the return trip. The views are worth the effort, and on less crowded days, you’ll have a genuinely peaceful experience by the water with your dog at your side.