Wildlife

Sunset Beach is a great place to watch for bottled nosed dolphins through summer and fall from one of the overlooks on the bluff. A pair of binoculars is a good item to add to your beach bag. Gray whales are most often sighted from mid-December through mid-April. Humpback whales, blue whales and killer whales are sometimes seen during this same migration period. Also keep an eye out for sea otters. For bird watchers expect various shore birds, white tailed kites, western snowy plovers, and red-tailed hawks.

Nearby Beaches

Sunset Beach adjoins Manresa State Beach to the north, except for short section by the Monterey Bay Academy. Walking through is not a problem. Manresa had a nice campground and a beach similar to Sunset Beach. To the south is Pajarao Dunes, a private development featuring ocean-front and ocean-view townhouses, condos, and houses. Many are available as rentals.

Food and Supplies

Other than nearby firewood vendors, there are no stores or restaurants close to Sunset Beach. For those things you will need to drive about 5 miles back to Watsonville.

Snowy Plovers

Western Snowy Plovers nest, raise their young, and pass the winter in the foredune area of Sunset Beach. The nests are directly on the beach sand. Posted Plover nesting areas must not be disturbed.

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