Know before you go
A little care.
A better day out.
Public access
Use the North Beach state-park entrances. Beach vehicle rules vary farther south; respect dune-preserve boundaries.
Keep the coast wild
Keep an eye on swell and the rising tide. Leave shells and wildlife where they belong; use signed access and never climb around a closure.
With your dog
Leashed dogs; no dogs in Pismo Dune Preserve.
Current dog-zone rules ↗A family day
A sandy beach day with state-park facilities nearby.
Shells along this shore
Look along the strand line and photograph the shells you spot. Shells and fragments vary with weather and season.
Look along the strand line as the tide recedes, when access is safe. High-water marks can hold empty shells too; finds are never guaranteed.
Ask the land manager about current shell-removal rules. An empty shell is not automatically permitted to take.
Current shell-collection rules ↗