Seacliff

https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=543 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seacliff_State_Beach Seacliff State Beach is a state beach park on Monterey Bay, in the town of Aptos, Santa Cruz County, California. It is located off Highway 1 on State Park Drive, about 5 miles (8 km) south of Santa Cruz. The beach is most known for the concrete ship SS Palo Alto lying in the water. North of Seacliff State Beach is New Brighton State Beach.

Seacliff & New Brighton State Beaches Our Mission The mission of California State Parks is to provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. Long stretches of bluffbacked sandy beaches invite visitors to play on the beach, watch a glorious sunset, or stroll peacefully along the shore. California State Parks supports equal access. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the park at (831) 685-6500. If you need this publication in an alternate format, contact interp@parks.ca.gov. CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 For information call: (800) 777-0369 (916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. 711, TTY relay service www.parks.ca.gov Seacliff State Beach 201 State Park Drive, Aptos, CA 95003 (831) 685-6500 New Brighton State Beach Park Avenue off Hwy. 1, Capitola, CA 95010 (831) 464-6329 © 2002 California State Parks (Rev. 2016) A t Seacliff State Beach, a mile-long expanse of soft sand connects this popular recreation spot with New Brighton State Beach, where wooded bluffs provide unparalleled views of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. AREA HISTORY The Ohlone Indians thrived for thousands of years on the area’s natural resources. The riches of the ocean, rivers, and forests provided plentiful sources of food—from fish, shellfish, and game to edible plants and seeds. Their numbers were severely reduced by illness and cultural changes brought to California by European settlers, yet some Ohlone descendants continue their ancient traditions and crafts today. Spanish colonization led to the establishment of Mission Santa Cruz. After Mexico broke away from Spain in 1821, the land was subdivided into Mexican land grants (ranchos). SEACLIFF STATE BEACH Known by 1833 as Rancho Aptos, Seacliff developed into a bustling shipping port with the building of the Castro-Spreckels wharf. During the mid-1920s, landowners built summer homes on the bluffs above Seacliff and the area to its south, Rio del Mar. On the north side of Seacliff, 1920s tourists enjoyed upscale camping facilities. Seacliff became one of California’s first state beaches in 1931. For more than 80 thwarting future plans for expansion. Today, the stripped, abandoned SS Palo Alto is unsafe and closed to the public, as is part of the pier near the ship. NEW BRIGHTON STATE BEACH In the 1850s, Thomas Fallon SS Palo Alto acquired part of Rancho Soquel years, beachfront camping, picnicking, and turned it into a resort he named New fishing, and interpretive walks have been Brighton, in honor of his favorite English among the park’s most popular activities. seaside retreat. New Brighton became a state beach in 1933. Fishing, camping, THE CEMENT SHIP hiking, and swimming are now favorite family Seacliff’s famous fishing pier extends out to activities at New Brighton State Beach. a unique concrete tanker, the SS Palo Alto. It New Brighton, once known as China was built during World War I, when wartime Beach, was the site of a driftwood Chinese steel shortages created a demand for alternate fishing village during the 1870s and 1880s. shipbuilding materials. However, when the The village inhabitants proved invaluable war ended, so did the need for new ships. in building the California railroads, and The SS Palo Alto never saw wartime service. the village of China Beach provided fish, In 1930 the Seacliff Amusement produce, laundries, chefs, and laborers. Corporation bought the ship and turned it New settlers took the village away from the into an elaborate amusement center. The SS Chinese, and laws were passed to make it Palo Alto was brought to rest in shallow water illegal for the Chinese to fish, so the Chinese near the beach, and a pier was built leading moved south to Watsonville and beyond. to the ship’s main deck. A neon sign at the top of the bluff WILDLIFE HABITATS at Seacliff simply read The Ship. Much as a reef does, the SS Palo Alto Thousands dined at the Fish Palace attracts an immense variety of marine onboard, with its spectacular ocean view life within its concrete wreckage, and on three sides. In the elegant Rainbow many of the same animals found on Ballroom, diners then danced on a new rocky shores live on it. Mussels, white ash floor. Unfortunately, the barnacles, sea stars, sea Seacliff Amusement Corporation anemones, ocean worms, went bankrupt after only two seasons of dining and dancing, Sooty shearwater Photo courtesy of NOAA and rock crabs all cling to the sides and insides of the ship and pier. Harbor seals and sea lions line the deck, while pelicans and cormorants perch on the bow. Pier anglers catch sole, flounder, mackerel, halibut, lingcod, cabezon, bocaccio (tomcod), kingfish, and occasionally salmon and steelhead. During summer and fall, sooty

Playas Estatales Seacliff & New Brighton Nuestra Misión La misión de California State Parks es proporcionar apoyo para la salud, la inspiración y la educación de los ciudadanos de California al ayudar a preservar la extraordinaria diversidad biológica del estado, proteger sus más valiosos recursos naturales y culturales, y crear oportunidades para la recreación al aire libre de alta calidad. Los tramos largos de playa arenosa con riscos de fondo invitan a los visitantes a jugar en la playa, ver una gloriosa puesta del sol o pasear en California State Parks apoya la igualdad de acceso. Antes de llegar, los visitantes con discapacidades que necesiten asistencia deben comunicarse con el parque llamando al (831) 685-6500. Si necesita esta publicación en un formato alternativo, comuníquese con interp@parks.ca.gov. CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 Para obtener más información, llame al: (800) 777-0369 o (916) 653-6995, fuera de los EE. UU. o 711, servicio de teléfono de texto. www.parks.ca.gov Seacliff State Beach 201 State Park Drive, Aptos, CA 95003 (831) 685-6500 New Brighton State Beach Park Avenue off Hwy. 1, Capitola, CA 95010 (831) 464-6329 © 2002 California State Parks (Rev. 2016) paz a lo largo de la orilla. E n la Playa Estatal Seacliff, una extensión de una milla de arena suave conecta este punto popular de recreación con la Playa Estatal New Brighton, donde riscos arbolados ofrecen vistas incomparables del Santuario Marino Nacional de la Bahía de Monterrey. HISTORIA DEL ÁREA Los indígenas Ohlone prosperaron por miles de años a base de los recursos naturales del área. Las riquezas del océano, los ríos y los bosques proporcionaban recursos abundantes de alimento: desde pescado, moluscos y animales de cacería a plantas y semillas comestibles. Sus números se vieron gravemente reducidos por las enfermedades y los cambios culturales que trajeron a California los colonos europeos; sin embargo, algunos descendientes de los Ohlone continúan sus tradiciones y artesanías antiguas actualmente. La colonización española llevó al establecimiento de la Misión Santa Cruz. Después de que México se separó de España en 1821, el terreno se dividió en concesiones mexicanas de tierra (ranchos). PLAYA ESTATAL SEACLIFF Conocida hacia 1833 como Rancho Aptos, Seacliff se desarrolló como un puerto bullicioso de envíos con un edificio del embarcadero Castro-Spreckels. A mediados de la década de los veinte del siglo pasado, En 1930, la Corporación de Entretenimiento de Seacliff (Seacliff Amusement Corporation) compró el barco y lo convirtió en un centro elaborado de entretenimiento. El SS Palo Alto se trajo para dejarlo en las aguas SS Palo Alto poco profundas cerca de la playa, y se construyó un muelle que llevaba a la cubierta principal del barco. los terratenientes construyeron casas de Una señal de neón en la parte superior verano en los riscos que se encuentran del risco en Seacliff indica simplemente sobre Seacliff y en el área al sur, Río del “The Ship” (“El barco”). Miles cenaron Mar. En el lado norte de Seacliff, los turistas en el restaurant Fish Palace a bordo, de la década de los veinte del siglo pasado con su vista espectacular del océano en disfrutaban de instalaciones de lujo tres lados. En el elegante salón de baile para acampar. Rainbow Ballroom, los comensales bailaban Seacliff se convirtió en una de las primeras después sobre un suelo nuevo de color playas estatales de California en 1931. Por fresno blanco. Desafortunadamente, la más de 80 años, acampar frente al mar, hacer Corporación de Entretenimiento de Seacliff picnics, pescar y los paseos interpretativos se declaró en bancarrota después de solo han estado entre las actividades más dos temporadas de cenas y bailes, lo que populares del parque. frenó los planes futuros de expansión. EL BARCO DE CEMENTO Actualmente, el SS Palo alto se encuentra El famoso muelle de pesca de Seacliff desvencijado y abandonado, no es seguro y se extiende hasta un tanquero único se encuentra cerrado al público, al igual que de concreto, el SS Palo Alto. Fue la parte del muelle cerca del barco. construido durante la primera guerra PLAYA ESTATAL NEW BRIGHTON mundial, cuando la escasez de acero debido a la guerra creó una demanda En la década de los cincuenta del siglo de materiales alternativos para construir XIX, Thomas Fallon adquirió parte del barcos. Sin Embargo, cuando terminó Rancho Soquel y lo convirtió en un la guerra, también terminó la complejo al que llamó New necesidad de barcos nuevos. Brighton, en honor de su El SS Palo Alto nunca prestó servicio durante la guerra. Pardela oscura Foto cortesía de la NOAA lugar de retiro en Inglaterra al lado del mar. New Brighton pasó a ser una playa estatal en 1933. Pescar, acampar, ir de excursión y nadar son actualmente las actividades familiares favoritas en la Playa Estatal New Brighton. New Brighton, una vez conocida como China Beach, era el sitio de una aldea pesquera de chinos duran

New Brighton State Beach 1500 Park Avenue, Capitola CA 95010 Information (831) 685-6442 New Brighton State Beach is a popular 93-acre campground and beach on the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary in the city of Capitola. The bluff top campground and beach day-use areas center around aquatic activity. The small protected pocket beach is perfect for swimming, kayaking, sunbathing, beach walking and surf fishing. With over 100 developed campsites, hook-up sites for RVs, a visitor center/museum, campfire center and large beach parking lot for day use, New Brighton State Beach has remained a favorite destination for generations. CAMPGROUND RULES AND REGULATIONS PARK FEES are due and payable upon entry into the park. Fees include entry for one vehicle and one legally towed vehicle/trailer. Additional vehicles not towed in will be charged an extra vehicle fee. Campers registering with discount passes—e.g. Disabled Discount Pass (DDP) or Distinguished Veteran Pass (POW)—must present discount card and picture ID at check-in time. Discount pass holder must be present when registering and while camping. Registration tags are non-transferable. Day use passes are not valid in campground. OCCUPANCY is limited to eight people per campsite. The maximum consecutive stay is seven days. When the maximum stay is over, the person(s), equipment, and/or vehicle(s) must vacate the campground for a period of 48 hours before returning. PARKING: Campsites are designed to accommodate a maximum of two vehicles. Vehicles must be parked completely inside the campsite with all four wheels on the pavement to prevent damage to tree roots and plants. Additional vehicles may be parked in the overflow lots at the campfire center or near the visitor center. HOOK-UP SITES and premium bluff-top sites are available for an additional fee. No effluent, gray or fresh water may be discharged onto the ground. Do not wash vehicles or hose down campsite. Recreational Vehicles (RVs) may use the sanitation station near the visitor center to discharge waste and fill water tanks. CHECK-OUT TIME is noon. Check-in time is 2 p.m. Campers arriving early will be directed to park in the beach day-use lot until the site is verified empty (usually after the noon camp check). When checking out early, campers should inform entrance station staff to receive a refund for unused days. SPEED LIMIT: The maximum speed limit is 15 mph. Please remember that California Vehicle Codes apply to all roadways within the park. Please drive safely. VALUABLES: Keep all valuables locked up and out of sight. Portable generators should not be left outside at night. Please report all suspicious activity to park staff. DOGS must be kept on a leash no longer than six feet and under human control at all times. Dogs must be confined to a vehicle or tent at night. Please clean up after your pets. QUIET HOURS are from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Generators may be operated only between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. FIRES/FIREWOOD: Fires are allowed only in stateprovided fire rings. Beach bonfires are permitted in seasonally placed, state-provided fire rings. Firewood is available for purchase from the camp host. Do not gather firewood in the park. ALCOHOL and glass containers are not allowed beyond your campsite. No alcohol is allowed on the beach. RESERVATIONS can be made up to seven months in advance by calling (800) 444-7275 or by visiting our website at www.parks.ca.gov. Unreserved campsites will be sold first-come, first-served. Discover the many states of California.TM CAMPING RESERVATIONS: You may make camping reservations by calling (800) 444-7275 (TTY 800-274-7275). To make online reservations, visit our website at www.parks.ca.gov ALTERNATE FORMAT: This publication can be made available in alternate formats. Contact interp@parks.ca.gov or call (916) 654-2249. New Brighton State Beach Your Site # __________ CAMPGROUND IS OFF-LIMITS FOR DAY USE LEGEND ## Accessible Campsite Entrance Station Oak Accessible Feature Service Yard Trail Potable Water Bike Campsite Campfire Center CH 45 44 46 Camp Host Visitor Center Group Campsite Hookup Site (campground 47 overflow ) 48 49 52 Parking Premium Campsite Restrooms 67 66 68 RV Sanitation Station Showers Trail 69 Train Tracks Map not to scale 62 59 77 71 72 74 78 76 73 75 se t Tr ai l 65 63 61 57 93 92 94 95 111 110 34 109 108 31 107 30 50 106 51 96 97 105 27 53 98 104 25 99 100 102 101 103 23 58 84 83 86 85 89 80 81 87 88 90 79 82 Beach Trail un Be Da yU ach se Lot 70 64 60 54 55 56 2 CH S Beach 91 (campground overflow ) Special Event Ramada 5 4 3 1 9 36 38 29 28 7 8 35 33 32 26 24 6 40 37 39 41 11 12 42 13 43 15 18 19 1 10 2 3 14 17 16 20 22 21 Edge of bluffs Manresa State Beach Sunset State Beach Pacific Ocean For Emergencies Dial 9-1-1. © 2011 California State Parks 

Seacliff State Beach 201 State Park Drive, Aptos, CA 95003 Information (831) 685-6442 Seacliff State Beach is one of the most popular beachfront campgrounds in California. Home of the 435 foot S.S. Palo Alto, Seacliff State Beach campground offers RV campers 26 full hookup sites and 37 non-hookup sites. With nearly two miles of shoreline on the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary, a visitor center museum, fishing pier, and group picnic area with barbecue grills, it’s no wonder Seacliff State Beach is such a favorite destination! CAMPGROUND RULES AND REGULATIONS PARK FEES are due and payable upon entry into the camp at the same time in a single campsite. Awnings, park. Fees include entry for one vehicle and one legally bumpers and camping equipment must not extend towed vehicle/trailer. Additional vehicles not towed in over or into the walkway, roadway or adjacent sites. will be charged an extra vehicle fee. The maximum consecutive stay is seven days. Campers registering with discount passes—e.g. When the maximum stay is over, the person(s), Disabled Discount Pass (DDP) or Distinguished Veteran equipment, and/or vehicle(s) must vacate the Pass (POW)—must present discount card and picture ID campground for a period of 48 hours before returning. at check-in time. Discount pass holder must be present NON-RESERVATION SITES: A limited number of when registering and while camping. non-hook up campsites are sold by lottery each day Campers must have Recreational Vehicles (RVs) at 12:30 p.m. Prospective campers must be present present when registering for a campsite. Registration with their RVs before noon to sign up for the lottery. tags are non-transferable. Day use passes are not valid Remaining campsites will be first-come, first-served. in campground. SPEED LIMIT: The maximum speed limit is 15 mph. CHECK-OUT TIME is noon. Check-in time is 2 p.m. When When pedestrians are present even 15 mph might be checking out early, campers should inform entrance too fast. Use good judgment. station staff to receive a refund for unused days. DOGS must be kept on a leash no longer than six RECREATIONAL VEHICLES (RVs): Only selffeet and under human control at all times. Dogs must contained RVs are allowed in the campground. Selfbe confined to a vehicle or tent at night. Please clean contained is defined by permanent working plumbing up after your pets. fixtures, flushable toilets and completely sealed, QUIET HOURS are from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Generators permanently affixed fresh, gray and black water tanks. may be operated only between the hours of 10 a.m. Porta-potties, cassette toilets and portable holding and 8 p.m. tanks are not allowed. FIRES: Fire rings in campsite must be raised up off No effluent, gray or fresh water may be dumped the ground to prevent damage to the asphalt. No onto the ground. Do not wash vehicles or hose fires on the beach. Beach bonfires are permitted in down campsites. state-provided fire rings seasonally placed at Rio del HOOKUP SITES: Maximum RV length is 45 feet. RVs Mar and New Brighton State Beaches. must be backed in. For non-hookup sites, the maximum ALCOHOL and glass containers are not allowed RV length is 35 feet in Lot A and 45 feet in Lots B and C. beyond your campsite. Water and a sanitation station are available at nearby New Brighton State Beach. Campers must bring their DAY USE offers beach access, restrooms, outdoor own raised fire rings and picnic tables. showers and picnic tables. Day use is open from 8 a.m. to sunset. OCCUPANCY/PARKING: Only one RV and a maximum of eight persons allowed per campsite. No two RVs may Discover the many states of California.TM CAMPING RESERVATIONS: You may make camping reservations by calling (800) 444-7275 (TTY 800-274-7275). To make online reservations, visit our website at www.parks.ca.gov ALTERNATE FORMAT: This publication can be made available in alternate formats. Contact interp@parks.ca.gov or call (916) 654-2249. Seacliff State Beach ites LO TC Bea ch LO ic Oc TA ea Parking Beach Gate Trail TB cif Fishing Food Service Camp Host LO Pa Campground eP Camp Host Sta t To Ne wB righ ton Sta te LEGEND To Hwy 1 ark Dr pS Visitor Center Da Restrooms Swimming Park Entrance yU n Picnic Area Corporation Yard se Trail Old Ramada Staircase Moosehead Trail Maps not to scale To Santa Cruz te Sta k Par Dr. All restrooms and most campsites are accessible. Accessible parking is available in all lots. Rio del Mar Beach u New Brighton Seacliff State State Beach Beach S m yU eas ndr nA Sa se t a Dr. s rt B po Air ue na Vi Main St. Sandollar Dr. 1 s et . d Su n c R R e e h ac Be L oa d n Bea h ce a Sunset State Beach d. Blv ific O Pac La Selva Beach To R WATSONVILLE om ed Fre a r mon Ave.t e ve. rA me FREEDOM B Manresa State Beach Da S.S. Palo Alto 1 M Fishing Pier .B W hR ac d. Lake A ve. . Ave e k l vd. Gre en V alley Rd. Par W . 1 W. 152 . Rd ide s r e Riv To Monterey F