Carlsbad State Beach

Carlsbad State Beach runs along the city of Carlsbad in northern San Diego County, a long sand-and-cobble shoreline stretching from the warm-water jetties just south of Tamarack Avenue north to Carlsbad Village Drive. A seawall holds the upper edge of the beach the whole way, with a paved walking promenade on top. Tower 33 sits mid-beach as the main lifeguard station, and the Encina Power Station chimney rises to the north. Carlsbad Boulevard runs the bluff above. South Carlsbad State Beach, a separate state-beach unit best known for its bluff-top campground, picks up south of Tamarack Avenue.

The bottom is sand and cobble, with breaking surf and no offshore reef or kelp of consequence, which makes the spot a surf zone biome. Swimming, surfing, and hook-and-line surf fishing draw the most use; the absence of rocky structure or kelp keeps spearfishing, snorkeling, and scuba uncommon. Surf is mild relative to the rest of North County.

The paid state lot at Tamarack Avenue and Carlsbad Boulevard charges $2 per hour or $10 per day, and fills on summer weekends. An annual California State Parks pass at $125 covers the lot fees and is sold at the local state parks office at 2680 Carlsbad Boulevard. Free street parking is available on the residential streets perpendicular to Carlsbad Boulevard. Fishing and spearfishing are legal here under standard California regulations.