Greyhound Rock County Park

Greyhound Rock is a County Park and public fishing access point 20 minutes north of Santa Cruz. Two parking lots, a small restroom, picnic tables, and viewing benches are all located on top of the cliffs that tower over the beach. A short, paved walkway descending the cliffs will take you to the shore. This is a short and steep trail with a few spots to stop and catch some great ocean views along the way. Pampas grass and ice plants are very prevalent, and the vegetation overgrowth creates narrow paths that are a little difficult to negotiate when people pass you from the other direction.

This beach is sandy with a rocky shoreline that is littered with tide pools and huge mudstone rocks. The biggest of these rocks is "Greyhound Rock," the park's namesake. Some of the waves can be turbulent near these rocks, but this is a decently sized beach, and there is plenty of room for swimming, surfing, or soaking up some sun.