Daylight Savings is Finally Here. These Are the Best Places to Watch the Sunset in California.

If you’re the kind of person who craves time outdoors to decompress after work, the winter months can be rough. It’s nearly impossible to get anywhere in time to watch the sunset—unless you live on the beach (and if you do, lucky you!). But for most of us, the coming of daylight savings this Sunday, March 8, is a welcome one. This will be the last time that the sun sets before 6 p.m. until November. To celebrate the longer evenings ahead, here are a few of our favorite spots to watch the sky light up.

Goleta, Santa Barbara County

Known for being Santa Barbara’s more laidback neighbor, Goleta is a stop not only for the annual monarch butterfly migration, but also for its fertile farmland and thriving food scene. Head to Ellwood Mesa or Goleta Beach Park at golden hour to watch the sun sink into the Pacific while coastal bluffs glow amber in the evening light. You can toast the coming of warmer months with a picnic featuring some of the region’s excellent wine and cheeses, too.

Pacifica, San Mateo County

Just south of San Francisco, Pacifica offers one of the Bay Area’s most reliable sunset perches. From the cliffs above Mori Point or along the wide sands of Linda Mar Beach, the Pacific horizon stretches endlessly out West. When the fog cooperates, the sky often lights up in fiery oranges and pinks that reflect off the rolling surf. If you’d rather see the sunset from the vantage point of the sea, book in for a lesson with Traveler Surf Club and enjoy the stunning views and wildlife the area has to offer.

Thomas J. Story

Pfeiffer Beach, Big Sur

Tucked away at the end of a narrow road off Highway 1, Pfeiffer Beach is famous for its purple-tinged sand and the dramatic Keyhole Arch rising from the surf. As the sun sets, waves crash through the opening in the rock, sending shafts of golden light across the beach. It’s one of the most cinematic sunset spots along the entire Big Sur coast, and it’s even more accessible now that the highway has officially opened back up.

Glass Beach, Mendocino

At this unusual stretch of shoreline in Fort Bragg, thousands of smooth sea glass fragments—remnants of the area’s early 20th-century dumping grounds—glimmer along the sand. At sunset, the polished pieces catch the warm light, turning the beach into a mosaic of glowing blues, greens, and amber tones. The area of Fort Bragg located in the charming Mendocino County is a perfect spot for a weekender, too, and well worth the drive up north.

Eagle Rock Trialhead, Homewood

With granite peaks rising above crystal-clear water, the lesser-visited West Shore of Lake Tahoe delivers one of the most dramatic alpine sunsets in the West. As the sun dips behind the Sierra Crest, the lake often turns shades of cobalt, rose, and molten gold. Allow for an hour to do the full out-and-back hike for a front-row seat to the show.

La Jolla Cove, San Diego

Few places in Southern California feel more idyllic at sunset than La Jolla Cove. Perched on sandstone cliffs above the Pacific, visitors can watch the sky fade from gold to lavender as waves lap against the rocky shoreline below. Sea lions barking on the rocks only add to the quintessential coastal California atmosphere. And if you can paddle out on a surfboard, even better. The long peelers this beginner-friendly break offers are the perfect way to spend an evening with your friends.

Leo Carrillo State Beach, Malibu

Just north of Malibu along a particularly scenic stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway, Leo Carrillo State Beach is known for its sea caves, tide pools, surf breaks, and rugged coastal bluffs. As the sun dips toward the horizon, golden light spills across the rock formations and tide pools, creating one of Southern California’s most photogenic scenes. Time it with low tide and you’ll not only get great tide pooling, but glowing reflections in the shallow pools as the Pacific turns shades of amber and pink.