Updated 2026-07-13

California beach 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

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