Planning for vacations & beaches don’t come to your mind? This is near to impossible. The beauty of never ending vistas of pristine water & sands all around give an enticing experience to enjoy with your friends and loved ones.
When it comes to beaches, you might have seen white sand beaches apart from the normal ones. But what if one is looking for some more uniqueness, there is no better than black sands beaches. Even thinking about them gives you goosebumps right ?
Imagine how delightful it would be to see the contrast of blue water all surrounded with black sands giving a thrilling feeling. Want to pack bags & visit these beaches right now ?
Let’s take you to one such beach i.e. Black Sands Beach California.
Black Sands Beach California
If you are planning your vacation to California, no doubt a major reason of it would be the sunny and sandy beaches here. Among all these beaches is a particularly interesting beach. What can a beach possibly have to make it so different and interesting from other beaches one might ask. Well, this beach has black sand!
That’s right, The Black Sands Beach in Whitethorn, California has beautiful black sand that stretches for 20 miles. The black sand provides a new side of experiencing beaches. The contrast of black and the blue-white of the ocean makes an absolutely breathtaking scene.
What Makes The Sand Black?
The black sand in the beaches is usually formed by the eroding of the volcanic material like lava and basalt rocks. But this happens in beaches near volcanic activity. So why does this beach which is in California has black sand? The Black Sands Beach California gets its black sand dark shale and sandstone which makes it such a rare sight.
Black Sands Beach Camping
Talking about camping in Black Sands Beach California , one can find many camping spots and that too in remote places where you can feel cut-off from the whole busy world.
There is a 20 miles long shoreline which extends between Shelter Cove & Mattole River Campground & this shoreline takes you to the campground with wilderness providing various spots for camping. But a disclaimer is there according to which many parts of this shoreline experience high tides & hence one should plan accordingly.
Black Sands Beach Weather
The weather in Black Sands Beach California is very unpredictable and changes within minutes due to in and out movement of clouds and fogs. The temperature in Summers ranges from 50 to 70 degrees & in Winters it ranges from 40 to 60 degrees.
Since the weather is unpredictable, you can check the current weather forecast here. Also as a precautionary measure one should carry jackets or pants and rain gears for the rain & hats for summers. Weather can go from rainy, misty, foggy, hot, cloudy and hence carrying layers of clothing is highly recommended.
Things To Do At Black Sands Beach
If you are at Black Sands Beach California, enjoying the sight and relaxing is not the only thing you would be doing but there are much more fun to experience. We have listed all you will love to do at the beach.
- The beach is all surrounded by rocks, so you can explore them to have more fun. Also you can climb the rocks to make your trip even more adventurous.
- The California Coastline is protected and since you are at the coastline, you can learn more about it.
- You can just relax and enjoy the vistas with your loved ones or visit the beach with your family for a picnic and enjoy lunch there.
- As already discussed, one can find many camping spots as there is a 20 miles long shoreline which extends between Shelter Cove & Mattole River Campground & this shoreline takes you to the campground with wilderness.
Is Black Sands Beach Safe To Visit ?
Many spots while walking on the Black Sands Beach California experience very high tides, hence one has to be extremely cautious since these waves hit the shore and can pull everything coming near. Also while trekking you have to be very careful of these high tides. It is still safe as there are many boards indicating disclaimer and caution at these spots.
Best Time To Visit Black Sands Beach
As we already discussed that the weather is very unpredictable here, so it’s not easy to foresee and tell the best time to visit Black Sands Beach California still it is recommended to visit in Summers & Springs as it is warmer comparatively which is the best weather to visit a beach.
How To Reach Black Sands Beach California
Once you reach Shelter Cove and driving down the road, you will have to take a right which leads you to the Beach Road. This beach road will have a dead end at the Black Sands Beach. While driving down the Beach Road, you will find a sign indicating that you are at King Range NCA & the parking is at the top from where you have to follow the sidewalk to get Beach Access.
At the parking lot, you can find restrooms, drinking water facilities & other maps & geology about the area.
4 Places To Visit Near Black Sands Beach
Not only the Black Sands Beach California, Lost Coast has other very fun and exciting places you can check out that have a little something for everyone. Here are four other places you can visit on your trip to Black Sands Beach, California.
1. King Range
A lovely beach and mountains on the same trip, now that’s a deal. The King Range is a mountain range in Northern California. You can hike, hunt, camp and even collect mushrooms, how cool is that. There are about 300 species of birds both native and migratory to be seen on these mountains so don’t forget to bring your binoculars.
2. Briceland Vineyards Winery
If you are a wine lover or just want to experiment with some wine on your trip to the beach, this place is perfect for you. The Briceland Vineyards winery is small and family owned. The wine is prepared on the site with local grapes.
Talk about Chardonnay, Poinot Noir and Shauvignon Blanc, they have it all for you to taste. You can also find Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Noir d’Orleans and Dry Gewürztraminer. Founded by Joe Collins and Maggie Carey in 1985, The Briceland Vineyard has won many competitions so you know you are getting good quality wines.
3. Sinkyone Wilderness State Park
Located on Lost Coast, The Sinkyone Wilderness Park consists of the King Range National Conservation Area. This area was originally occupied by Sinkyone Indians before the Europeans arrived. If you go on the Lost Coast Trail, you can visit the Sinkyone coastline. Keep in mind that the roads are very steep so its not very crowded. Its actual wilderness and you will experience as such.
4. Lost Coast Trail
The Lost Coast is a stretch of coastline in California. It is so rugged that no roads have been built here which is a contrasting difference from the rest of the State of California. The path of the trail covers everything from hidden beaches to ocean heights. If you are a hiker who loves adventure, you have to come to Lost Coast for this trail. The trail is 24.6 miles long and the best time to visit would be between late March and early October.
5 Best Hotels Near Black Sands Beach, California
1. The Spyglass Inn
Located on the coast of Shelter Cove, this hotel is 0.6 miles away from the Black Sands Beach, California. The scenery from the suite is absolutely beautiful. Staying here, you can enjoy hiking, fishing and various local wineries. It is surrounded by forests and coastline and the suite provides all the luxuries to make you stay as smooth as possible.
2. Inn of the Lost Coast
This hotel provides an amazing view of the Black Sands Beach, California as its located just 0.7 miles away form it in Lost Coast. There are 18 guestrooms and suites that come with kitchens and saunas. Nearby activities that can be done include golfing, hiking and surfing.
3. Shelter Cove Vacation Rentals
There are several very good rentals in Shelter Cove which is a remote town in Whitethorn. The rentals along the Lower Pacific Drive are very expensive and high in demand. You can enjoy The Black Sands Beach, several parks and the Cape Mendocino Lighthouse which are all nearby.
4. Benbow Historic Inn
Built in 1926, this hotel definitely has a historic feel to it. On entering, you’ll fell as if you’ve travelled back in time to the 1920s. The hotel has fine dining options and brilliant aged wines. Its about a 20-25 drive away from The Black Sands Beach, California. This hotel has a plethora of activities inside and within the vicinity. Inside the hotel, you can get bicycles, pools and jacuzzis. There are also splash parks, playgrounds, hiking and biking trails.
5. Beach House Inn
The Beach House Inn is located in Pudding Creek and provides Estuary views. There are newspapers, barbeque grills and picnic areas and free wifi. All rooms are fully decked out with wifi, refrigerator and microwaves and some rooms even have soaking tubs and fireplaces. The hotel is not too far from biking and hiking trails.
Conclusion
Beaches are almost everyone’s favorite but I can bet that after reading this article, you are more than fascinated by the uniqueness of Black Sands Beach California, because of the black color surrounding the water. These beaches are profoundly beautiful & give a great view to enjoy.
Apart from the beauty, we have discussed other things that one can enjoy on visiting these beaches. Also the campground is available making it a perfect spot for camping which is a great news for all backpackers. There are numerous hotels making your stay convenient and easy. Also there are number of other places around the beach.
So, next time keep this place as an option in your bucket list & do visit it for sure. The only recommendations as discussed in the article are checking the weather forecast, carrying clothes accordingly and keep a check of the sign boards for high tide spots & you are all set to hit Black Sands Beach California
Also Read 10 Most Beautiful Arizona Beaches You Will Fall In Love With!