Prohibited
Glass Beach
California, Mendocino·Beachcombing
Glass Beach is a former city dump turned tourist landmark — and taking the sea glass home is technically prohibited under California's state park rockhounding rule, even though enforcement is close to nonexistent. Fifty-plus years of visitors pocketing pieces is also why the colorful glass is visibly running out.
- Removing sea glass, rocks, or any natural material from Glass Beach is prohibited under California's state park rockhounding rule (14 CCR § 4611) — the Sonoma-Mendocino Coast District superintendent has publicly stated the glass 'should not be removed' and doing so 'could' result in a citation
- Enforcement is minimal in practice — no rangers are posted to check pockets — but the prohibition is the actual rule, not a myth, regardless of what a local business owner or fellow visitor might tell you