12 Hidden Beaches In The US For A Secluded Getaway
The United States is home to many secret beach locales that uncover some of the nation's most ruggedly-beautiful sights for a true respite. These 12 hidden beaches for the persistent seekers of solitude in sunshine are everything the heart desires out of a secluded getaway.
Caladesi Island State Park, Florida
Caladesi Island State Park makes all of the secluded beach-getaway dreams come true even though it is difficult to reach. Despite its proximity to the mega-popular Clearwater Beach on Florida's west coast, one needs a boat to access the treasure-worthy spot to attain a blissful respite.
Also reachable via the Caladesi Connection ferry over a four-hour day trip, the shores await with long stretches of white, sandy beaches bounded by old-growth pine forest. It is great for beachcombing at sunset, treasure-hunting for seashells, swimming, and relaxing in a truly peaceful setting. The active can also kayak through the mangrove swamp and hike the trail in the mixed hardwoods.
The locale offers a 108-slip marina with a recreational site comprising electric hook-ups, a cafe, and a pavilion with grills.
Carova Beach, North Carolina
The last undeveloped frontier beach on the North Carolina coast, Carova Beach, is held extremely close to the heart by those who know about the secret locale. Lacking a paved road lead-up and no accommodations on-site, the Outer Banks enclave is only accessible via an all-terrain vehicle for a real feeling of having reached the edge of the Earth.
The destination, screaming of seclusion, is a dream come true for all romantics, with sights of wild shores trudged by free-roaming mustang beauties, sand dunes, and various landscapes to explore. Those who arrive prepared can set up tents for a few days of a Robinson Crusoe-inspired getaway, with only a chance of another soul coming in sight.
Channel Islands, California
Located off Southern California's coast, the cluster of five remote islands is known for wild and rugged landscapes bounded by secluded beaches. Collectively attracting over 350,000 visitors each year, the Channel Islands are managed by the National Park Service and boast unique fauna and flora that thrived in isolation for thousands of years.
The unspoiled remote environment, lacking in accommodations and services, calls for explorative hikes, with everything from mountainous terrain and forests, to sandy shores and sea caves.
The islands are accessible via a ferry boat from the mainland, while those who come in a private boat or plane have the option to camp and island-hop to venture through the whole set for the most memorable getaway ever.
Cumberland Island, Georgia
Cumberland Island is a secluded paradise right out of a fairy tale, known for free-roaming wild horses along its sprawling shores. Accessible via a jaunty ferry ride from the coastal town of St. Mary's, the island's beaches face both Georgia and the Atlantic, with the latter offering a lost-at-sea vibe.
Comprised of various landscapes for scenic treks, there are mature sand dunes, windblown sea oats, and smooth sands to bask on. With chance of no other souls in sight, one will be left in the company of whelks, clams, and horseshoe crabs to try and spot a whale out in the Atlantic.
There are also landmarks of the Carnegie home, Dungeness mansion ruins, relics of Spanish mission churches, including the First African Baptist Church, as well as an ice house museum. One can camp on the island to explore 18 miles of largely-uninhabited wilderness.
Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
Although many know about the wondrous national park, few have visited its remote, hard-to-reach location. Set in the Gulf of Mexico, the park comprises seven tiny islands, out of which only 1% is dry land and is only accessible via a charter seaplane or a ferry.
Known for the lively waters that house the Florida reef system, snorkelers can explore the third largest coral habitat in the world for some truly spectacular underwater life. Among the shipwreck pieces like anchor chains and cement barrels strewn along the moat wall of Fort Jefferson, one can sight reef squid, nurse sharks, and hogfish, while night-time snorkeling offers a chance to see shy creatures like the tremendous octopuses.
Montaña de Oro State Park, California
Set on the coast between Los Angeles and San Francisco, Montaña de Oro State Park spreads over 8,000 acres as one of California's largest state parks. Its vast seven miles of undeveloped coastline offer sandy beaches over-towered by dramatic cliffs for a real secluded feel.
There is also a primitive camping ground with 47 front-facing sites to set base and explore the scenic park. Comprising of various terrains, one can hike or backpack along the many streams, attempt to summit the several peaks over a thousand feet high, and descend into the rugged canyons.
The name meaning "Mountains of Gold" nods at the golden wildflowers that come a-bloom in spring. Although dogs are not allowed, one can horseback-ride through the beautiful landscape that hugs the coastline, with many trails offering peeks at the sea.
Pa'ako Beach, Hawaii
Known as the "Secret Cove" Beach on Maui Island, the hidden enclave is an obscure location to find but well worth the effort. Requiring a tricky trek through an easily-overlooked lava rock wall in a residential area, the entrance to the beautiful piece of land is tucked south of the very-popular Big Beach.
The breathtaking and sheltered stretch of shoreline comprises pristine white sands embraced by turquoise surf and back-dropped by swaying palms. The idyllic post-card paradise is the epitome of a Hawaii getaway, sans the crowds. Aside from a chance wedding, the locale is completely secluded, seeing only a handful of locals at a time.
Roque Bluffs State Park, Maine
The idyllic Roque Bluffs State Park on the down-east coast of Maine is an off-the-radar, phenomenally beautiful state park. Comprising 274 acres with a pretty pond, fresh and saltwater beaches, and varied terrain, one is "bound" to stumble upon the sandy stretch of land embracing the ocean-side.
A rare find in a state full of rocky and cobbled beaches, it was formed millions of years ago when the retreating glaciers of the Ice Age cast-off sand in a phenomenon known as glacial striations. The park also comes with trails for hikers and picnicking facilities, while bird-watchers will rejoice in sighting bald eagles soaring over the dramatic cliffs.
Sandbridge Beach, Virginia
Set south of Virginia Beach, some 15 miles away from the crowded resort area, Sandbridge Beach is an absolutely blissful treasure of the state. With nearby renting options and cozy condo lodging, one can set base and head straight to the secluded shore bounded by pristine sand dunes for water sports, scenic picnicking, and some well-deserved R&R.
The tiny enclave is surrounded by vast landscapes that define the unspoiled beauty of the Atlantic coastline. The Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge comes brimful with native flora and fauna, as well as marshes and open waters for kayaking.
The False Cape State Park is traversed by wonderful trails for explorative bike rides and hiking after all of the fun at the beach.
Second Beach, Washington
Offering a true respite for the Twilight fans, the hidden enclave is set by the Quileute Native American reservation town of La Push, right off the screen. Accessible via a hiking trail, the atypical Washington locale of the Second Beach feels far removed from the perception of reality. The rugged and blissfully-deserted swath of land along the Olympic Peninsula coastline is a truly mystical place engulfed by a blanket of fog.
There are abyssal waters, tide pools, driftwood logs, and towering sea stacks, with thousands of native seabirds flying over. The beach is set under dramatic bluffs and emerald headlands, among towering spruce trees, for a real-secluded feeling with only the sounds of waves crashing upon the shore.
One can camp with a permit at the beach, or utilize the available lodging options at La Push, while the Quileute Oceanside Resort has thirty-three cabins boasting authentic Native American decorations.
Secret Beach, Oregon
The coastal gem is perched at the northern tip of the Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor, some third of a mile south of milepost 345 on U.S. Highway 101. Set in a hidden location near the Thunder Rock Cove, the aptly-named beach is only visible at low tide and sparingly visited by the locals "who know."
The ocean-side escape offers some of the state's best coastal scenery that defines the rugged Pacific Northwest fantasy with towering spruces, natural bridges in black volcanic rocks, and jagged bluffs beaten by thundering waves. The truly quintessential spot is laden with dark sands for a real scenic respite and pure bliss in a setting that feels like a lost world.
South Manitou Island, Michigan
One of the two islands off Michigan's Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore coast, South Manitou Island is a three-mile-long crescent lake locale that feels like an ocean shore. Set on the immense Lake Michigan with the only access via a ferry, its sandy beach offers real tranquility with a lighthouse in sight for Instagram ops and photo shoots.
The island is beloved by the Wolverine State's artists for the exclusive feel and the opportunity to create without the crowds marring the views. One will also find sparsely-occupied campsites, sprawling cedar forests with wonderful hiking trails and no soul in sight, as well as nearly 50 shipwrecks in the vicinity to uncover.
These 12 gems sprinkled throughout the nation offer the respite of a lifetime in places that feel like forgotten worlds. The dramatic paradises bounding secluded beaches come with unique sights and experiences for the best getaway ever.
