Carmel River State Beach Photos
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We stopped here after work last month. The parking lot was closed, so we had to walk past beautifully landscaped homes to get to the beach. It was too cold for a long walk on the beach, so we just took some pics, sat on a log for a few seconds, breathed in the clean air, climbed down a sandy hill, and ran back up when the waves came crashing in, then left. That was my workout for the day. ;-) Short and sweet visit. Gorgeous and clean beach!
I like to consider this the quieter little sister of Carmel's Ocean Beach. The Carmel River runs out of here and to the ocean. Dogs are permitted on leash only. There is a public restroom on site. What makes this one so unique is there is limited parking, so less crowds. The sand here is more coarse and golden compared to the powder white sand at Ocean Beach. The views are still amazing!
Home of stunning "Carmel Blue" waters, clean, soft sand, and free parking. We'd been in San Jose for a family gathering, and heading south last Monday. I took the day off so that we would have some relaxation time after the big doings. Neither Dear Hubby or I had been to Carmel in a very long time, and the weather was delightful, so we decided to make it our getaway for the afternoon before getting back on the road. After driving along the ocean in Pacific Grove, we headed the waterfront in Carmel. I did the driving so DH could relax and enjoy the view. We've both been here many times in our past lives before we got together. There haven't been nearly enough times in this beautiful area with us together as a couple. Being able to stop here at the State Beach on a Monday afternoon meant that parking was easy / free. We made our way across the sand, taking in the sights and sounds of the beautiful natural scenery all around us. There were a few others similarly enjoying the venue, but we mostly had it to ourselves. It's good to revisit special places, and this one definitely qualifies. We didn't linger too long, but took a piece of serenity back with us, along with photos taken at the scene.
This is quiet little beach nested in a beautiful neighborhood. Parking is limited and there was broken glass in the parking lot, but the beach was fairly empty with only a few other visitors strolling along the sand. You can see lots of driftwood structures piled along the coast. It was definitely a great beach to visit to start the morning away from the crowds.
Great parking, great views, white clean sand, it's the perfect place for a little picnic. We had a little afternoon meditation session here accompanied with prosecco and pistachios. The breeze was nice and steady and not too cold; although it did get a little chilly in the later afternoon. I ran by this beach in the morning during my morning run and I was shocked by the pretty views from the one way scenic road above. It's a nice place to play frisbee or football or just watch the waves. Have fun!
This is one of the best beaches that you can come to and visit. The hardest part of course is finding parking which is limited but once you do find parking then you have the option of sitting next to the ocean side hearing the sound of the splashing Waze and of course the wonderful sand. Or you can go and check out the little lagoon area where you can swim in the water is nice and calm as well. The lagoon area is where most families go to and kids can swim with their floats in the water and also just relax without the coldness of the ocean the water in the lagoon is a bit warmer even in the 65 to 70Degree weather
Stumbled upon this gem today a bit south from the main Carmel beach. We came on a sunny but cool day and there was free parking available in their parking lot (not sure how that goes on busy days). Lots of birds- a great place to explore different species. The beach is clean and had some huge waves today. There are public restrooms adjacent to the parking lot.
My niece actually introduced us to this beach. One day we were driving around and we parked a ways away because we were going to walk and take in the 17 mile drive, and she showed us this little round about beach and it was perfect! We dipped our feet in, we explored the rocks and climbing and finding seashells, and the little cove was not populated, and it was a nice walk around, just perfect for a nice chill afternoon. Very peaceful and had bathrooms on the other side with a little inlet and just overall great for us to explore and not have to worry about too many people and my little being out of sight.
A short hike that is about 2 miles round trip along the coast line. I call it a "hike" but it's more like a walk. Flat and on a dedicated path that is very easy. You also walk by some ocean front houses. The views were spectacular and it was very sparse as far as other "hikers" on a January weekday. There is a spot at the end of the trail where the Carmel River meets the Ocean. read more
1 year ago
Easter sunday 2025, we visited carmel beach carmel, calif. it was the most beautiful drive one way along the ocean the white sands the peaceful energy.. i would highly recommend visiting carmel for the ocean views.. there is parking near the entrance and restrooms a bit crowded weekends .. but the drive along to the other end is amazing also available parking at the end it's slower driving one way only and able to enjoy the views . I have many memories as a young teen going to carmel and i'm glad we chose carmel for easter sunday was an amazing peaceful drive. pet friendly place as well. highly recommend this beach as the sand seems softer and looks easier for lounging on a sunny day i've included photos videos to enjoy read more
11 months ago
3 years ago
We stopped here after work last month. The parking lot was closed, so we had to walk past beautifully landscaped homes to get to the beach. It was too cold for a long walk on the beach, so we just took some pics, sat on a log for a few seconds, breathed in the clean air, climbed down a sandy hill, and ran back up when the waves came crashing in, then left. That was my workout for the day. ;-) Short and sweet visit. Gorgeous and clean beach! read more
2 years ago
5 years ago
I like to consider this the quieter little sister of Carmel's Ocean Beach. The Carmel River runs out of here and to the ocean. Dogs are permitted on leash only. There is a public restroom on site. What makes this one so unique is there is limited parking, so less crowds. The sand here is more coarse and golden compared to the powder white sand at Ocean Beach. The views are still amazing! read more
Home of stunning "Carmel Blue" waters, clean, soft sand, and free parking. We'd been in San Jose for a family gathering, and heading south last Monday. I took the day off so that we would have some relaxation time after the big doings. Neither Dear Hubby or I had been to Carmel in a very long time, and the weather was delightful, so we decided to make it our getaway for the afternoon before getting back on the road. After driving along the ocean in Pacific Grove, we headed the waterfront in Carmel. I did the driving so DH could relax and enjoy the view. We've both been here many times in our past lives before we got together. There haven't been nearly enough times in this beautiful area with us together as a couple. Being able to stop here at the State Beach on a Monday afternoon meant that parking was easy / free. We made our way across the sand, taking in the sights and sounds of the beautiful natural scenery all around us. There were a few others similarly enjoying the venue, but we mostly had it to ourselves. It's good to revisit special places, and this one definitely qualifies. We didn't linger too long, but took a piece of serenity back with us, along with photos taken at the scene. read more
This is quiet little beach nested in a beautiful neighborhood. Parking is limited and there was broken glass in the parking lot, but the beach was fairly empty with only a few other visitors strolling along the sand. You can see lots of driftwood structures piled along the coast. It was definitely a great beach to visit to start the morning away from the crowds. read more
3 years ago
We found this Hidden Gem by accident and will be our forever spot got forwarded. I is absolutely gorgeous and has such a relaxing ambiance read more
Great parking, great views, white clean sand, it's the perfect place for a little picnic. We had a little afternoon meditation session here accompanied with prosecco and pistachios. The breeze was nice and steady and not too cold; although it did get a little chilly in the later afternoon. I ran by this beach in the morning during my morning run and I was shocked by the pretty views from the one way scenic road above. It's a nice place to play frisbee or football or just watch the waves. Have fun! read more
Parking is a struggle on the weekends but other than the the beach was beautiful and feels clean. It was such a nice sunny day that we went. We decided to eat our sandwiches on the bench at the stairs and enjoyed the view. I'd probably come back on a weekday read more
5 years ago
This is one of the best beaches that you can come to and visit. The hardest part of course is finding parking which is limited but once you do find parking then you have the option of sitting next to the ocean side hearing the sound of the splashing Waze and of course the wonderful sand. Or you can go and check out the little lagoon area where you can swim in the water is nice and calm as well. The lagoon area is where most families go to and kids can swim with their floats in the water and also just relax without the coldness of the ocean the water in the lagoon is a bit warmer even in the 65 to 70Degree weather read more
Stumbled upon this gem today a bit south from the main Carmel beach. We came on a sunny but cool day and there was free parking available in their parking lot (not sure how that goes on busy days). Lots of birds- a great place to explore different species. The beach is clean and had some huge waves today. There are public restrooms adjacent to the parking lot. read more
5 years ago
My niece actually introduced us to this beach. One day we were driving around and we parked a ways away because we were going to walk and take in the 17 mile drive, and she showed us this little round about beach and it was perfect! We dipped our feet in, we explored the rocks and climbing and finding seashells, and the little cove was not populated, and it was a nice walk around, just perfect for a nice chill afternoon. Very peaceful and had bathrooms on the other side with a little inlet and just overall great for us to explore and not have to worry about too many people and my little being out of sight. read more
Off the beaten path, this hidden little beach is a nice place to see the ocean and the coast. It's small but worth a short visit. It's free and not as crowded as the main Carmel beach. It's free and there's a small parking lot. read more
6 years ago
We lucked out and got parking around 12pm as the earlier risers at the beach left. The bathroom was clean and door was opened. Only caveat about this place was the amount of flies on the sand near the decaying kelp. The sand is soft. There is also a river area where kids paddle boated. We saw tiny fish/tadpoles there too. The kids didn't want to leave. There was a coastal police ranger monitoring the beach. The ocean water was icey cold. There were plenty of seagulls peaking at our bag of food while it was not monitored. There was a pelican area where they bathed too. read more
Such a gorgeous and clean beach with soft sand. They have bathrooms, depends the day sometimes they're clean and sometimes there's pee all over the floor. Very secluded beach, hidden behind a residential area. Considering how many people come you would think there would be an extensive parking lot but it's actually quite small. Probably less that 15 spaces. It's always packed, and you can't park down the road because you can get a ticket and towed. So be ready to be walk a lot with all your beach gear. Is it with it tho????? It sure is! read more
7 years ago
Very peaceful not crowded at all! This is the perfect get away from reality. Plus you can find a small pond where kids can go and play (not deep, knee deep) read more
4 years ago
This is a stunning and -- the day we were there -- uncrowded gem of a beach located on the south end of Carmel-by-the-Sea at the outlet of the Armel River. Because it is surrounded by private residences access is from walkers on the ocean-front road, the small parking lot or residences. The beach is formed where the Carmel River flows into the sea, with a large sandvar closing off most of the mouth of the river and creating the beach with a lagoon behind it. The cove creates breaking waves onto the beach, and the sandbar protects large flocks of birds that settle on or near the area. It is a great place for bird watching, ocean watching, or walking. The pictures tell you more. read more
9 years ago
I can admit to it: the charms of Carmel-by-the-Sea are slightly lost upon me. As much as I love a good beach town, I find the exclusivity and densely-packed nature of the narrow, one-way streets to be slightly off-putting. And of course there are the weekend and summertime crowds, who turn this place into a three-ring circus, not unlike parts of Napa. But you can't fault the place itself, or the people who reside here year-round, for being so beautiful. And if you give yourself up to the thrill of discovery, you'll find out why it's so special. Case in point: the Carmel River State Beach and Lagoon. I initially came here only to park, so that I could walk along Scenic Road in the hope of locating the Robinson Jeffers Tor House and Hawk Tower (tours available by reservation Friday and Saturday only). Because it's a California state park, it has good parking, decent restroom facilities, and good signage. I grabbed an open parking spot (it was a quiet weekday morning in October), walked back to Scenic Drive, and after getting my fix of high end architecture, I returned to the beach to commune with a somewhat wilder, less showy nature. The surf here can be fearsome, and because the park protects the Carmel River watershed and surrounding lagoons, shorebirds and migratory birds FLOCK here. No joke. I rarely see so many pelicans in one place, let alone gulls and other beach dwellers. There are walking trails as well that lead to a historic cross erected on a small hill by Spanish explorers around the time of the Portola Expedition. You have great views of Point Lobos, but compared to Carmel City Beach (the one you reach if you drive Ocean Ave to its terminus), you encounter less visual distractions, like the Pebble Beach Golf Course and the multi-million dollar homes for which Carmel is so famous. Here, the river, the lagoon, the ocean, and the shorebirds steal the show. Nothing humans can make could ever match the tableaux you'll encounter if you spent some quality time here. if you want a recipe for a good visit, I'd begin on Ocean Ave. and first visit Carmel City Beach, then drive Scenic Road (one way, 10-15mph) to the end, then park here at Carmel River State Beach and hang out for a bit, before returning to Highway 1 for other stops. Seeing both of Carmel's most famous beaches on the same outing will help you figure out what kind of a beach person you really are: the one who likes to promenade within eyesight of admiring (or admonishing) others, or the one who prefers to hang out with the birds and let the sun, the surf, and the sand set the stage. Either way, it's worth getting over any residual prejudices you may have about visiting this place. The beaches, they never judge. Would this were true with the rest of humanity! read more
5 years ago
9 years ago
Beautiful beach. Sand was really soft, the beach was pretty clean, bathrooms were ok. There's two sections, one river/lagoon type area where the water is calm and the dogs play, and on the opposite side, the ocean. Not a lot of parking but there weren't many people when we went, beginning of December. We had a great time watching the sun sink behind the water, playing with our pup! Will return soon! read more
4 years ago
Carmel... beautiful beautiful Carmel. Where the sand is soft, the sun is shining, and the water is slightly lighter and warmer than on other parts of the coast. A very romantic beach. The perfect place to take your significant other. The views are breathtaking and there's tons of cute restaurants, wine tastings, art museums, and shops near by too. read more
The view here is absolutely breathtaking. There were a few logs that were by the sand, so sitting on that while overlooking the water was beautiful. It was a tad bit windier than normal, so I wasn't able to take off my shoes and just glide by the water. Nonetheless, the view was still stunning. read more
12 years ago
8 years ago
Love this beach !! First time coming here and let me tell you I fell in love with this beach. they have free parking it's small but worth it if you get here early. The sand is white and soft, the beach is clean, and the water is a beautiful blue. The first hour we were there we saw a sea lion close to shore I'm not sure it was injured or what but it was just floating on the water with its head peeping out not swimming much but none the less it was a cool sight. The beach itself is just beautiful. It wasn't as cold as I expected but the water was freezing. I tried taking pictures but it just doesn't capture the true beauty, you have to come and here and see with your own eyes how amazing this beach is. Not really a beach to swim but I enjoyed my time relaxing in the sand read more
15 years ago
I LOVE THIS BEACH!! I almost don't want to let everyone know how awesome this place is so it doesn't crazy busy :) I went on Valentines Day with my husband and we had ourselves a Chipotle picnic. There were maybe 5 people by the parking lot area. We walked about a minute down the beach and there was nobody there. We were there for about 2 hours and only 1 person walked by with their dog. It wasn't a gorgeous day ... but it was nice. The beach was really pretty. We'll definitely be going back! read more
I didn't even know this beach was around until we tried to drive over to the Carmel beach, we drove alllll the way down the main side street and no parking whatsoever and kept driving and found this place. The water was gorgeous, clear light turquoise. They have 2 restrooms, though they do not keep them stocked with toilet paper :/ There is maybe around 20 parking spaces. If you are into geocaching there is a really cool one at this beach, which got a favorite. Was nice and quiet read more
We were actually trying to go to Carmel Beach, but couldn't find parking. We kept driving and looking, until we reached the Carmel River State Beach parking lot. The lot is pretty small, but we got lucky and were able to grab someone's spot who was leaving. I think most people opt for Carmel Beach instead, leaving this one not as crowded. The sand was not as soft as I recall Carmel Beach's being, but it was still nice enough. We brought sandwiches for a picnic lunch on the beach, which was really nice. It was fun trying to take good pictures of the birds. read more
7 years ago
7 years ago
The Carmel River State Beach is a wonderful place to see many species of birds, and breathtaking sunsets. read more
8 years ago
Beautiful beach! We came here on a weekday, very peaceful and quiet, an awesome local getaway place. read more
16 years ago
I've been here four times this year, first two times the weather was perfect. The third time, the wind was blowing so hard, it was like a desert storm. Fourth time, and it's overcast and chilly. Oh well. Still a great beach. read more
my tastes are slowly evolving as i age. i'm becoming more of a private person. smaller venues. dive bars over multi-level clubs. one-on-one dinners over group gatherings. when my clients said that they wanted to go to carmel river state beach for their engagement shoot, i didn't know what to expect. ...i loved that i found no obvious signs for this intimate beach from the highway. i loved that we had the beach to ourselves. freedom to utilize the entire beach, indulging in candid, unaffected moments. no fake smiles and awkward poses to be found here. groups of rocks were situated off to the side of the beach which made for some cool photos and climbing too. beware of the surf! i was halfway up the beach, and my jeans, shoes, and camera got wet! ...which wasn't necessarily a bad thing. - - i got to finish the rest of the shoot, barefoot. : ) (don't worry, my camera still works. whew!) read more
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More info about Carmel River State Beach
Carmelo St
Carmel, CA 93923
Directions
(831) 649-2836
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Visit Website
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=567
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Carmel River State Beach - beaches - Updated June 2026
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