Monterey Beaches

San Carlo Beach Seaside Asilomar State Park Pfeiffer Beach River State Beach Marina State Beach

Monterey State Beach. The new Window on the Bay Park frames Monterey's largest beach, Monterey State Beach, stretches from Wharf #2 to Seaside.

The soft sand shelves gently into the bay, making this one of the safest beaches for paddling, beach volleyball, kayaking, canoeing.

There’s restrooms, snack bars and restaurants and ample parking. Walk to Seaside on the beach or on the Recreation Trail.

San Carlo Beach. San Carlos Beach marks the end of Cannery Row, adjacent to the Coast Guard Pier. The large parking areas make it a popular jumping-off point for scuba divers, heading for the remains of cannery gear. A shallow grade makes these sands a great choice for families looking for a place to cool their toes. Despite its chilly temperatures, underwater enthusiasts make a pilgrimage to dive these waters to view 70% of the world's invertebrate life. A grassy area, picnic tables, and an outdoor shower make this park a diver’s paradise.

MacAbee Beach. Monterey's tiniest beach, MacAbee Beach is located in the midst of Cannery Row. Kayakers launch from it, scuba divers occasionally wade ashore at it, and children and parents dabble barefoot in the waves. A few blocks inland are food, drink and shops galore. [Top]

Seaside. The dune-backed beach at Seaside is a fantasy of kites, kite-drawn sand buggies, and excited kids playing in the surf. The soft, white sands shelve gently, but do drop off suddenly, so watch small children. It's possible to walk several miles on the beach, southwest towards Monterey or northeast towards Sand City. If you need refreshments or beach gear, there's a shopping plaza across Highway One.

Lover’s Point. Enjoy the tranquility of the ocean, beach and a lovely park with magnificent views of the Monterey Bay. Lovers Point Beach is paradise for diving, kayaking, family beach picnics, and volleyball. Just a short walk from the Inn, Lover’s Point is the perfect place to relax and watch a magical Monterey sunset. [Top]

Asilomar State Park and Beach. Asilomar State Park and Beach in Pacific Grove is strung out along Sunset Drive, its tidepools giving way to a sweeping stretch of pale sand at Spanish Bay. Minute coves, linked by paths and boardwalks, offer sheltered spots for tidepooling, wildlife-spotting and watching sunsets. A setting of natural beauty, this beach is an outstanding place for swimming, surfing, and kite flying. A boardwalk links Asilomar and 17-Mile Drive.

Big Sur. Big Sur enjoys several outstanding wild beaches, but visitors should expect to hike to reach most of them. The 4,800 acres of Andrew Molera State Park are laced with hiking and biking trails, and the Big Sur River Bobcat Trail is an easy 3-mile hike that passes the Cooper Cabin, Big Sur's oldest structure, and ends at a pleasant, sandy beach. State park admission fees include parking. [Top]

Pfeiffer Beach. One of Monterey County's most beautiful beaches, Pfeiffer Beach is located within Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. After a year of renovations, visitors can enjoy improved beach access, increased parking, and new restrooms.

Garrapata State Park Beach. Seven miles south of Carmel, Garrapata State Park offers 2879 acres of Big Sur beauty, with trails leading through piney forests to awesome beaches.Beach accesses are marked with signs at the turnouts. Soberanes Point is a favorite spot for its panoramic views.

Rock climbers enjoy the rocks at the south end of the beach. The surf can be dangerous. [Top]

Carmel River State Beach. Carmel is blessed with pleasant Carmel River State Beach at Carmelo Road, known as Carmel River Lagoon and Wetlands Natural Preserve. This is a wonderful place to watch birds and wildlife while the children play in the shallow lagoon. A small overland trail leads to Monastery Beach. A modern cross marks the spot where Gaspar de Portola erected a cross in 1769.

Carmel Town Beach. Carmel Town Beach in Carmel-by-the-Sea is locally renowned for good surf and excellent dog-walking areas. An annual sandcastle contest is testimony to the quality of the silvery sands, punctuated by outcroppings of rock. The beach is level with the modest parking lot on Ocean Avenue. Restaurants and shops are available up the steep hill in town. [Top]

Marina State Beach. Off Highway One, Marina State Beach has 170 acres of protected dunes and sandy beaches. It's very popular with locals for kite flying, hang-gliding, and surf-casting. Although surfing is allowed, the shoreline waters are dangerous for wading or swimming. A boardwalk leads across the dunes to the beach, where dogs are allowed off leashes. Walk to the nice cafe and observation deck.

Moss Landing State Beach. Moss landing offers a range of activities including surfing, wind-surfing, canoeing and kayaking, hiking, horseback riding and surf fishing. Birdwatchers will have plenty to see. Boaters may use the pier and jetty, and overnight camping is permitted. [Top]