Best Beach Runs: U.S. West Coast

Running on the beach is one of the great summer pleasures. Great Runs has compiled a comprehensive guide to the best beaches for running in the United States. This list is focused on the west coast beaches, from Washington State to California. What qualifies as a great running beach? At least 2 miles long, wide, and with firm sand. The list is organized north-to-south. See also our lists of the best beaches for running in New England and New York to Alabama.

Cannon Beach Area

Oregon Coast, OR

Great Views | Trail Running | Great Beach Runs

Fantastic running on 3-mile long Cannon Beach. Firm sand and great views of Haystack Rock. Also enjoy quiet side streets in town, and a scenic section of the Coast Highway headed south. Trail runners will love the 7+ miles of trails in Ecola State Park.

Cape Meares & Cape Lookout State Park

Oregon Coast, OR

By the Beach | Great Views | Great Beach Runs | National Parks

Fantastic running options in this area. Favorites include some waterside roads on the Bayocean Peninsula and along Tillamook Bay, the 5-mile coastal trail on the beach to the end of Netarts Bay, and some trail running in Cape Lookout State Park.

Nehalem Bay Area

Oregon Coast, OR

By the Beach | Great Views | Multi-Use Trails | Great Beach Runs

The highlight of running in the Nahalem Bay Area is the several miles of gorgeous beach, featuring firm, packed sand. In Nehalem Bay State Park, there's a 2-mile bike trail, and some quiet roads for running in the coastal town of Manzanita.

Ocean Beach/Great Highway

San Francisco, CA

Along the Water | By the Beach | Multi-Use Trails | Great Beach Runs | National Parks | Pedestrian/Cyclist Streets

The Great Highway runs for 3.8 miles from the Cliff House to Lake Merced in the Sunset/Ocean Beach area. Closed to cars Friday noon to Monday 6am! Run on the road, beach, or interior bike path. Scenic & festive!

Alameda: Crown Memorial State Beach/Shore Line Dr.

Oakland/Berkeley (East Bay), CA

By the Beach | Great Beach Runs | Near Airport

An easy, flat beachside run near Oakland Airport. Crown Memorial State Beach is a wonderfully restored 2.5 mile beach, with a bike/pedestrian path. Continue along Shore Line Dr. for a 3+ mile route. Good beach and water views the whole way.

Seacliff State Beach & More

Santa Cruz, CA

By the Beach | Great Beach Runs

Classic California beach running in this spot 8 miles south of Santa Cruz. There are ~2 miles of beachside path, some 12 miles of continuous beach with great firm sand, and 150 stairs opposite the pier if you want to get the heart rate up.

Monterey Beach

Big Sur/Monterey/Carmel, CA

By the Beach | Great Beach Runs

If you favor running on sand, the uninterrupted stretch of beach between Del Monte Beach and Moss Landing is a great route for a roughly 2.5 mile out and back on nothing but gently graded pristine white sands.

Beach Running: Pismo Beach, Avila Beach, Morro Bay

California Central Coast

By the Beach | Great Beach Runs

There is some spectacular beach running on California's central coast. Pismo Beach, Avila Beach, and Morro Bay feature miles of rugged, undeveloped beach, with reliably firm, compact sand near low tide.

Ellwood Bluffs

Santa Barbara, CA

Parks | Great Beach Runs

Santa Barbara’s next door neighbor Goleta offers stretches of hard-sand beach, scenic mesa trails, and a butterfly preserve where you can witness thousands of Monarchs wintering in the warm sun.

Oxnard: Beach, Marina, Park

Los Angeles: North to Santa Barbara

By the Beach | Great Beach Runs

An easy ~5 mile out and back run featuring a harbor-side path/sidewalk along Channel Islands Harbor to Oxnard Beach Park. Great views of the harbor and impressive boats. Add on or combine with the ~5 mile beach.

Santa Monica Beach to Venice Beach

Los Angeles, CA

By the Beach | Multi-Use Trails | Great Beach Runs

One of the iconic sections of the Marvin Braude path. Starting at Santa Monica Pier, 3.3 miles to Venice Beach, ending at Washington Blvd. Includes Muscle Beach, the famed outdoor basketball courts, and Venice Skatepark.

Manhattan Beach to Redondo Beach

Los Angeles, CA

By the Beach | Multi-Use Trails | Great Beach Runs | Waterfront Promenades

An iconic L.A. beach run and one of our favorite sections of the 22-mile Marvin Braude Trail. It's 7.4 miles between Manhattan Beach & Redondo Beach, including Hermosa Beach. A highlight is “The Strand”, which pokes out for 1 mile, affording great views. For extra cardio, do "the stairs"!

Huntington Beach to Newport Beach Trail

Orange County, CA

By the Beach | Multi-Use Trails

Wide, paved bike path that goes 10.5 miles from Huntington Beach to Newport Beach. In parts, the trail is literally right next to the beach. Popular and festive on a nice day. We've included a map and table with segment distances.

Crystal Cove State Park

Orange County, CA

By the Beach | Great Views | Hilly | Trail Running | Great Beach Runs

Run a beach and a canyon all in one run! Fantastic state park has a 2.5+ mile paved coastal trail and 10+ miles of backcountry trails in Moro Canyon. You can enjoy the promenade, with great views, or do a more strenuous trail run with 2,000 feet elevation gain!

San Clemente Beach Trail

Orange County, CA

By the Beach | Multi-Use Trails | Great Beach Runs | Rail-Trail

Terrific trail along side San Clemente Beach, paralleling the train tracks. The path runs 2.6 miles one-way, combination paved, sand, boardwalk, and dirt.

Coronado Island & Silver Strand Beach/Bikeway

San Diego, CA

By the Beach | Multi-Use Trails | Great Beach Runs

A destination in San Diego since the Hotel Del Coronado was built in 1900. Numerous running options, much of it on off-road paths, all open and with great ocean views.

Ultimate Beach Run: La Jolla Shores to Torrey Pines

San Diego, CA

By the Beach | Iconic | Great Beach Runs

The 5 miles from La Jolla Shores to Torrey Pines is one of the ultimate beach runs. Big wide beach, towering cliffs overhead, crashing waves, seamless firm sand, sunsets….it doesn’t get better than this.

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