Every Trail Tells a Story
William Randolph Hearst Memorial State Beach
Stroll in the shadow of Hearst Castle-no ticket required.
Blufftop views of one of the prettiest coves on the Central Coast.
Post-hike indulgence: burgers, wine, and history at Sebastian’s General Store.
William Randolph Hearst built himself a castle so grand it stole the spotlight from just about everything else on this stretch of the coast. But down below, where the San Simeon River meets the Pacific, you’ll find his namesake state beach-a far humbler place, and all the better for it. No marble swimming pools, no ceilings imported from Spanish monasteries-just a wide sandy bay, a fishing pier, and a eucalyptus-shaded picnic ground where the only drama is whether gulls will swoop in on your sandwich.
Hearst loved this bay too. For all his extravagance, he made practical use of it: supplies for the castle once came in by boat, and so did prized animals for his zoo. After Hearst’s death in 1951, his heirs donated the beach to the people of California. The only zebras you’ll see now are grazing up on Highway 1 pastures, descendants of Hearst’s exotic menagerie.
Today the beach has its own little claim to fame. The Coastal Discovery Center, run jointly by State Parks and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, offers hands-on exhibits about whales, tides, and marine ecology. Kids (and kids at heart) can touch skeletons, learn about kelp, and figure out what those harbor seals are really up to on the rocks.
And just across the road, the historic Sebastian’s General Store ups the appeal. Once the supply hub for Hearst Ranch, today it’s a casual-chic burger joint and Hearst Ranch Wine bar. Burgers, fries, and a glass of estate-grown cabernet enjoyed on the ocean-view patio? That’s a post-hike experience worthy of The Trailmaster’s list.
The walk itself is modest, but there’s charm in tracing the curve of San Simeon Bay and climbing onto the bluffs toward San Simeon Point. Views of the rugged coast rival any along Highway 1-and if you turn inland, you can spot Hearst Castle on its lofty perch, a reminder of California’s strangest blend of wealth, whimsy, and wilderness.
William Randolph Hearst Memorial State Beach is on San Simeon Road, just west of Highway 1 and across from Sebastian’s General Store. Park in the day-use lot by the pier or along the road.
From the eucalyptus-shaded picnic grounds, wander down to the beach and head north along the curving shore. After about half a mile, a sandy path leads up onto the bluffs. Follow the old ranch road as it narrows into a trail, winding beneath gnarled Monterey cypress and out to San Simeon Point.
The point serves up a fine panorama: castle on one side, wild coast on the other. Beyond, the faint bluff trails eventually peter out, spilling you back onto the beach. Depending on the tide, you can wander farther north until rocks and waves say otherwise.