Santa Cruz Harbor & Elkhorn Alternatives
Santa Cruz (Monterey Bay north shore) · near Santa Cruz · SF Bay Area
Kayaking & SUP
At a glance
- Best season
- Year-round · Calm mornings · Summer fog burns off by midday
Permits and booking
- Permit
- No permit. Launch from the Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary — keep respectful distances from otters, seals, and all marine mammals (federal law). Cold water; wetsuit recommended.
What is here
- Wildlife
- Sea otters (a Monterey Bay stronghold) · Harbor seals · Sea lions · Pelicans · Kelp forest life · Whales offshore (seasonal)
Worth knowing
- Good for a first timer
- Yes
Kayaking & SUP detail
- Nickname
- The Kelp-and-Otter Coast
- Water types
- protected-bay · kelp-forest
- Exposure
- moderate
- Sup friendly
- Yes
- Wetsuit
- Recommended — Monterey Bay water is cold (mid-50s°F) year-round. A wetsuit adds comfort and safety, especially in the kelp beds and open water beyond the harbor.
- Tidal note
- The Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor offers protected launching; the open bay and kelp forests beyond require more awareness of swell and conditions. Sea otters frequent the harbor and kelp — keep a respectful distance (they're protected). Calm mornings are best before the afternoon wind.
- Intl tip
- Santa Cruz Harbor is near the famous Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and the surf breaks (surfing guide) at Steamer Lane and Pleasure Point. The wharf's sea lions and the West Cliff Drive path are highlights. Combine with Monterey Bay's aquarium and Elkhorn Slough (this guide) for a full Monterey Bay wildlife weekend.
The guide
Santa Cruz Harbor anchors the north shore of Monterey Bay — a protected small-craft harbor that launches paddlers into one of t…
In the Guidebook
Everything above is yours for free. The written guide to Santa Cruz Harbor & Elkhorn Alternatives — what it is actually like, and what we would tell a friend before they went — comes with the Guidebook.
Getting there
- Coordinates
- 36.964, -122.001