10 Hidden Gem CA Beaches Where You Can Escape The Crowds

As California looks ahead to Labor Day, millions of people are having the same idea: the beach. But if you don't want to sit in traffic on the way there and struggle to find a good spot on the sand once you arrive, we've got you covered.

California has a huge coast, full of nooks and crannies that the Labor Day masses may not know about.

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If you want to enjoy some beautiful beaches without the throngs that come with it, here are 10 beaches across the state where the only thing you'll hear is the sound of waves crashing, seagulls keow-ing and sea lions barking.

1. Thousand Steps Beach, Laguna Beach

One thing that uncrowded beaches tend to have in common is high cliffs and lots of stairs. Thousand Steps Beach may only have 230 steps, but that's still more than enough to ensure that you enjoy this Laguna Beach treasure for yourself. In addition to towering golden cliffs, a long strip of golden sand, and rocky outcrops for tide pooling, the beach is most known for the large sea cave at the south end of the beach. Visitors can step inside to the dark, hear loud echoes, and then step back out into the golden light of the beach.

2. El Pescador State Beach, Malibu

El Pescador is overshadowed by its neighbor El Matador State Beach. The good news is that it has almost just as many beautiful cliffs, sea stacks, and tide pools, but just a fraction of the crowds. Located in the more rugged western part of Malibu, closer to Ventura County, El Pescador offers expansive coastal views, long stretches of sand, and some of Malibu's best sunsets.

3. Pirate's Cove, Avila Beach

Pirate's Cove comes by its name honestly. During Prohibition, smugglers reportedly landed liquor here before transporting it inland. As soon as you visit the beach, you'll see why they chose it: it's hard to get to, and hardly anyone's there. It sits under steep, towering sandstone cliffs. Once you descend the steep trail and arrive at the bottom, you'll see plenty of caves and tunnels, notably Smugglers Cave. Today, the beach continues its rebellious legacy by being clothing-optional.

4. Spooner's Cove, Los Osos

For tidepooling heaven, head to Spooner's Cove, located just south of Morro Bay, 30 minutes west of San Luis Obispo, and about two hours north of Santa Barbara. The beach sits in a cove at Montana de Oro State Park, where Islay Creek empties into the Pacific Ocean. The beach stands out for its incredible tide pools, caves, and unique rock formations, which are easily accessible at low tide. Numerous trails branch out from the beach, including one that leads up to the 1,347-foot summit of Valencia Peak.

5. Garrapata State Park, Carmel

For many, any beach in Carmel is worth a trip. But Garrapata State Park, located along Highway 1 just south of Carmel Highlands, is so much more than just a beach. Visitors can enjoy spectacular Big Sur scenery from bluff-top walking trails, then duck into a canyon leading into redwood groves. If you visit during the winter, you can enjoy waterfalls. If you visit during the spring, the hillside will erupt into a symphony of white calla lilies. Looking toward the ocean, you'll see gray whales, sea otters, harbor seals, and sea lions.

6. Bean Hollow State Beach, Pescadero

Heading north into San Mateo County, you'll arrive at one of California's most unique beaches. Bean Hollow is best known for its tafoni rock formations, the honeycomb-like holes sculpted into rocks that lead many people to refer to them as "Swiss cheese rocks." The Swiss cheese rocks are surrounded by tide pools teeming with marine life, a colorful pebble beach, and a scenic bluff-top trail. The best part? You can enjoy it with your dog, provided they're on a leash.

7. Gray Whale Cove State Beach, San Mateo County

If you were driving along Highway 1, you probably wouldn't even realize there's a beach below you. Perhaps that's why this beautiful beach just 30 minutes from San Francisco is often remarkably uncrowded. But take the stairs down the steep cliffs, and you'll suddenly find yourself in a sheltered cove surrounded by golden cliffs, white sand, and rocky headlands in either direction. If you visit from winter into spring, you may even see the namesake gray whales diving through the ocean, and perhaps a seal or seabird if you're extra lucky.

8. Portuguese Beach, Sereno del Mar

Unlike many of the other beaches on this list, Portuguese Beach features a wide sweep of sand rather than a tiny cove. This beach, located on the Sonoma coast about 70 miles north of San Francisco, offers sweeping Pacific views, sea stacks, grassy coastal bluffs, and a wide expanse of wild coast. A bluff-top overlook gives a panoramic view of one of California's most gorgeous coastal stretches.

9. College Cove, Trinidad

This one's a bit of a trek, but it's well worth it. A Sitka spruce forest tumbles right into the water, giving visitors stunning forest and ocean views. They'll also enjoy towering sea stacks, forest-covered bluffs, and broad golden sand. Just south of College Cove, Trinidad Head is an incredible promontory that juts far out into the ocean and offers spectacular views, hiking trails, and a lighthouse that's been operating since 1871.

10. Black Sands Beach, Shelter Cove, Lost Coast

Typically, we highlight white or golden sand as one of a beach's main attractions. But here, in this most remote corner of the Lost Coast, dark rocks eroded over the course of millions of years have led to a charcoal-colored beach that contrasts beautifully with the white surf. It also looks spectacular against the towering cliffs and rugged mountains that drop straight into the ocean. It's part of the Lost Coast, an area near the Oregon border where the mountains made the construction of Highway 1 so difficult that it was largely left alone. If you're looking for the ultimate escape, this is the one.