Seacliff and New Brighton State Beaches
Aptos · Santa Cruz County · Southwest · Evening
Two adjoining Aptos beaches under low bluffs, each with a covered ramada that can be reserved as part of the permit.
Southwest-facing; cliffs to the north.
Both beaches sit in the Pajaro Coast permit sector and use one application. Each has a covered ramada that can be reserved as part of the permit. The Seacliff ramada is on the district's approved list of Pajaro sector wedding sites. The concrete ship offshore is closed to the public, and the wooden pier that led out to it was removed after storm damage and has not been rebuilt, so that access is gone for good. The campground is closed pending a rebuild while day-use areas, restrooms and the visitor center stay open. The park page lists which facilities are open.
The site
Orientation
Southwest
Tree cover
Moderate
Fog exposure
Coastal
Best light
Evening
The practical details
Capacity notes
Not published on the current form.
Commercial photography
A paid or published shoot needs a separate California Film Commission permit.
Lead time
Thirty days minimum.
Permit authority
Santa Cruz District, California State Parks, Special Events Office. (831) 400-8519, SCD.specialevents@parks.ca.gov.
Pricing
State Parks does not publish a fee table for these beaches. A 2023 district guidelines document listed a $300 surcharge for the New Brighton ramada and $200 for the Seacliff reservable ramada on top of the sector ceremony fee. The district office quotes current fees.
See it on your wedding date
Set your date and this page fills in with the tides, what the weather is usually like, sunset, and where the sun will be.
Checked against the agency's own page on September 7, 2026
Sunrise, sunset, and twilight computed for this location. The marine layer rating reflects the time of year on this coast. Orientation and cover recorded for this spot.