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Most visitors to Santa Cruz never drive north of Natural Bridges. Those who do find one of the emptiest stretches of the central coast: Brussels sprout and strawberry fields running to the cliff edge, coves tucked under sandstone bluffs and a single small town, Davenport, where the main street is Highway 1. Between Santa Cruz and the San Mateo County line there are almost no services, which is exactly the point.
The north coast has new reasons to visit. In August 2025 the Bureau of Land Management opened the first public trails at Cotoni-Coast Dairies, part of the California Coastal National Monument, on the hills above Davenport. Combined with Wilder Ranch State Park, the whale-watching bluffs and a famous berry farm stand, it fills a relaxed day. This page covers the coast from Wilder Ranch to Davenport and a little beyond.
Getting there from Palo Alto
The quickest route is Highway 17 over the mountains to Santa Cruz, then Highway 1 north. Wilder Ranch is about two miles past the edge of town and Davenport about eleven. The trip is roughly 55 miles and takes about an hour and a quarter in light traffic. Highway 17 is curvy and crowded on summer weekends, so leave early. Our traffic guide covers the timing.
For a loop, come back the other way: continue north on Highway 1 past Año Nuevo, Pescadero and Half Moon Bay, then cross the hills on Highway 92. That adds about an hour of driving but puts some of the best coast in California outside your window. Fill the tank in Santa Cruz first, because gas stations are scarce until Half Moon Bay.
Santa Cruz Metro has run a limited bus service up the coast to Davenport. Check 511.org for current times, but for most people this is a driving trip. You can compare rental cars if you need one.
Wilder Ranch State Park
Wilder Ranch preserves a 19th century coastal dairy ranch along with miles of bluffs and inland hills. On the ranch grounds you can see an adobe from around 1840, a Victorian farmhouse, barns and a water-powered machine shop. Docents run living history days and ranch tours on some weekends. On the ocean side, the Old Cove Landing Trail follows the bluffs past a fern-lined cove, seal haul-outs and wave-cut arches. Inland, the park's trails are among the most popular mountain biking areas in the region.
The state park page, checked November 1, 2026, lists:
- Hours: 8 a.m. to sunset.
- Fee: $10 per vehicle.
- Dogs: not allowed.
- Closures: the park store and interpretive center are closed until further notice because of widespread flooding.
- Upcoming programs: a Life on the Ranch living history day and a guided coastal walk on November 7, plus a ranch history tour on November 8.
Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument
Cotoni-Coast Dairies covers about 5,800 acres of ridges, redwood canyons and coastal terraces east of Highway 1 around Davenport. Conservation groups bought the old dairy land and transferred most of it to the Bureau of Land Management in 2014. After years of planning and trail building, the first trails opened on August 16, 2025. The loops carry names in Awaswas, the language of the Indigenous people of the Santa Cruz coast.
According to the Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship, which built the trails, plus local reporting at the opening:
| Loop | Length | Difficulty | Dogs on leash |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawk (Káknu) | About 2.5 miles | Easiest, closest to the lot | Yes |
| Tree (Huyya) | About 2.5 miles with the approach | Moderate, through a redwood grove | Yes |
| Wildcat (Toróma) | About 5.5 miles with the approach | Hardest | No |
- Parking: a free dirt lot of about 62 to 65 spaces on Cement Plant Road just off Highway 1, with a restroom. There is no overflow or street parking.
- Hours: sunrise to sunset. Trails close at night to protect wildlife.
- Bikes: allowed on all three loops, including Class 1 e-bikes. Horses are not allowed for now.
- Cattle: cows graze the land. Give them space and close any gates behind you.
About half of the monument remains closed to the public. Stay on the trails. Weekend mornings fill the lot early, so aim for a weekday or arrive soon after sunrise.
Davenport
Davenport takes its name from John Pope Davenport, a whaling captain who ran a shore whaling operation here in the 1860s. For most of the 20th century the town was dominated by its cement plant, whose tall stack still stands on the inland side of the highway. The plant closed in 2010. Today Davenport is a handful of houses, a few businesses and a wide view of the Pacific.
The bluffs across Highway 1 from town are one of the best whale-watching spots on this coast. Gray whales pass close to shore on their migration, roughly December through April. In summer and fall humpbacks sometimes feed just offshore. Walk the bluff paths and look for spouts. On clear days you can see far down toward Monterey.
The Davenport Roadhouse on Highway 1 serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with a full bar and also rents rooms. Its website lists hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily except Wednesday, when it is closed. It also hosts live music on Tuesday nights.
Beaches and safety
The coves between Wilder Ranch and Davenport are some of the most photographed in the county, with pale sandstone cliffs and sea stacks. Panther Beach, Bonny Doon Beach and the cove known as Shark Fin Cove draw crowds on sunny weekends. Farther north, Greyhound Rock has a steep paved path down to a beach popular with anglers.
Good to know
- These beaches face open ocean. Water is cold, currents are strong and sneaker waves can reach far up the sand. There are no lifeguards.
- Some paths down are steep, eroded or unofficial. Some cross the railroad tracks that parallel the highway. Use marked access points and obey closures.
- Do not climb on the cliffs or go into sea caves on a rising tide.
- Car break-ins happen at roadside pullouts. Leave nothing visible.
- Cell service fades north of Davenport. Download maps before you go.
The berry farm stand
A few miles north of Davenport, Swanton Berry Farm grows organic strawberries and runs a farm stand known for its pies, jams and strawberry shortcake. Its website says the farm stand is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and lists pies by the slice, soup, coffee and hot cider. Offerings change with the season. The farm also runs u-pick strawberries in season. Our u-pick farms guide lists more.
Farther north
Keep going on Highway 1 and you reach Año Nuevo State Park, home to a large elephant seal colony. Guided walks run from December 15 to March 31. See our Año Nuevo guide for booking details. Beyond that is Pigeon Point, whose lighthouse tower has been closed for restoration since February 2024. State Parks says the Fresnel lens is due to return to the tower next year (2027). Then comes the farm town of Pescadero, covered in our Pescadero and the San Mateo coast guide.
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When to go
September and October bring the warmest, clearest days on this coast. Winter adds gray whales, big surf and green hills, though storms can close trails and Cotoni-Coast Dairies may shut sections when it is wet. Spring brings wildflowers and strawberry season. Summer is often foggy in the morning. Our weather guide explains why the coast can be 20 degrees cooler than Palo Alto.
A sample day
- 8 a.m. Leave Palo Alto for Highway 17.
- 9:15 a.m. Hike a loop at Cotoni-Coast Dairies.
- 11:30 a.m. Whale watching on the Davenport bluffs, then lunch in town.
- 1:30 p.m. Pie at the berry farm stand.
- 2:30 p.m. Wilder Ranch bluff trail on the way back south, or continue north up the coast to Half Moon Bay and home over Highway 92.
Santa Cruz is the nearest place to stay. You can compare hotels in Santa Cruz. For the town itself, see our Santa Cruz guide. Browse all our day trips from Palo Alto.
Frequently asked questions
Where do you park for Cotoni-Coast Dairies?
The trailhead lot is on Cement Plant Road just off Highway 1 by Davenport. Local reports put it at about 62 to 65 free spaces, with a restroom and no overflow or street parking. If it is full, come back later or try a weekday. A second lot near Panther Beach has been proposed for around 2027.
Are dogs allowed at Cotoni-Coast Dairies?
Leashed dogs are allowed on the Hawk and Tree loops but not on the longer Wildcat loop. Cattle graze the property, so keep dogs close and give the cows room. Dogs are not allowed at Wilder Ranch State Park.
How much does Wilder Ranch State Park cost?
California State Parks lists a $10 vehicle day use fee. The park is open from 8 a.m. to sunset. In late 2026 the park store and interpretive center were closed until further notice because of flooding, but the trails and historic ranch grounds were open.
Can you see whales from Davenport?
Yes, often. The bluffs across Highway 1 from town look over open ocean and gray whales pass close to shore on their migration, roughly December through April. Humpbacks sometimes feed nearby in summer and fall. Bring binoculars.
Are the beaches near Davenport safe for swimming?
Not really. The north coast beaches face open ocean, with cold water, strong currents, sneaker waves and no lifeguards. Some access paths are steep, unofficial or cross railroad tracks. Enjoy them from the sand, keep children close and never turn your back on the waves.