(Still far from complete but I’m updating it as fast as I confirm the information.)
This index is the beginning of a guide to the free anchorages along the California coastline, places that you drop your anchor and rest up for the night without paying for the privilege. There are more of them than you might think and it is definitely possible to make the whole journey from San Francisco all the way down to the border of Mexico and the beautiful waters of San Diego without paying a dime in harbor costs or docking fees.
This index of anchorages reads from north to south with a separate section for the Channel Islands. It is far from complete and I will continue to add new places as time goes on. I will also add a detailed description of each location as well as precise GPS coordinates.
If you know of a free anchorage that does not appear on this list, please share it with us by posting it in the comments section below.
I have also included the NOAA chart number or numbers for each destination as well as links to the NOAA site where you can both view and download these charts. I have probably overlooked some chart numbers but will correct the omissions when I review this list again over the coming week.
I have also created a Google Map for these locations and will share it as part of this page when I finish tweaking it. should be any day now so remember to bookmark this page and check back regularly.
I hope this helps you sail happier and stay safer, fair winds and following seas, boaters!
Shelter Cove (Latitude: 40°01.403′N Longitude: 124°03.727′W)
Fort Bragg Inlet (Latitude: 39°26.625′N, Longitude: 123°49.192′W) – limited space
Noyo River Inlet (Latitude: 39°25.664′N, Longitude: 123°48.628′W)
Caspar Anchorage Inlet (Latitude: 39°21.834′N, Longitude: 123°49.460′W)
Russian Gulch Inlet (Latitude: 39°19.556′N, Longitude: 123°48.533′W)
Mendocino Bay Inlet (Latitude: 39°17.843′N, Longitude: 123°48.234′W)
Little River Inlet (Latitude: 39°16.168′N, Longitude: 123°47.853′W)
Albion Cove Inlet (Latitude: 39°13.704′N, Longitude: 123°46.761′W)
Whitesboro Cove Inlet (Latitude: 39°13.097′N, Longitude: 123°46.658′W)
Cuffey Cove Inlet (Latitude: 39°08.299′N, Longitude: 123°44.042′W)
Arena Cove Inlet (Latitude: 38°54.817′N, Longitude: 123°42.889′W)
Havens Anchorage Inlet (Latitude: 38°48.087′N, Longitude: 123°34.875′W)
Bourns Landing Inlet (Latitude: 38°47.339′N, Longitude: 123°33.845′W)
Gualala River Inlet (Latitude: 38°45.946′N, Longitude: 123°31.979′W)
Fisherman Bay Inlet (Latitude: 38°38.867′N, Longitude: 123°24.143′W)
Fisk Mill Cove Inlet (Latitude: 38°35.724′N, Longitude: 123°21.270′W)
Fort Ross Cove (Latitude: 38°30.679′N, Longitude: 123°14.887′W)
Drakes Chimney, Drakes Bay (Latitude: 37°59.802′N, Longitude: 122°58.481′W)
Bolinas Bay
Point Bonita (Latitude: 37°49.083′N, Longitude: 122°31.622′W)
Needles (Latitude: 37°49.727′N, Longitude: 122°28.580′W) – SF Bay
China Camp, San Pablo Bay (Latitude: 38°00.070′N, Longitude: 122°27.629′W)
Paradise Cove (Latitude: 37°53.906′N, Longitude: 122°27.447′W)
- NOAA Chart (view) # 18649
- NOAA Chart (buy) # 18649
- Description
Richardson Bay (Latitude: 37°51.938′N, Longitude: 122°29.117′W)
Treasure Island
Pillar Point Harbor, Half Moon Bay (Latitude: 37°29.885′N, Longitude: 122°29.024′W)
Santa Cruz Wharf, Moneterey Bay (Latitude: 36°57.583′N, Longitude: 122°00.922′W)
Capitola mooring field (Latitude: 36°58.183′N, Longitude: 121°57.041′W)
Monterey Harbor
Pfeiffer Point (Latitude: 36°13.860′N, Longitude: 121°47.850′W)
Carmel Bay: Stillwater Cove (Latitude: 36°33.770′N, Longitude: 121°56.520′W)
San Simeon Bay (Latitude: 35°38.470′N, Longitude: 121°11.520′W)
Morro Bay
Avila Beach, Port San Luis (Latitude: 35°10.490′N, Longitude: 120°44.280′W)
Cojo Anchorage (Coho) (Latitude: 34°26.800′N, Longitude: 120°26.590′W)
Gaviota pier
Goleta pier
Santa Barbara (Latitude: 34°24.658′N, Longitude: 119°41.067′W)
Port Hueneme
SANTA MONICA BAY
Malibu, Paradise Cove (Lat: 34°01.148′N, Long: 118°47.074′W)
- NOAA Chart # 18740
Malibu, Kellers Shelter (Lat: 34°02.126′N, Long: 118°40.387′W)
- NOAA Chart # 18740
Marina Del Rey (Latitude: 33°57.599′N, Longitude: 118°27.445′W)
- NOAA Chart # 18740
King Harbor, Redondo Beach (33°50.704′N – 118°23.986′W)
- NOAA Chart # 18740 & 18744.
- Description.
Portuguese Bend (Latitude: 33°44.209′N, Longitude: 118°22.039′W)
LOS ANGELES
Cabrillo Beach (Latitude: 33°42.882′N, Longitude: 118°16.813′W)
Long Beach
Island White / Oil Island (Latitude: 33°45.346′N, Longitude: 118°09.690′W)
Huntington Beach
Newport Beach (Latitude: 33°36.542′N, Longitude: 117°54.456′W)
Dana Point (Latitude: 33°27.684′N, Longitude: 117°42.340′W)
SAN DIEGO
Mariner’s Basin, Mission Bay (Latitude: 32°45.851′N, Longitude: 117°14.869′W)
A9 Anchorage, East Basin, ‘Cruisers’ anchorage (Latitude: 32°43.536′N, Longitude: 117°11.124′W)
- NOAA Chart # 18773 – Non San Diego Residents Only.
A5 Glorietta Bay (Latitude: 32°40.721′N, Longitude: 117°10.100′W)
- NOAA Chart # 18773
- Description.
A1 Anchorage, La Playa, Shelter Island Yacht Basin (Latitude: 32°42.939′N, Longitude: 117°13.860′W)
- NOAA Chart # 18773 - weekends only.
CHANNEL ISLANDS
San Miguel
Santa Rosa Island
Santa Cruz Island
Anacapa
Santa Barbara Island
- NOAA Chart # 18740
Santa Catalina
- NOAA Chart # 18740
San Clemente Island
- NOAA Chart # 18740
Open to feedback, ideas and suggestions so if you can help make this boating resource any better then please leave a comment below.
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