Davenport Pier Swing – How To See This Hidden Gem

The Davenport Pier Swing was on my list of things to see during a road trip from San Francisco. This is definitely a hidden gem…you can’t see it from the road! Tucked beneath towering bluffs, the swing, or rather access to it, is not for the faint-hearted but those who brave it will certainly have a unique experience.

In this post I’ll share my guide for getting to the Davenport Pier Swing. I’ll also provide a bit of history and some tips and advice to help make your visit a safe one.

A Bit of History

The town of Davenport is located on the Californian coast, about 16 kilometres (10 miles) north of Santa Cruz on Highway One.

According to this Wikipedia article, a whaling captain by the name of John Davenport settled at a place called El Jarro Point, not far from the town of Davenport, in 1867. He built a wharf for the purposes of loading wood brought down from surrounding hills for shipping to Santa Cruz. A small town, known as Davenport Landing, grew up around the wharf, however it went into decline in the late 1880s. In the early 1900s, a cement plant was built and the town began growing once more.

In 1914, two buildings were constructed that remain points of interest today. They are the Saint Vincent DePaul Church and the Davenport Jail. From the images I have seen, the little 2 cell jailhouse looks similar to the little jail in Half Moon Bay.

The cement plant was closed in 2010, however it’s location is a key marker in finding the Davenport Pier Swing!

Where is the Davenport Pier Swing?

The Davenport Pier Swing is located directly across the road from the old cement manufacturing plant on Davenport Pier Beach. Its location on the beach below the bluff however means you will not see it from the road. You can see where it is on Google Maps.

Note that the swing is not located on Davenport Landing Beach – this is another beach north of the Pier Beach.

There is a dirt car park located between the road and the old railway line. If you are travelling toward Santa Cruz, the car park is just after the point where the railway line intersects with the road. Zoom in on the Google Map above to see its exact location. Parking is free.

Getting out of your car you will need to cross the railway line, climb up a bank and walk along the bluff. You will see the old Davenport Swing (as it is also called) on the beach below.

Getting to the Swing

The Davenport Pier Swing is just that, a swing hanging from what remains of a large old concrete pier. The problem with this gem is getting down to it…it’s a very steep, dodgy looking walk down!

Walk along the bluff in a westerly direction and you will come to a trail heading down. You will see, at the bottom of the steep trail, the remains of a concrete structure. Whilst there is a rope to hold on to, you should make sure it’s secure before beginning your descent. This route is steep and, to me, looked pretty dangerous if I’m honest. If you decide to go ahead, then, in addition to checking the rope, you should wear good shoes with traction.

I would also advise you to keep the incoming tide in mind. The tide was coming in when I was there and it came in fairly quickly. I am not sure how far up the beach the water comes when the tide is in, but given the difficulties of getting down (and presumably therefore getting back up) you will not want to be caught amongst the incoming tide with limited room to escape.

Keep in mind that the Davenport Pier Swing can not be seen from the road and therefore if you get into trouble, no one will see you. Access the swing at your own risk.

If there is no rope…I would stay up top! The views are really lovely and, provided you aren’t too close to the edge, it’s safer!

Given all of these considerations, I decided not to risk it this time! 

Alternative Access

I understand that there is an alternative way of getting to the Davenport Pier Swing, however it is only accessible during low tide.

This hike, heading east, takes you around the other side of the bluff, past a grove of cypress trees and down a path onto a small beach with the Pier Swing around the rocks to the west. I did not have the opportunity to try this alternative access so cannot advise as to its difficulty or otherwise. As I noted above though, keep in mind the tides otherwise you could find yourself in difficulty.

Final Thoughts

The Davenport Pier Swing was on my list of things to see (and possibly experience) during my San Francisco road trip. The swing looks great fun and the coastal views are beautiful, but the route down looked a bit too sketchy for me! I’m not opposed to taking on a challenge – check out my adventures in the ATM Cave in Belize – but this felt a little too far! If you do go down to the Swing, remember that you do so at your own risk.

I saw the Davenport Pier Swing during a 2 day road trip from San Francisco. To discover more about what we saw (including the nearby Shark Fin Cove), do read my post San Francisco Road Trip – 10 Beautiful Places to Stop. Prior to the road trip, I spent a few days in San Francisco and a week hiking in Yosemite National Park and the Sierra Nevada. To learn more about visiting those areas, do read the other posts on my USA page.

Finally, if you need any general assistance with planning trips to California (or anywhere!), then check out my Resources page.

Disclaimer – Information correct at the time of writing but do check before visiting.