APTOS, California — Seacliff State Beach remains a beloved coastal gathering place, but the site is different from the Seacliff many residents remember before the damaging winter storms of 2023. The beach’s day-use facilities and the status of the pier and campground should not be confused.
What visitors can access
California State Parks’ current Seacliff listing gives park hours as 8 a.m. to sunset and identifies swimming, beach access, picnic areas, exhibits and a visitor center among the park’s amenities. Its listed vehicle day-use fee is $10, subject to changes or special rates. Access is from the State Park Drive exit off Highway 1, heading west through Aptos to the entrance.
What happened to the historic pier?
Seacliff is famous for the remains of the concrete ship S.S. Palo Alto, built in 1919 and deliberately placed offshore in 1929. But the pier leading toward the ship was badly damaged by the January 2023 storms and subsequently removed. State Parks explains the engineering and public-safety reasons in its Seacliff storm-recovery FAQs. Visitors should not expect to walk the old pier or enter the ship; the ship is unsafe and closed to the public.
Campground and long-term recovery
State Parks says the Seacliff State Beach campground remains closed because of extensive storm damage. The agency points campers toward other state-park options, including nearby New Brighton State Beach, with availability to be checked through the official reservations system. This campground closure is not the same as closure of the entire day-use beach.
Recovery planning also includes analysis of sea-level rise, erosion and future coastal resilience. Readers can follow the state’s Seacliff park page for updates, and review the Seacliff Resilience project linked there for longer-term planning.
Useful checklist before visiting
- Check park alerts and beach conditions on the day of the trip.
- Confirm parking fees and available facilities.
- Do not enter fenced, signed or unsafe storm-damaged areas.
- Remember the pier is removed and the campground is closed, while day-use visits are offered.
- For questions, California State Parks lists 831-685-6500.
Primary sources: California State Parks — Seacliff State Beach; State Parks — Seacliff FAQs.
Continue with our report on sewer-main repair near Soquel Drive, or visit the Aptos News front page.
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