William Randolph Hearst Memorial Beach is a day-use state beach located directly across Highway 1 from the Hearst Castle Visitor Center in San Simeon, California. The beach offers easy shore access for paddlers, with a large parking lot providing a short carry to the sand. The primary launch point is the historic San Simeon Pier, an 850-foot dog-legged pier specifically noted as a great place to launch a kayak or stand-up paddleboard. The beach fronts a protected cove, resulting in calm bay waters that are suitable for recreational ocean kayaking and paddleboarding. This sheltered environment minimizes surf and shore-break, making for a relatively straightforward launch and landing, especially compared to more exposed coastlines. The area is known for morning fog that typically burns off by late morning, after which the iconic Hearst Castle becomes visible from the beach.

The beach provides several amenities useful for paddlers, including restrooms, water spigots, and picnic sites with grills. Leashed dogs are permitted on the beach, a notable feature for paddlers traveling with pets. A key paddling destination reachable from this launch is San Simeon Point, located at the southern end of the beach. An easy coastal trail leads there, and the point area features unique sea caves to explore by water. The overall climate is mild year-round, with summer air temperatures ranging from the high 50s to low 90s Fahrenheit and winter temperatures between the low 40s and high 60s. Water temperatures are cool, typical of the central California coast. During winter months, northern elephant seals may occasionally appear on the beach or shoreline; paddlers must give these protected animals a wide berth. While the pier has been a traditional launch site, paddlers should verify its current operational status, as repairs have been needed in the past.