Right Beaches › California › Whitethorn
Little Black Sands Beach
4.8★ · 92 Google ratings · Whitethorn, California
✓ Parking✓ Short walk
At a glance
Parking
600 yd away
Access
Open around the clock
Walk
130 ft · under a minute
Water
57°F · modelled, no buoy nearby
Tide
3 ft range today
Sand
175 yd from the water to the back
Crowds
Quietest Fri 8am
Map of Little Black Sands Beach
Guide
Good to know
Come for scenic walks and views, not swimming
The dramatic cliffs, black pebbles, and remote setting make for striking photographs and contemplative walks without water access.
Visit on weekdays in fall or spring
Reviewers consistently reported having the beach entirely to themselves during off-season weekdays, creating a peaceful solitude.
Wear closed-toe shoes always
The beach is covered in small pebbles and rocks rather than soft sand, making barefoot walking uncomfortable and potentially painful.
Never turn your back to the ocean
Sneaker waves have caused injuries and fatalities, including to people focused on other activities like metal detecting.
Plan for limited phone service
The remote location offers no cellular coverage, so download directions and notify others of your plans beforehand.
Conditions
How it is right now
Air
59°F · clear
Water
57°F · modelled, no buoy nearby
Waves
6.8 ft · 10 s apart
Wind
2 mph from the E
Shelter
Offshore · wind blowing off the land
UV index
6 peak today
| Time | Tide | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 06:24 | High tide | ↑ |
| 10:21 | Low tide | ↓ |
| 16:51 | High tide | ↑ |
Last updated Sep 4, 5:38 AM.
Crowds
When it gets busy
| 8a | 9a | 10a | 11a | 12p | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p | 7p | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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QuietBusy
Practical
Plan your visit
📍 54 Ridgeview Cir, Whitethorn, CA 95589
🅿 Parking 600 yd from the listing
🌊 Water 130 ft away, under a minute walk
Nearby
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Questions
Common questions
Where do you park at Little Black Sands Beach?
The nearest mapped parking area is 600 yd from the listed location. Positions come from OpenStreetMap, not from review text.
How far is the walk to the water at Little Black Sands Beach?
130 ft in a straight line from the listing to the mapped shoreline, under a minute. Soft sand and dune make the real walk longer than the straight line.
Does Little Black Sands Beach have restrooms?
No restrooms are mapped within 600 m on OpenStreetMap. That means nobody has mapped any, which is not the same as there being none.
When is Little Black Sands Beach least busy?
Google visit patterns put the quietest hour at Fri 8am and the busiest at Mon 12pm.
Measured from OpenStreetMap, public aerial imagery and live conditions data, and counted from visitor reviews. Every source, in full.
