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We kind of stumbled onto the beach in our drive down Highway 1 and this place is fantastic. I feel like I have never seen waves like this where they are coming at you with such speed and height. In a way, each of the waves crashing in front of you seems like a mini wave that a surfer would ride as there was a visible gap between the falling water and the rising waves. Reading the sign, it seems like its actually pretty dangerous as there is a sudden drop in ground levels which causes these gigantic waves. Therefore, I would really not recommend playing in the waves but more of a place to sit and ponder your thoughts. The beach is pretty empty when we went there, and I will say that there is pretty limited amount of parking up front.
Monastery Beach is pretty and accessible, providing nice views, free parking, and uncrowded conditions. Crunchy, large grained sand/small pebbles are easier to walk on and clean up after than sand. There are several prominent dangerous waves warning signs. This is a great beach for sitting, walking and enjoying, but the surf conditions are very treacherous. This is a famous scuba diving location with potentially rough and dangerous beach entry/exit, steep drop off, strong currents and a beautiful kelp grotto with many marine species present.
Wow! This beach was great. We Randomly stopped here and found a hidden gem that is right out in the open. Based out the warnings this is not a safe swimming beach. We had a good time walking the beach and looking for treasures. Our dogs loved running along this beach. And my husband got some amazing drone spots! Parking is along the road, but we didn't seem to have any issues!
Monastery Beach--remote, untamed, and magnificent. Parking is usually pretty easy on either sides. You'll almost always have lots of space to setup a small beach tent or beach mat, where you can enjoy the dynamic waves that seem to inch closer and closer to you each time. You won't find the fine white sands of Carmel beach here, but you will discover many beautiful pebbles and rocks of various white, grey, and pinkish hues here to meditate upon. The sand is not course but smooth and round, giving a gentle massage on your feet during gentle strolls. It is a nice beach for couples. Write or draw cute things in the sand. Come around 3-5 and take idyllic photos of sand, waves, and a gentle glowing sun. Due to the sloping nature of this beach I do not recommend swimming. You'll just get carried out into the ocean. Safety first, and keep a good eye on children if you bring them here.
Review #059 - 2020 After our disappointing lunch at COAST, I decided to make a quick stop at Monastery Beach so my daughter could run around & stretch her legs since we still had a pretty long drive ahead of us. We showed up at around 3 PM on Friday, March 6th, and the beach was actually pretty empty. Once we stepped out of the car, we realized why there weren't too many people around. It was freezing, and windy! We couldn't handle more than 10 minutes of the cold so we rushed our photos and jumped back into the car. The sand here is definitely not friendly to your bare feet. I tried walking on it with my sandals, but the sand got in between my feet & sandals & it was pretty painful. My younger sister actually carried my daughter while we were walking toward the beach so I didn't realize how much more painful it was until I carried her back to the car. Luckily, my sister was smart enough to wear her UGG boots so her feet stayed warm & pain-free. The view is nice, but I don't know if I'd want to endure that pain again. I might need to bring an extra pair of sneakers or something since the sand does get finer once you get closer to the water, if I do decide to return in the future.
There's nothing like having the soothing beach waves crashing against your feet on a warm Saturday afternoon, especially after a long day of hiking. Monestary beach was just that for me! Peaceful, serene, and way less crowded than its' counterpart just a mile away. This beach is really hard to miss as it is conveniently located off of the beautiful Pacific coast highway 1. I spotted this little beauty while I was heading down to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and decided to stop by on the way back home. As convenient as this beach is, I was surprised to see only a few people out enjoying the waves. I've read the prior reviews mentioning the 30 deaths that have occurred here and referring to this beach as the "mortuary beach". And trust me, I really took those reviews to heart and stayed pretty far from the waves. However, I still think that this beach is a true beauty. Nobody should ever have to suffer a death due to the ferocious waves of the ocean. But, people should also be careful and take heed to the posted warning signs that clearly state to stay back from the water's edge. I'm not sure if these signs were put up after the deaths occurred, but the signs are in place for a reason. At the end of the day, people are going to do what they want to do. Take the warnings in to account when coming here to enjoy the beach. The sand can get uncomfortable after a while since it's a mainly pebble sand. This is probably not the best beach to walk on since your feet will end up hurting after a while. However, it's perfect for lying down and watching the sunset. The waves are gorgeous and water is so blue and clear. The views of the coastline here are just so amazing! There's a rocky area near the restrooms that you can walk up to capture the immaculate views. There's small parking lot with about 10 or so free parking spots and plenty of places to park on the side of the road. If you're heading down highway 1 in Carmel, make sure to stop by Monastery beach to soak in the beauty of the pacific coast line.
Beautiful beach but dangerous!! I've heard the locals call this beach, "Mortuary Beach," due to all the drownings that have occurred here. This beach has a steep drop off and a strong undertow which makes the waves very strong and unpredictable and not recommended for swimming. I actually was here on a day when someone drowned because there was a coast guard helicopter circling the water from above. It was so sad to see. But if you can get past this, this beach is actually gorgeous! The water is a really pretty dark blue. The sand is mostly pebble so this not the beach to walk barefoot on. Since there are so many warnings about this beach, it also doesn't see the crowds that other Carmel/Monterey beaches do, which is nice. My fiancee and I actually set up and had a nice little BBQ here and it was wonderful. We stayed for sunset, which I highly recommend because the sunset here is beautiful! There is no real parking lot for this beach, just some street parking off of Highway 1. This is a great beach to visit in the Carmel area. Come here to relax in the sun, enjoy the view and the sand, just be sure to stay far away from the water's edge!
5 months ago
Nice quiet beach in the Carmel Highlands. We didn't feel like heading downtown and Point Lovos was way too crowded. I spent Thanksgiving day here for a bit reading a book. It was relaxing. The sand is sandy (lol) with some pebbles, so not too smooth or powdery, but it's a beach, haha! Parking is in the shoulder so be careful getting in and out of your vehicle. Swim at your own risk. I felt safe here as there were handfuls of folks passing through. read more
Monastery Beach is a pristine beach, with soft sand, an active lifeguard and beautiful waves. Getting to the beach is very easy as it is right off of the highway. One thing to keep in mind is the parking ! There are possibly 15-20 parking spots, which I'm sure likely fill up very quickly on busy days. read more
Named after the active Monastery right across the street in highway 1. It's known as the most dangerous beach with in California, with the unique shape of the cove creating a strong undercurrent that has as sucked beachgoers and divers into the depths. I wish we had known before we took the kids here! We did the notice the waves looked abnormal and it was a cold day so the kids didn't go into the water. Be very careful here, even people just strolling on the sands have been pulled in by rogue waves and not survived. There is a lifeguard tower installed as of 2019 but there isn't someone always in duty. I'm still in shock we took the kids to somewhere nicknamed "mortuary beach" as we e seen much more dangerous looking waters. Regardless of the danger the beach is OK, very small but the easy to get to from the highway with the sand literally right next to the parking lot. There are some trees in the right people hang out under and to the left there are rocks you can go fishing from. read more
1 year ago
We kind of stumbled onto the beach in our drive down Highway 1 and this place is fantastic. I feel like I have never seen waves like this where they are coming at you with such speed and height. In a way, each of the waves crashing in front of you seems like a mini wave that a surfer would ride as there was a visible gap between the falling water and the rising waves. Reading the sign, it seems like its actually pretty dangerous as there is a sudden drop in ground levels which causes these gigantic waves. Therefore, I would really not recommend playing in the waves but more of a place to sit and ponder your thoughts. The beach is pretty empty when we went there, and I will say that there is pretty limited amount of parking up front. read more
4 months ago
Very beautiful beach! Unfortunately, swimming is not allowed due to dangerous currents, but it's a perfect place to relax and enjoy the view. read more
10 months ago
A beautiful beach we stumbled on! Not crowded and very clean. Also leads to a hiking path that goes all the way down to Carmel Beach. No parking lot - just a dirt path to pull over but there's a decent amount. read more
Very nice beach. Very clean. Came here in February. Though cold yet it was still sunny and still fun to play in the surf. The waves can be very powerful and strong so be careful, especially young kids. But other than that it's quite nice. read more
6 months ago
Monastery Beach is pretty and accessible, providing nice views, free parking, and uncrowded conditions. Crunchy, large grained sand/small pebbles are easier to walk on and clean up after than sand. There are several prominent dangerous waves warning signs. This is a great beach for sitting, walking and enjoying, but the surf conditions are very treacherous. This is a famous scuba diving location with potentially rough and dangerous beach entry/exit, steep drop off, strong currents and a beautiful kelp grotto with many marine species present. read more
Wow! This beach was great. We Randomly stopped here and found a hidden gem that is right out in the open. Based out the warnings this is not a safe swimming beach. We had a good time walking the beach and looking for treasures. Our dogs loved running along this beach. And my husband got some amazing drone spots! Parking is along the road, but we didn't seem to have any issues! read more
Monastery Beach--remote, untamed, and magnificent. Parking is usually pretty easy on either sides. You'll almost always have lots of space to setup a small beach tent or beach mat, where you can enjoy the dynamic waves that seem to inch closer and closer to you each time. You won't find the fine white sands of Carmel beach here, but you will discover many beautiful pebbles and rocks of various white, grey, and pinkish hues here to meditate upon. The sand is not course but smooth and round, giving a gentle massage on your feet during gentle strolls. It is a nice beach for couples. Write or draw cute things in the sand. Come around 3-5 and take idyllic photos of sand, waves, and a gentle glowing sun. Due to the sloping nature of this beach I do not recommend swimming. You'll just get carried out into the ocean. Safety first, and keep a good eye on children if you bring them here. read more
5 years ago
Such a beautiful beach! Wish I could of stayed longer but I was filming a wedding. If you are ever in Carmel, California. Stop by here! It's definitely worth it! read more
6 years ago
Review #059 - 2020 After our disappointing lunch at COAST, I decided to make a quick stop at Monastery Beach so my daughter could run around & stretch her legs since we still had a pretty long drive ahead of us. We showed up at around 3 PM on Friday, March 6th, and the beach was actually pretty empty. Once we stepped out of the car, we realized why there weren't too many people around. It was freezing, and windy! We couldn't handle more than 10 minutes of the cold so we rushed our photos and jumped back into the car. The sand here is definitely not friendly to your bare feet. I tried walking on it with my sandals, but the sand got in between my feet & sandals & it was pretty painful. My younger sister actually carried my daughter while we were walking toward the beach so I didn't realize how much more painful it was until I carried her back to the car. Luckily, my sister was smart enough to wear her UGG boots so her feet stayed warm & pain-free. The view is nice, but I don't know if I'd want to endure that pain again. I might need to bring an extra pair of sneakers or something since the sand does get finer once you get closer to the water, if I do decide to return in the future. read more
There's nothing like having the soothing beach waves crashing against your feet on a warm Saturday afternoon, especially after a long day of hiking. Monestary beach was just that for me! Peaceful, serene, and way less crowded than its' counterpart just a mile away. This beach is really hard to miss as it is conveniently located off of the beautiful Pacific coast highway 1. I spotted this little beauty while I was heading down to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and decided to stop by on the way back home. As convenient as this beach is, I was surprised to see only a few people out enjoying the waves. I've read the prior reviews mentioning the 30 deaths that have occurred here and referring to this beach as the "mortuary beach". And trust me, I really took those reviews to heart and stayed pretty far from the waves. However, I still think that this beach is a true beauty. Nobody should ever have to suffer a death due to the ferocious waves of the ocean. But, people should also be careful and take heed to the posted warning signs that clearly state to stay back from the water's edge. I'm not sure if these signs were put up after the deaths occurred, but the signs are in place for a reason. At the end of the day, people are going to do what they want to do. Take the warnings in to account when coming here to enjoy the beach. The sand can get uncomfortable after a while since it's a mainly pebble sand. This is probably not the best beach to walk on since your feet will end up hurting after a while. However, it's perfect for lying down and watching the sunset. The waves are gorgeous and water is so blue and clear. The views of the coastline here are just so amazing! There's a rocky area near the restrooms that you can walk up to capture the immaculate views. There's small parking lot with about 10 or so free parking spots and plenty of places to park on the side of the road. If you're heading down highway 1 in Carmel, make sure to stop by Monastery beach to soak in the beauty of the pacific coast line. read more
Beautiful beach but dangerous!! I've heard the locals call this beach, "Mortuary Beach," due to all the drownings that have occurred here. This beach has a steep drop off and a strong undertow which makes the waves very strong and unpredictable and not recommended for swimming. I actually was here on a day when someone drowned because there was a coast guard helicopter circling the water from above. It was so sad to see. But if you can get past this, this beach is actually gorgeous! The water is a really pretty dark blue. The sand is mostly pebble so this not the beach to walk barefoot on. Since there are so many warnings about this beach, it also doesn't see the crowds that other Carmel/Monterey beaches do, which is nice. My fiancee and I actually set up and had a nice little BBQ here and it was wonderful. We stayed for sunset, which I highly recommend because the sunset here is beautiful! There is no real parking lot for this beach, just some street parking off of Highway 1. This is a great beach to visit in the Carmel area. Come here to relax in the sun, enjoy the view and the sand, just be sure to stay far away from the water's edge! read more
Gorgeous small beach with scenic photos, off the highway. I encourage you to hike up the rock and see gorgeous Carmel-By-the-Sea from a higher view. This beach is scenic...no one is inside playing with the water due to the unpredictable, strong waves. You can see amazing beautiful beach homes and the famous Pebble Beach golf course from this beach. Come and enjoy the views, hang out in the sun...but be careful! Again, waves are strong, unpredictable and wear climbing shoes when walking up the rocks- it get steep! read more
9 years ago
Free parking on the side of the road in front of the beach. North and South Monastery are amazing dive sites and they are a couple of my favorites in the area. North Monastery is great if you want to reach the trench quickly and South Monastery offers a beautiful kelp forest. There is so much life to see at both sites and on a clear day with great vis this beach can be breathtaking! This beach can also be a dangerous beach so it's important to keep people and pets away from the water if the waves pick up. If you notice anyone or any pet struggling in the water it's better not to attempt a rescue and call emergency services. I give this beach a 4/5 because of the potentially dangerous conditions and because the sand/gravel is hard to walk up in full dive gear. Other than that it's an awesome dive site and I recommend diving here if conditions are calm. read more
Monastery Beach (MB) is a ±1/2 mile, crescent moon-shaped stretch of coastline that is actually part of the Carmel River State Beach system. MB is sometimes called San Jose Creek Beach, but it's more infamously known by locals as "Mortuary Beach." MB's reputation as a killer beach is well-deserved, as 1/3 of all 2014 drowning deaths in Monterey County occurred here. The rapid elevation drop (±15' in ±40') to the shoreline is one safety concern as it causes the waves to literally break on the shore instead of a dozen yards out like at most standard beaches. This also makes MB more susceptible for rogue, or sleeper, waves to surprise unsuspecting beachgoers who may not be paying attention. Couple those factors up with an extremely strong undertow and you have yourself a recipe for impending disaster. Had I known these facts beforehand I never would have come here; I actually wasn't planning on visiting MB, but my visit to Point Lobos was canceled because of an unusually high-tide and I needed somewhere to go. Here's a quick rundown of what MB has to offer: -Decent amount of free parking alongside the west side of the PCH. -Restroom on-site -NO fishing -NO fires (as of Sept '14) -Dogs on a leash are OK -Scuba Diving is allowed but only recommended for highly-skilled, experienced divers. -Kayaking is allowed While MB is a gorgeous section of CA Coastline, I don't recommend anybody visiting as the potential for danger outweighs the view. Plus, Point Lobos is only a stone's throw south and the main section of Carmel River State Beach is just north. Those two locations have equally--if not better-- views and with a better safety record. As an avid nature lover, it pains me to give a beach a 2-star rating, but it is what it is. Not recommended for anyone--especially families with young children. read more
5 years ago
If your looking to avoid the crowd and just enjoy the view of the ocean then you come to the right place. If your looking for fine sand go to Carmel City Beach Park. You won't find fine sand here instead, pebbles. The view is just breath taking. Just park along Hwy 1 on either side. There is a restroom on the south side. Bring a blanket and some snack, relax and enjoy the view. read more
6 years ago
One of my favorite beaches in the Monterey Bay Area. It's less crowded most of the time compared to Carmel beach and it's usually at least 10 degrees warmer. There's free no time limit parking off the highway. I also love that instead of fine sand it's mostly tiny little pebbles which make it a lot easier to clean up heading back home. I have never gotten into the water because I don't know how to swim, but I've read thats it's a super dangerous. If you want beautiful blue clear skies this is the beach for you! read more
5 years ago
Pluses: Right off Hwy 1. Easy parking. Beautiful scenery. Not crowded. Minuses: Supposedly dangerous waves & currents. Super negatives: The sand, if you can call it that, sucks! Not really sand, but tiny pebbles that hurt your feet to walk on. My kids did not like it here. Great beach to sit in a chair or beach tent and enjoy the scenery. Not so great to walk on the sand. read more
5 years ago
Monastery Beach is really pretty on a beautiful day (like this past Valentine's Day). Unlike Santa Cruz, this beach was fairly clean. We didn't take a dip in the water but just stood there watching the waves and taking in the scenery. This place is an easy spot to pull over because it's right off HWY 1. You don't need to go down any hills to get to the beach because it's seriously right there. A lot of people tend to stop by here so you may need to park on the side of the road. I recommend stopping by here if you're taking a trip on hwy 1. Like what Steve N. mentioned, there have been many fatalities here. There is a diagram stating this at the beach. Be VERY careful if you plan to go in the water. read more
Easy access off Highway 1. This is not a swimming beach. Like Carmel River State Beach up the road the surf here forms a steep beach. I'm sure experienced divers and surfers negotiate the surf just fine. For the rest of us one misstep in the undertow and you are fish food. The views from the beach are second to none. Point Lobos to the left, views of Carmel and Pebble Beach to the right. The picturesque Carmelite Monastery is directly across the highway. It's a grand setting all in all. Monastery Beach is also a perfect spot to watch the sunset from. read more
9 years ago
11 years ago
How can you not 5 star the free things nature has to provide? My friend and I came here just before sundown and had a little picnic here. We were the only ones here and the view was amazingly gorgeous. It was peaceful, calm, and and clean. Loved it. read more
7 years ago
9 years ago
A beautiful beach for scuba diving. Great kelp forest. Challenging exit, not for inexperienced divers. Enter at north or south ends, not in the middle. read more
14 years ago
6 years ago
This beach is clean and peaceful. Its a great place to stop and enjoy a short walk or meditation and take in the beauty that mother nature offers us in CA. This is a place with history and so much refreshing energy. If you're in love this is a great place yo take your loved one to take in the serenity and vibe. Enjoy! read more
9 years ago
I love the beautiful sights here! The waves are dangerous so make sure to be careful when you go there but they are still beautiful nonetheless. The parking is right off of the highway and luckily when I went on Memorial Day, we found a spot. This beach is small and I've been here twice: both times, it wasn't crowded here. Just look at my pictures and you'll see how beautiful this place is. It's totally worth it to me. read more
Carmelite singing Nuns live in the historic Monastery, across the street. You may never SEE them, but may Hear them sing. The beach across highway one is so serene, yet so deadly. Do not turn your back on the waves, read the warnings. Yet, the spiritual calm that surrounds you when experiencing this environment is a gift of nature. read more
6 years ago
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More info about Monastery Beach
27951 California 1
Carmel, CA 93923
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(831) 649-2836
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https://www.californiabeaches.com/beach/monastery-beach/
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Monastery Beach - beaches - Updated May 2026
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