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PIERS IN CALIFORNIA
Piers for recreational purposes are deeply ingrained in the California way of life.  It is hard to find a comprehensive list but it looks like the majority of these structures in the United States are in California.

Not all piers had a start with public recreation in mind.  A lot of them were designed as working structures or wharves (where boats dock).  Many of them still have multiple purposes.

Factors taken into consideration can include length, building material (concrete, wood, rocky path), ownership (public, private), height (raised over pillars, close to water level), use (fishing, boat docking) and location.
PIERS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
In here, Northern California is everything north of Santa Barbara County.
 

SAN FRANCISCO
This is a city of many piers (in this case, wood structures almost at the water level). 
Around the Embarcadero area, there are 45 numbered piers.  Past those, there are other famous landmarks like the Hyde Street Pier and the Municipal Pier.
CAPITOLA
Frederick A. Hihn, a German immigrant, acquired an area known as Soquel Landing and paid for the first wharf in 1857.
The wharf was supposed to serve as an outlet for produce and lumber from the interior.

Today, the wharf is used for fishing, boat renting and other recreational activities. Remember to pay a visit to “The Venetians,” one of Capitola’s symbols.
SEACLIFF PIER
SAN SIMEON
CAYUCOS
AVILA BEACH – HARTFORD PIER
This pier, located at the end of Avila Drive, is a working one.  As a consequence, you are going to see several people working on their boats, cleaning fish, selling oysters, etc.  Cars can drive over the pier, hence be careful when walking around.
PISMO BEACH

PIERS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
This section tells you all about the piers located in Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties.