Ballast Head forms the western boundary of the cove, and extending south of the head is the first American River beach (KI-29). It is a 2 km long, irregular, discontinuous strip of high tide sand that follows the base of the 80 m high, densely vegetated bluffs. The southeast facing beach is fronted by 50 m wide intertidal rock flats, then partly vegetated sand flats extending for another 150 m. The beach terminates at a small point which was the site of a long jetty, only the ruins of which now remain. The second beach (KI-30) continues on in a similar manner for another 1 km, only its slopes are occupied by a tree-covered foreshore reserve, the main road and the American River settlement. read more

Beach Length: 1km