Our Mission The mission of State Parks is Sunset & to provide for the health, inspiration and offers a education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological chance to watch dolphins, Manresa diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities sea otters and gray whales. State Beaches for high-quality outdoor recreation. Shore birds, white-tailed kites, western snowy plovers and red-tailed California State Parks supports equal access. hawks make Sunset and Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the park at (831) 763-7062. This publication can be Manresa their home. made available in alternate formats. Contact [email protected] or call (916) 654-2249.

CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 For information call: (800) 777-0369 (916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. 711, TTY relay service

www.parks.ca.gov

Discover the many states of California.™ Sunset and Manresa State Beaches 201 Sunset Beach Road Watsonville, CA 95076 (831) 763-7062 Cover photo courtesy of Mark Whitney

© 2003 California State Parks (Rev. 2012) A peaceful campground under the pines, to European diseases, to which they dusky-footed wood rats and pacific picnicking on the beach, and unmatched had no immunity. gopher snakes. Song sparrows, views of Monterey Bay make Sunset State From the 1830s to the 1870s, rufous-sided towhees, American Beach a favorite year-round destination. Ranchos San Andreas and Bolsa del kestrels, red-tailed hawks and Anna’s rewards visitors with Pajaro encompassed the area. In 1852, hummingbirds are common. sweeping views of bluff-backed sand and John H. Watson claimed a half interest California • Coastal woodlands—Introduced Monterey pocket sea, including the Santa Cruz Mountains to in Rancho Bolsa del Pajaro to build the mouse pine, Bishop pine and Monterey cypress the northwest and the forested hills of the town of Watsonville. His claim was later are dominant. They support an understory Monterey Peninsula to the southwest. Sunset overruled, but the town continued to grow. of coyote brush and sea fig that shelters and Manresa state beaches are approximately Pajaro Landing, built in 1868, became a major California pocket mice, pinyon mice, one mile apart on Highway 1. produce shipping point before Southern Pacific chestnut-backed chickadees and Steller’s took over freight conveyance in the 1880s. jays. Eucalyptus trees are a gathering AREA HISTORY In 1903 lumber dealer W. J. Rogers built Port place for monarch butterflies. Long before the arrival of Europeans, the Watsonville to offer steamship service to San • Dune mat/Coastal strand—Park managers Ohlone lived along the coast between San Francisco, but the port went bankrupt by 1913. are replacing the habitat-destroying Francisco Bay and Monterey Bay. They traded Dairy farmer William Van Laanen acquired European dune grass with native beach mussel and abalone shells, as well as dried the land in 1938. His widow sold eight acres bur, sand verbena and beach sagewort to abalone and salt for piñon nuts and obsidian. to the State in 1983, adding to 159 acres that attract once-plentiful native birds, such They also hunted small game, elk, deer, and had been acquired in 1931 for Sunset State as white-crowned sparrows, California bear. Sea mammals were a food source, and Beach. The Van Laanen farm complex near the towhees, and dark-eyed juncos. The streams supplied and trout. entrance station includes a redwood frame mouth of the shelters The mission system forever changed the farmhouse dating from the early 1900s. California brown pelicans, Caspian, elegant lives of the Ohlone. The effect on their culture As private development increased in the and royal terns, and California gulls. Deer and traditions was disastrous, and their area, residents concerned about losing public mice and brush rabbits live in low dune vegetation. Reptiles include black legless numbers were nearly decimated by exposure access to the beach became the driving force lizards, northern alligator lizards and coast behind public ownership of sensitive coastal garter snakes. resources. Manresa State Beach was acquired • Marshlands—The coast gum plant, by the State in 1948. pickleweed and coastal salt grass of the NATURAL HISTORY salt marsh areas attract cinnamon teals, supports four major plant savannah sparrows, meadow mice communities and associated wildlife. and raccoons. The willow, California • Coastal scrub—Mock heather, bush lupine, bulrush and broad leaf cattail in the beach sagewort, Monterey spineflower, at the mouth of the Pajaro River provide food and habitat for poison oak, sand gilia and seaside woolly cinnamon teals, mallards, American sunflower cover the sandy slopes and bitterns, red-winged blackbirds and dunes. Wildlife includes brush rabbits, Walk-in campsites at Manresa State Beach and long-billed marsh wrens. RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES Manresa State Beach—There are currently Contact the park for information on the Junior no (wheelchair) accessible activities at Ranger Program, nature hikes, campfire Manresa State Beach. programs and upcoming events. Accessibility is continually improving. • Camping—Sunset State Beach has about 90 For updates, visit http://access.parks.ca.gov. shady, dune-protected family sites without hookups that hold recreational vehicles PLEASE REMEMBER up to 31 feet in length. Parking for over 60 • At both beaches, dangerous rip currents, walk-in tent sites at Manresa Uplands is frigid water and deep offshore dropoffs Western snowy plovers use both beaches in a separate lot near the campground (no make surfing and swimming hazardous and their foredune areas for nesting, RVs are permitted). To reserve from early for any but the most experienced surfers. rearing of young, and winter habitat. This spring until October, visit www.parks.ca.gov • Natural and cultural features are bird builds its nest directly on the beach or call (800) 444-7275. Pets must not be left protected by law and may not be sands. Disturbing a posted plover nesting unattended in campsites. disturbed or removed. area is a violation of federal law. • Fishing—Starry , California halibut, • Do not feed or leave food out for wildlife. barred surf perch, striped bass and surf • Alcohol is not permitted on the beach or smelt can be caught at Manresa. At Sunset, in the day-use areas. Manresa State Beach supports two major surf perch, sardines and striped bass may be • Except for service animals, dogs are not plant communities and associated wildlife. permitted on Sunset Beach; leashed caught. A sport-fishing license is required. • Coastal scrub—Coyote brush, coastal dogs are allowed at Manresa State Beach. • Picnicking—To reserve two large ramadas sagebrush and lizardtail grow on the bluff. Dogs are allowed in both campgrounds for special events at Sunset State Beach, Allen’s hummingbirds, various finches, on a six-foot-maximum leash. call (831) 464-6290. At Manresa State Beach, white-crowned sparrows, rufous-sided • Fires are allowed only in park fire rings. towhees and brush rabbits live on the bluff picnic tables along the top of the bluff offer and in its understory. panoramic ocean views. NEARBY STATE PARKS OFF HWY. 1 • Coastal strand—Sea rocket, sand verbena • Glider port—Remote-control glider • , 201 State Park Dr., and beach primrose grow in intertidal and enthusiasts will find a glider port at Sunset Aptos 95003 (831) 685-6500 offshore environments, sheltering sand State Beach. • The Forest of Nisene Marks, crabs and beach hoppers. Jellyfish and Road off State Park Drive, Aptos 95003 ACCESSIBLE FEATURES other organic material support sanderlings, (831) 763-7062 whimbrels, willets, western and Heermann’s Sunset State Beach—A beach wheelchair is • , 1 mile north of gulls, and surf scoters. Sea mammals, available at the kiosk first-come, first-served. Moss Landing off Struve Road including California gray whales, dolphins Accessible picnic tables, campsites and (831) 649-2836 and sea otters, play offshore. restrooms are located at each beach area.

This park is supported in part through a nonprofit organization. For more information, contact: Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks • 144 School Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (831) 429-1840 • www.thatsmypark.org