But before you grab a few wooden shipping palates and a canister of lighter fluid and head off to your nearest coastline, there are a few things you should know. That is, if you want to avoid fines, lawsuits, personal injury and potential arrest.

THE RULES
You may think that you can build a bonfire on any beach in Santa Cruz. You’d be wrong. Despite a reputation as the bonfire capital of the Bay Area, beaches allowing bonfires are limited. Bonfires are never permitted on Santa Cruz’s county parks or beaches, and not every state beach is equipped with bonfire facilities. Private beaches are exempt from bonfire restrictions, but which of us has a private beach?

The state beaches with pre-installed bonfire pits (listed below) are open for business. However, state beach rules apply… which means your pyrotechnics must be confined to the cement bonfire rings (or metal fire rings you bring yourself), all fires must be extinguished at 10pm, and no alcohol is permitted on state beaches.

THE WARNINGS
While the above restrictions may seem like a drag, setting up a beach fire is still a blast… so long as no one ends up in the burn ward. We hate to canonize the obvious, but building a bonfire can be dangerous. And we’re not just talking about the “don’t touch the flickering orange part” rule.

One of the most common bonfire accidents involves getting that sucker lit. Using flammable liquid (charcoal starter, lighter fluid, jet fuel) to go from wood to blaze in two seconds is not only prohibited on state beaches, but a good way to singe off your eyebrows.

Another common mistake involves wood choice. While they may look like they are perfect for bonfires, wooden shipping palates are actually the worst. Ignoring for a moment the fact that burning palates on Santa Cruz beaches is expressly forbidden, consider the damage done when the palates (which are usually extremely dry) start popping in the fire… and shooting whitehot nails at onlookers. And any nails not used as deadly projectiles will end up in the sand, where an unsuspecting beach walker will no doubt be barefooting. Since you aren’t allowed to burn wood gathered from the beach, you’ll want to bring your own logs or other metal-free wood scraps.

And finally, when it comes time to put out your fire, burying the pit does not do the trick. While the flames and smoke may disappear, those red hot coals will simply be insulated under a blanket of sand… another foil for beach-browsing pets and surf-admiring visitors.

THE BEACHES
Now that you know how to safely and legally let out your inner arsonist, you’ll need a location to set up shop and begin partying. The following state beaches allow bonfires from 6am to 10pm, seven days a week:

Twin Lakes
East Cliff Dr. at Seventh Ave.
(831) 429-2850
FREE

Seabright
East Cliff Dr. at Seabright Ave.
(831) 685-6500
FREE

New Brighton
1500 Park Ave.
(831) 464-6330
$5 day fee

Rio Del Mar
Rio Del Mar Blvd. at Aptos
Beach Dr.
(831) 685-6500
FREE

Sunset
201 Sunset Beach Road
(831) 763-7063
$5 day fee

Manresa
400 San Andreas Road
(831) 724-3750
$5 day fee

Palm State Beach
End of West Beach St.
(831) 763-7063
$2 parking fee