Updated August 2026

Best beaches in California by water quality

California has 416 public beaches in the EPA monitoring dataset, 245 of them with enough bacteria samples to grade. 84 earn an A for consistently clean water, while 45 grade an F for frequently exceeding the safe-swimming limit. Full ranking below.

A 84

B 60

C 27

D 29

F 45

Grade	Beach	County	% over limit	Samples	Advisory
A	County Line Beach - 49500	Ventura	0%	206	Excellent
A	Guadalupe Dunes - Wp0000018	Santa Barbara	0%	183	Excellent
A	Spanish Bay Beach - Spb	Monterey	0%	166	Excellent
A	Salmon Creek State Park Beach - Salmon Creek	Sonoma	0%	144	Excellent
A	Gualala River	Mendocino	0%	141	Excellent
A	Sycamore Cove Beach - 47000	Ventura	0%	125	Excellent
A	Thornhill Broome Beach - 46000	Ventura	0%	125	Excellent
A	Staircase Beach - 50000	Ventura	0%	125	Excellent
A	Hobson County Park Beach - 5000	Ventura	0%	123	Excellent
A	Point Mugu Beach - 45000	Ventura	0%	119	Excellent
A	Ormond Beach - 44000	Ventura	0%	118	Excellent
A	El Matador State Beach - Smb-1-3	Los Angeles	0%	111	Excellent
A	Black Point Regional Park Beach - Black Point	Sonoma	0%	111	Excellent
A	Still Water Cove Regional Park Beach - Stillwater	Sonoma	0%	111	Excellent
A	Caspar Headlands Sb - Caspar Headlands	Mendocino	0%	105	Excellent
A	Drake's Beach - Drakes Beach	Marin	0%	90	Excellent
A	Drakes Estero - Drakes Estero	Marin	0%	80	Excellent
A	Hidden Beach - O100	Santa Cruz	0%	34	Excellent
A	Trestle Beach	Santa Cruz	0%	31	Excellent
A	Point Sur Shp	Monterey	0%	28	Excellent
A	Nicholas Canyon County Beach - Dph 009	Los Angeles	0.5%	422	Excellent
A	Ellwood	Santa Barbara	0.5%	187	Excellent
A	Marine Street Beach - EH-290	San Diego	0.6%	359	Excellent
A	Hollywood Beach - 35000	Ventura	0.6%	316	Excellent
A	Carmel Beach - Cboa	Monterey	0.6%	180	Excellent
A	Dillon Beach - Dillon	Marin	0.6%	154	Excellent
A	Pl-050	San Diego	0.7%	413	Excellent
A	Hearst Memorial State Beach - Hsb23	San Luis Obispo	0.7%	300	Excellent
A	Shell Beach - Shell Beach	Marin	0.7%	150	Excellent
A	Cardiff State Beach - SE-040	San Diego	0.8%	744	Excellent
A	La Conchita Beach - 2500	Ventura	0.8%	127	Excellent
A	Silverstrand Beach - 40000	Ventura	0.9%	427	Excellent
A	Goat Rock State Park Beach - Goat Rock	Sonoma	0.9%	112	Excellent
A	Big River-Mendocino Bay Headlands Sp - Big River	Mendocino	0.9%	110	Excellent
A	McGrath State Beach - 28000	Ventura	0.9%	106	Excellent
A	South Laguna Beach - S5	Orange	1%	418	Excellent
A	Mission Beach - Pl-120	San Diego	1%	200	Excellent
A	Hare Creek - Hare Creek	Mendocino	1%	105	Excellent
A	Van Damme Sp - Van Damme	Mendocino	1%	105	Excellent
A	Oxnard Beach - 30000	Ventura	1%	105	Excellent
A	San Clemente City Beach - Picod	Orange	1.1%	1,702	Excellent
A	Stinson Beach - Stinson Beach - South	Marin	1.1%	376	Excellent
A	El Capitan State Beach - Wp0000013	Santa Barbara	1.1%	190	Excellent
A	South Carlsbad State Beach - En-050	San Diego	1.2%	1,224	Excellent
A	Zuma Beach - Dph 008b	Los Angeles	1.2%	421	Excellent
A	Mission Bay, Santa Barbara Cove - Mb-151	San Diego	1.2%	260	Excellent
A	Manhattan Beach - Dph 113b	Los Angeles	1.2%	249	Excellent
A	Solana Beach City Beaches - SE-010	San Diego	1.2%	242	Excellent
A	Fort Baker Horseshoe Cove - Baker NE	Marin	1.3%	376	Excellent
A	Gaviota State Beach - Wp0000079	Santa Barbara	1.3%	238	Excellent
A	Millerton Point - Millerton Point	Marin	1.3%	150	Excellent
A	Heart's Desire - Hearts Desire	Marin	1.3%	150	Excellent
A	Mad River Beach Co. Park - North Mad River Mouth	Humboldt	1.3%	150	Excellent
A	Avalon Beach - Dph 124	Los Angeles	1.4%	702	Excellent
A	Sharp Park Beach - Sharp Park Beach #6	San Mateo	1.4%	208	Excellent
A	Paradise Cove - Paradise Cove	Marin	1.4%	145	Excellent
A	Poche County Beach - Pocheu	Orange	1.5%	775	Excellent
A	Mussel Shoals Beach - 2700	Ventura	1.6%	191	Excellent
A	Jalama Beach - Wp0000080	Santa Barbara	1.7%	235	Excellent
A	Rincon Beach - 1100	Ventura	1.7%	121	Excellent
A	Sewers - Sew7	San Luis Obispo	1.9%	156	Excellent
A	Pudding Creek Beach - Pudding Creek	Mendocino	1.9%	107	Excellent
A	Royal Palms State Beach - Smb-7-6	Los Angeles	2%	200	Excellent
A	Mandos Cove Beach - 8100	Ventura	2%	98	Excellent
A	Broad Beach	Los Angeles	2.1%	437	Excellent
A	Moss Landing State Beach - Msl	Monterey	2.1%	48	Excellent
A	Rodeo Beach - Rodeo Beach - South	Marin	2.2%	451	Excellent
A	Torrance Beach - Smb-6-6	Los Angeles	2.2%	229	Excellent
A	Crystal Cove State Park - Elmoroz	Orange	2.3%	1,038	Excellent
A	Cayucos Beach - Cay15	San Luis Obispo	2.3%	609	Excellent
A	Sunset Cliffs Park - Pl-070	San Diego	2.3%	520	Excellent
A	Monterey Beach Hotel - Mbh	Monterey	2.3%	173	Excellent
A	Marina State Beach - Msb	Monterey	2.3%	44	Excellent
A	New Brighton State Beach - O170	Santa Cruz	2.4%	126	Excellent
A	Emerald Bay - Olb10	Orange	2.6%	1,294	Excellent
A	Windansea Beach - Fm-050	San Diego	2.6%	621	Excellent
A	Laguna Beach - Victrau	Orange	2.8%	1,358	Excellent
A	San Buenaventura State Beach - 21000	Ventura	2.8%	387	Excellent
A	China Camp - China Camp	Marin	2.8%	142	Excellent
A	Bolsa Chica State Beach - 39n	Orange	2.9%	824	Excellent
A	Las Tunas County Beach - Smb-1-17	Los Angeles	2.9%	245	Excellent
A	Malibu Beach - Dph 001	Los Angeles	2.9%	174	Excellent
A	Big Rock Beach	Los Angeles	2.9%	104	Excellent
A	Pajaro Dunes Beach - O010	Santa Cruz	2.9%	70	Excellent
B	Port Hueneme Beach Park - 41000	Ventura	3.1%	604	Good
B	S Morro Strand State Beach	San Luis Obispo	3.1%	159	Good
B	Summerland Beach - Wp0000188	Santa Barbara	3.2%	189	Good
B	Sunset County Beach - Osub1	Orange	3.3%	1,953	Good
B	Miller Park - Miller Park	Marin	3.3%	152	Good
B	Lighthouse Beach - O510	Santa Cruz	3.3%	61	Good
B	Morro Bay City Beach - Mb13	San Luis Obispo	3.5%	623	Good
B	Seabright Beach - O440	Santa Cruz	3.5%	172	Good
B	Pismo State Beach - Pb5	San Luis Obispo	3.6%	1,091	Good
B	Solimar Beach - 10000	Ventura	3.6%	413	Good
B	Carpinteria City - Wp0000134	Santa Barbara	3.6%	247	Good
B	San Carlos Beach - Scb	Monterey	3.6%	166	Good
B	Doheny State Beach - Dsb4z	Orange	3.7%	1,383	Good
B	Butterfly Beach - Wp0000023	Santa Barbara	3.7%	244	Good
B	Dockweiler State Beach - Dph 111	Los Angeles	3.8%	1,505	Good
B	Avila Beach - Ab9	San Luis Obispo	3.8%	213	Good
B	Dana Point - S-6	Orange	4%	2,273	Good
B	Sand Beach	San Mateo	4%	475	Good
B	Penninsula Beach - 23000	Ventura	4%	373	Good
B	Corcoran Lagoon Beach - O370	Santa Cruz	4%	100	Good
B	Hobie Beach - 36000	Ventura	4.1%	737	Good
B	Moonlight Beach - EH-420a	San Diego	4.1%	291	Good
B	East Beach - Wp0000085	Santa Barbara	4.1%	244	Good
B	Stillwater Cove - Stco	Monterey	4.1%	169	Good
B	Huntington City Beach - 21n	Orange	4.2%	1,524	Good
B	Lover's Point - Lop	Monterey	4.2%	309	Good
B	Campbell Cove State Beach - Campbell Cove	Sonoma	4.2%	288	Good
B	Pebble Beach	San Mateo	4.3%	326	Good
B	Refugio State Beach - Wp0000183	Santa Barbara	4.3%	254	Good
B	Leo Carillo State Beach - Dph 010b	Los Angeles	4.4%	454	Good
B	La Costa Beach - Smb-1-14	Los Angeles	4.4%	181	Good
B	Hammonds - Wp0000004	Santa Barbara	4.5%	247	Good
B	Seacliff State Beach - O140	Santa Cruz	4.6%	305	Good
B	Lawson's Landing - Lawsons Landing	Marin	4.7%	150	Good
B	Huntington Harbour - Mhh07	Orange	4.8%	1,531	Good
B	Natural Bridges State Beach - O530	Santa Cruz	4.8%	355	Good
B	Clifford Kamph Memorial Park	Del Norte	4.8%	167	Good
B	McNears Beach - McNears Beach	Marin	4.9%	143	Good
B	High Bluff Beach	Del Norte	4.9%	103	Good
B	Newport Beach - Bgc	Orange	5.1%	1,683	Good
B	Newport Bay - Bnb34	Orange	5.3%	5,822	Good
B	Aquatic Park - Bay#211_sl	San Francisco	5.4%	560	Good
B	Keller Beach (Contra Costa Co) - Keller South Beach	Alameda	5.4%	371	Good
B	South Casa Beach S.D. - EH-310	San Diego	5.4%	335	Good
B	Surfers Beach - Surfers Beach	San Mateo	5.5%	238	Good
B	Huntington State Beach - 9n	Orange	5.7%	3,623	Good
B	Aliso County Beach - Acm1u	Orange	5.7%	2,341	Good
B	Surfers Point At Seaside - 13000	Ventura	5.8%	240	Good
B	Coral Beach	Los Angeles	5.9%	1,164	Good
B	Hope Ranch Beach - Wp0000072	Santa Barbara	6%	250	Good
B	Leadbetter - Wp0000007	Santa Barbara	6.3%	253	Good
B	Del Monte Beach - Dmb	Monterey	6.3%	144	Good
B	Rockaway Beach - Calera Creek	San Mateo	6.5%	492	Good
B	Trinidad State Beach - Mill Creek/Trinidad	Humboldt	6.5%	184	Good
B	Goleta Beach - Wp0000037	Santa Barbara	6.7%	267	Good
B	Point Dume County Beach - Smb-O-01	Los Angeles	6.7%	208	Good
B	Venice City Beach - Smb-3-6	Los Angeles	6.8%	2,361	Good
B	Redondo Beach - Smb-6-03	Los Angeles	6.8%	1,426	Good
B	China Beach - Ocean#17_sl	San Francisco	6.9%	1,703	Good
B	Sunny Cove Beach - O380	Santa Cruz	6.9%	101	Good
C	Seal Beach Surfside - Osb01	Orange	7.2%	975	Fair
C	Basin H	Los Angeles	7.2%	499	Fair
C	Gazos Creek Access - Gazos Creek Access	San Mateo	7.2%	390	Fair
C	Bolinas Beach - Bolinas	Marin	7.6%	185	Fair
C	Promenade Park Beach - 17000	Ventura	7.7%	650	Fair
C	Faria County Park Beach - 7000	Ventura	7.7%	235	Fair
C	Seaside Wilderness Park Beach - 12000	Ventura	7.8%	244	Fair
C	Monarch Beach - Scm1d	Orange	8%	954	Fair
C	Muir Beach - Muir Beach - North	Marin	8.2%	610	Fair
C	Olde Port Beach - Olde12	San Luis Obispo	8.3%	436	Fair
C	Coyote Point County Park - Coyote Point County Park	San Mateo	8.5%	176	Fair
C	El Segundo Beach - Dph 112b	Los Angeles	8.7%	1,432	Fair
C	Arroyo Burro - Wp0000147	Santa Barbara	8.7%	254	Fair
C	Crown Beach (Alameda Co) - Crown Crab Cove	Alameda	8.9%	982	Fair
C	San Gregorio State Beach - San Gregorio State Beach	San Mateo	9.5%	463	Fair
C	Rincon Beach - Wp0000123	Santa Barbara	9.5%	231	Fair
C	Buccaneer Beach - Oc-030	San Diego	9.6%	1,214	Fair
C	Capistrano Beach - Csbmp1z	Orange	10.4%	1,141	Fair
C	Schoonmaker Beach - Schoonmaker Beach	Marin	10.5%	191	Fair
C	Pomponio State Beach - Pomponio State Beach	San Mateo	11.1%	442	Fair
C	Main Beach - Main-A	Santa Cruz	11.2%	591	Fair
C	Baker Beach - Ocean#16_sl	San Francisco	11.3%	300	Fair
C	Naples Beach	San Mateo	11.4%	369	Fair
C	Oyster Point Marina - Oyster Point Marina	San Mateo	11.4%	149	Fair
C	South Topanga State Beach	Los Angeles	11.5%	1,025	Fair
C	Crissy Field - Bay#202.5_sl	San Francisco	11.9%	303	Fair
C	Clam Beach Co. Park - Clam Beach Co. Park	Humboldt	11.9%	219	Fair
D	Ross's Cove	San Mateo	12.3%	244	Poor
D	Capitola City Beach - O240	Santa Cruz	12.4%	443	Poor
D	Surfrider Beach - Dph 002	Los Angeles	12.5%	208	Poor
D	Cowell Beach - Cowell-C	Santa Cruz	13.4%	2,456	Poor
D	South Will Rogers State Beach	Los Angeles	13.8%	2,083	Poor
D	West Beach	Santa Barbara	14%	279	Poor
D	Long Beach - B-69	Los Angeles	14.4%	160	Poor
D	Dana Point Harbor - Bdp17	Orange	14.6%	2,643	Poor
D	Inner Cabrillo Beach - Cb-02	Los Angeles	14.9%	2,092	Poor
D	Malibu Lagoon State Beach - Smb-Mc-2	Los Angeles	15%	1,333	Poor
D	Kellogg Beach	Del Norte	15.1%	93	Poor
D	Alamitos Bay Beach - B-67	Los Angeles	15.7%	560	Poor
D	La Jolla Shores Beach - EH-574	San Diego	16%	1,358	Poor
D	Mitchell's Cove Beach - O520	Santa Cruz	16.5%	272	Poor
D	Dunes State Beach - Dunes State Beach	San Mateo	17%	670	Poor
D	Colorado Lagoon - B-25	Los Angeles	17.1%	3,170	Poor
D	Moonstone Beach - Moonstone Beach	Humboldt	17.2%	186	Poor
D	South Beach	Del Norte	17.4%	23	Poor
D	Limantour Beach	Marin	18.1%	227	Poor
D	Escondido Beach - Smb-1-8	Los Angeles	19.3%	383	Poor
D	Topanga State Beach - Smb-1-18	Los Angeles	19.5%	1,153	Poor
D	Chicken Ranch - Chicken Ranch Ditch	Marin	19.6%	225	Poor
D	Ocean Beach - Ocean#22_sl	San Francisco	19.7%	411	Poor
D	Candlestick Point - Bay#301.2_sl	San Francisco	20.2%	946	Poor
D	Pillar Point Harbor - Pillar Point #9	San Mateo	20.2%	243	Poor
D	Old Home Beach	Humboldt	22.5%	80	Poor
D	Golden Hinde	Marin	23.2%	185	Poor
D	San Elijo State Beach - SE-070	San Diego	24.1%	742	Poor
D	Aquatic Park - Aquatic Park	San Mateo	24.3%	444	Poor
F	San Diego Bay Shelter Is	San Diego	26%	300	Failing
F	Crane Cove Park - Bay#230_sl	San Francisco	26.6%	937	Failing
F	Fitzgerald Marine (Moss Beach) - Frenchmans Creek	San Mateo	27.1%	351	Failing
F	Ocean Beach - Pl-082	San Diego	27.7%	1,349	Failing
F	Santa Monica State Beach - Dph 105b	Los Angeles	27.8%	2,772	Failing
F	Luffenholtz Beach - Luffenholtz Creek	Humboldt	27.8%	180	Failing
F	Marina Del Rey Beach - Mothers Beach - Mdrh-3	Los Angeles	28.4%	2,775	Failing
F	Francis State Beach - Francis State Beach	San Mateo	31%	481	Failing
F	Puerco Beach - Smb-1-12	Los Angeles	31.2%	295	Failing
F	Kiteboard Beach - Kiteboard Beach	San Mateo	33.2%	576	Failing
F	Carlsbad City Beach	San Diego	33.6%	450	Failing
F	Capistrano Blvd. Beach	San Mateo	35.6%	247	Failing
F	Torrey Pines State Beach - Fm-090	San Diego	36.5%	452	Failing
F	Pacifica State Beach - Linda Mar Beach #7	San Mateo	37.4%	728	Failing
F	Swami's Park - EH-410	San Diego	37.4%	438	Failing
F	El Grandada	San Mateo	38.9%	247	Failing
F	Tourmaline Surfing Park - Fm-030	San Diego	42.2%	450	Failing
F	Seascape Beach Park - EH-390	San Diego	44.4%	108	Failing
F	Border Field State Park - Ib-020	San Diego	45.5%	1,169	Failing
F	San Dieguito River Beach - EH-380	San Diego	47.7%	344	Failing
F	Tide Beach Park	San Diego	48%	475	Failing
F	San Clemente State Beach - S-23	Orange	51.5%	237	Failing
F	Mission Bay, San Juan Cove - Mb-140	San Diego	60.7%	61	Failing
F	Carlsbad State Beach - EH-460	San Diego	61.8%	319	Failing
F	Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge - Ib-040	San Diego	62.5%	2,561	Failing
F	Oceanside Harbor - Riv San Luis Rey	San Diego	64%	683	Failing
F	San Diego Bay Glorietta Bay	San Diego	70.2%	171	Failing
F	Mission Bay, Fanuel Park - Mb-120	San Diego	70.4%	142	Failing
F	Silver Strand State Beach - Ib-068	San Diego	71.3%	1,076	Failing
F	Mission Bay, North Pacific Passage - Mb-042	San Diego	72.1%	222	Failing
F	Leucadia - EH-435	San Diego	72.4%	221	Failing
F	Coronado North Beach - EH-060	San Diego	74.6%	3,125	Failing
F	La Jolla Cove - Fm-070	San Diego	75.2%	270	Failing
F	Mission Bay, Campland On The Bay - Mb-080	San Diego	75.7%	255	Failing
F	Mission Bay, Ventura Cove - Mb-223	San Diego	75.7%	226	Failing
F	Spanish Landing Park - EH-160	San Diego	76.7%	60	Failing
F	Mission Bay, Mariners Basin - Mb-170	San Diego	77.4%	53	Failing
F	Bayside Park	San Diego	78.8%	156	Failing
F	Del Mar City Beach - EH-357	San Diego	79.1%	191	Failing
F	Mission Bay, Riviera Shores - Mb-111	San Diego	81.3%	75	Failing
F	Coronado Cays (Nr) - EH-576	San Diego	82.7%	2,114	Failing
F	Imperial Beach Municipal Beach, Other - Ib-050	San Diego	84.9%	4,015	Failing
F	Mission Bay, Vacation Isle - Mb-203	San Diego	89.9%	218	Failing
F	Tecolote Shores - Mb-041	San Diego	91.3%	115	Failing
F	Mission Bay, De Anza Cove - Mb-070	San Diego	94.7%	113	Failing

CSV

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