Steamers Lane / West Cliff Drive
Santa Cruz · West · Evening
Open ocean view; west-facing bluff walk.
Jurisdiction splits across the road, and which side you stand on decides who permits it. The clifftop at Lighthouse Point above the surf break, the road and the path are City of Santa Cruz, permitted through the city's Parks and Recreation office. The open field on the inland side is Lighthouse Field State Beach, which is State Parks. Steamer Lane is a working surf break with surfers holding right of way, and the point doubles as a tourist overlook and the surfing museum, so it is rarely quiet.
The site
Orientation
West
Tree cover
None / Open
Fog exposure
Coastal
Best light
Evening
The practical details
Permit conditions
A ceremony on the state side takes the Santa Cruz District special event permit, filed thirty days ahead. Paid photography on city property takes a separate City of Santa Cruz film, video and photography permit, filed at least one week ahead. City code prohibits glass on city beaches and alcohol in parks without a permit. Drone use on city property requires FAA documentation. City noise rules run 10pm to 8am within a hundred feet of sleeping areas.
Lead time
State special event permit: thirty days. City film permit: at least one week.
Permit authority
Two agencies. The bluff, point and beach are Lighthouse Field State Beach, California State Parks. The road, sidewalk and adjoining city property are City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation, (831) 420-5270, eventpermits@santacruzca.gov.
Pricing
City fee schedule: $320 for a simple film permit, $771 for a complex one.
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.
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.