Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States California Fort Bragg Glass Beach

Glass Beach

A trash dump made beautiful by nature's power.

Fort Bragg, California

Added By
Kringle
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
The shiniest beach you’ll ever see.   Samir S. Patel (Atlas Obscura User)
An embarrassment of riches.   saracrazychild / Atlas Obscura User
The glass can fade pretty naturally into the rocks.   Annetta Black / Atlas Obscura User
A more traditionally beachy wonder to behold.   Samir S. Patel (Atlas Obscura User)
Glass Beach   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Glass Beach   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Glass Beach   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Glass Beach   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Glass Beach   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Close up of the glass on the beach   karismawilson / Atlas Obscura User
Coast line of glass beach   karismawilson / Atlas Obscura User
  tonyanrob / Atlas Obscura User
  klasicm / Atlas Obscura User
  klasicm / Atlas Obscura User
  kks523 / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

In the early 20th century, Fort Bragg residents threw their household garbage over the cliffs above what is now Glass Beach. They discarded glass, appliances, and even cars onto the land below.

At the time, the area was owned by the Union Lumber Company, and locals referred to it as "The Dumps." In the grand tradition before climate change awareness, fires were lit to reduce the size of the trash pile as the beach began to accumulate a massive amount of rubbish.

In 1967, the North Coast Water Quality Board and other city leaders closed the area, and various cleanup programs were undertaken through the years to correct the damage. Over the next several decades, the ceaseless Pacific waves weathered the discarded glass into the smooth, beautiful colored trinkets that cover the beach today.

In 2002, the California State Park system purchased the 38-acre Glass Beach property, and it was later incorporated into MacKerricher State Park. Although many people go to the beach to forage for glass and washed-up treasure, this is actively discouraged, and signs in the area warn that removing glass is prohibited.

Related Tags

Water Beaches Glass Trash

Community Contributors

Added By

Kringle

Edited By

hrnick, Annetta Black, saracrazychild, klasicm...

  • hrnick
  • Annetta Black
  • saracrazychild
  • klasicm
  • matthewtaub
  • tonyanrob
  • ccesare
  • karismawilson
  • kks523
  • kleinlauren

Published

September 7, 2011

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass_Beach_(Fort_Bragg,_California)
  • http://thisiscolossal.com/2011/08/glass-beach/
  • www.theglassbeach.com
Glass Beach
Glass Beach Trail
Fort Bragg, California, 95437
United States
39.453029, -123.813643
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Larry Spring Museum of Common Sense Physics

Fort Bragg, California

miles away

International Sea Glass Museum

Fort Bragg, California

miles away

Pygmy Forest Trail

Little River, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Fort Bragg

Fort Bragg

California

Places 3
Stories 1

Nearby Places

Larry Spring Museum of Common Sense Physics

Fort Bragg, California

miles away

International Sea Glass Museum

Fort Bragg, California

miles away

Pygmy Forest Trail

Little River, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Fort Bragg

Fort Bragg

California

Places 3
Stories 1

Related Stories and Lists

California, Through Your Eyes

nature

Sponsored by Visit California

10 Unique Beaches From Around the World

List

By The Public Domain Review

9 Destinations Where Garbage is the Attraction

garbage

By Eric Grundhauser

Eight Beaches Where Strange Things Wash Ashore

beach

By Bess Lovejoy

When Trash Becomes Treasure: The Iridescent Beauty of Glass Beaches

beach

By Jeremy Fugleberg

Related Places

  • Kauai Glass Beach

    Eleele, Hawaii

    Kauai Glass Beach

    This industrial area was the dumping ground for massive amounts of trash, some of which washes up as tiny bits of sea glass.

  • The creek lays at the feet of a series of dramatic sand dunes.

    Alamosa, Colorado

    Medano Creek

    A picturesque (all-natural!) beach in a landlocked state.

  • Natural hot springs in Termales.

    Nuquí, Colombia

    Jurubirá Hot Springs

    Natural hot springs hidden in the rainforest are only accessible by boat.

  • A white pelican with a bump on its bill is pictured here standing next to the brown pelican, a state symbol, which are often only a third the size of white pelicans.

    Placida, Florida

    White Pelican Island

    Every winter, this tiny islet on Florida’s Gulf Coast is swarmed by some of the largest birds on the continent.

  • Bubble Beach

    Soufriere, Dominica

    Bubble Beach Spa

    Thermal springs underneath the seabed provide the heat and bubbles for these beachside natural hot tubs.

  • Seaham Beach

    Seaham, England

    Seaham Hall Beach

    For decades, a bottle factory dumped their waste into these waters—now it's considered the best sea glass beach in England.

  • The old cars look out over the Knik River to the Talkeetna Mountains.

    Palmer, Alaska

    Eklutna Tailrace

    This popular fishing spot at the outflow of a 4.5-mile long hydroelectric tunnel sports a jetty literally made out of classic cars.

  • Rosalie, Dominica

    Wavine Cyrique (Secret Beach)

    The hike to this stunning waterfall on a black sand beach is not for the faint of heart.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.