This is an amazing beach in Trinidad. It is dog friendly so you can bring your four legged friends here as well. You will see dogs running around and having the time of their lives The parking area can fill up at certain times of the year (the busier season), although usually has room for everyone. It's a very short walk from the parking lot to the beach. It's better to come during low tide. It has beautiful views and is very peaceful. Moonstone Grill, a restaurant just up the hill, opens for dinner. They have amazing food and incredible sunset views overlooking the ocean! read more

Moonstone Beach - Beaches Near Me - Trinidad, California

Turn in here... I see a beach! On our way to a 4-day road trip at the Oregon Coast we made our first stop at Moonstone Beach. We estimated we'd reach our lodging destination at a certain time but we like to leave room for side trips we stumble upon along the way (like this one). Moonstone Beach is not too far from Clam Beach. We've been to this part of the state before when we went on a tour of the Battery Point Lighthouse in Crescent City. The parking area is not a long walk from the beach -whew- and it was low tide at the time so it was nice. We walked all the way to the north end of the beach to the cave. Few people in November, some walked the beach, many brought their dogs to play and run around. There was some rock climbing going on too. Beautiful beach in Humboldt County! The tide was starting to come in as we were leaving... Moonstone Grill, a restaurant just up the hill you'll see before heading down to the beach, opened at 4:30p daily for dinner. We arrived at the beach at 1:00p so we weren't able to try. Review #3241 read more

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This is one of the best beaches in Northern California. There's a small parking lot full of pot holes, so beware. A little River runs through into the ocean. Rocks to climb, beautiful, clean beaches. Dog friendly read more

I went here on a gloomy, foggy day and it was just ok. It's a nice wide beach and great for walking but it was cold and windy on a summer day. I'm sure it's stunning on a warm day with blue skies. Lots of free parking read more

Moonstone Beach - Beaches Near Me - Trinidad, California

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Nice beach, but many beautiful beaches in the area. We were in a smaller RV and parking area was small but access is very steep, do NOT go down in a large vehicle or RV. There's a small parking area at the top of the road but honestly, just go to another beach down the road with easy access. read more

I love spending any time I can get at Moonstone Beach. When the tide is out, you can walk straight out to the water line, turn around and barely see the rocks and parking lot. Truly a peaceful feeling. On days when there is no one around or it's foggy, you can truly be by yourself with just you and your thoughts. Conversely, if you go on a sunny weekend day, there may be crowds of people there enjoying the sun and surf... along with their canine companions. Dogs are welcome here if "on leash" or by "voice command." And most people are respectful of this and acknowledge the other dogs and people on the beach. Though there are those handful that don't, and I've had a number of dogs try and approach my leashed dog naively and cause issues. But, as long as folks are respectful and smart, it makes for a pleasant day. read more

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My favorite beach on the North Coast. Gorgeous. Great sunsets. Great place for families - we've been visiting for the last 24 years and now our grown daughter goes on her own, too. Definitely stop by when you're in the area. read more

This is a beautiful location off of a scenic route near Trinidad. The road to this location is small and switches between one and two lanes in several sections. Once you arrive here it is a little misleading at the top.... does not look very well maintained. Once you traverse the stairs and get to the beach it is absolutely stunning and changes often with the tides! I highly recommend that you come her... spend a few minutes or a few hours. There is limited parking and a not so clean potable restroom! read more

Great place to bring your dog. My husband and I came with our two standard poodles on an early, weekday morning in June. Lots of people walking around with their dogs. Weather was cold so there weren't too many people with beach chairs. Dogs were on leash and off leash. The tide was out so the sand was hard and wet. Easy to walk on in tennis shoes. We also saw a couple horseback riding. read more

Moonstone Beach - Someone playing with their dog - Beaches Near Me - Trinidad, California

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Made an impromptu decision to take a short drive up by Trinidad while we were in Arcata for a weekend. So thankful we did - this ended up being a highlight of the weekend. Calm, serene, and stunning. Many beaches look like other beaches. This one had definite significance and raw beauty. From the abstract moonstones to the rugged tree-covered backdrop... there are some places you actually enjoy on a cloudy day - this is one of them. Just stunning. read more

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Wow. Just a breathtaking brach to visit with the family. So many rock formations, sand dollars, coves, and a large expanse of accessible beach. A must visit if you are in the area. read more

Moonstone Beach - Beaches Near Me - Trinidad, California

Breathtakingly beautiful!!! The hike down has a few steep areas so my mother in law had to wait at the top of the trail but other than that it was perfect!! read more

Moonstone Beach - Beach - Beaches Near Me - Trinidad, California

This was my first stop on a long weekend up in the area. It's easy to find if you follow the directions for Moonstone Grill. There is a small dirt lot at the end of the road-careful because it's quite rutted with pot holes. The beach is right there and immediately you are greeted with dramatic rock formations and a river running parallel to the shore and through the beach (at least on the day I visited after a week of heavy rains.) There were quite a lot of shells spread out along the sand (many broken) but no moonstones on this particular day. The tide was coming in and gave the sand a lovely mirrored, glassy look. Walking to the right you will come upon a few caves, rocky tide pools and a sea stacks in the distance. There was also a beach waterfall-quite an unexpected and magical surprise. The beach wasn't crowded and it seemed to be a local spot with people playing with their dogs, kids making sand castles and people gathering to watch the pending sunset. Easy to find off the 101, free parking and beautiful scenery-what a great way to kick off my vacation! read more

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Braved the fires all the way from Sacramento to meet some old friends on the beach. We chilled here for hours to the sounds of old 60s & 70s hits and played in the sand. Everyone around us was in a great mood and the sky was clear as can be. I'll always come back to moonstone beach and the Humboldt county coastline for spiritual healing and balance. read more

Moonstone Beach - Beaches Near Me - Trinidad, California

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Such a beautiful beach. Not a lot of stones as anticipated but still so very pretty and clean. Dog friendly as well. Good parking.

When we arrived in the area, a local homeowner walking her dog began walking up to us and following us very aggressively. As we found parking in the area near the beach I noticed a guy looking in car windows and several other disheveled looking guys hanging around. I almost left but after so many hours driving we really wanted to see a beach. As we walked down to the sand and rocks we saw a big handwritten sign that somebody posted. It seemed like something a crazy person would write! The beach was beautiful as the sun was setting, unfortunately people leave lots of trash around and yes... there's graffiti around too. I love dogs, but waaay too many dogs running around and peeing on stuff. As we played on the beach, we could hear screaming from some houses up above as the local homeowners seemed to be voicing concern about something. Not a good experience and there's several other better areas than this around. read more

Moonstone Beach - Warning sign! - Beaches Near Me - Trinidad, California

This beach is huge and very doggy friendly! Made me miss my pooch which I left at home for this trip. There were people rock climbing, paying with their dogs, surfing, sun bathing, playing catch, having a picnic, exploring and so much more! Allow some time to park and walk around a bit there are lots of nooks to stake a claim and hang out. Great views and rocks to climb. Plan to stay awhile. read more

Moonstone Beach - Beaches Near Me - Trinidad, California

Don't go here! It's awful. Tourists especially stay away! It's crowded and full of dogs and you can never find a parking spot.

Any Beach that is dog friendly gets my vote! Nice hike down; enjoy the views, and burn some calories on the hike back up. Perfect! read more

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Pretty cool spot. Make sure to look up the water quality before even attempting to try this gem. We made the mistake of not doing this and made the trip in to find a warning sign about the quality of the water and to avoid due to high bacteria containing e. Coli. Would give 5 stars if the water quality wasn't an issue. Parking with a trailer is also difficult so park at the restaurant then walk down. Very pretty. https://humboldtgov.org/1696/Water-Quality-Test-Results read more

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Never disappoints! Calm serene peaceful. Fun exciting and adventure calling! Moonstone Beach has it all.

Really wide open beach. The views are expansive. There were some caves and small pools of ocean water where kids can wade in. The surfing and depth of the ocean appeared pretty far away. read more

As a short preface, I was born and raised in SoCal. So, I'm used to a very densely packed beach experience. This is what I was expected when some locals to the area told me that Moonstone Beach was the most popular around. I was excited to meet people and to party it up NorCal beach style. When I arrived around noon time on a sunny day there was one other person on the beach. Let me say, it was desolate. But it was amazing. It was a nice chilly beach with lots of rocks to climb and areas to explore. The great thing was that nearly all the people who did come did so with their dogs!! Always a plus! Great beach read more

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An awesome locals bench, with easy access off the 101 (just have to know where you're going) low waves and shallow areas for kids, this is one of the safer beaches around for ocean access and surfing, as some of our northcoast waters can be dangerous. The low waves and shallow waters gives younger and less experienced surfers a place to practice. We like to come here because dogs are allowed on leash or under voice command - there always are a few pups around and it allows ours to run and get some exercise on the sandy beach and nice water. One of the little gems of the California north coast. Parking is very limited and can be difficult at best during the busy seasons - you have to arrive early if you want easy parking. This great beach is unmarked from the highway, so you have to know where you're going - take the Westhaven exit north of McKinleyville a couple miles. Follow the signs down to the water - make sure you park in the right area or you might get towed off - well worth the effort. A Solid 5 star northcoast gem. 00305 read more

Beautiful beach with picturesque views. The parking lot is just steps from the sand. If you're lucky to catch a sunset or the sun peeking through the clouds the reflection on the sand and water is absolutely worth it. Locals have told me that the little river is the stream that passes through the sand. I've seen people kayaking and playing in the water but was always afraid it was too cold to walk through. Boy was I wrong. This last time at moonstone beach my friends and I walked through the shallow little river and were surprised how warm it was. As we passed through walking towards the ocean we found tons of shells and whole sand dollars. The sand dollars were white, black and brown and some even larger than the palm of my hand. I could have stayed out there for hours but it was getting late. I've seen several dogs at this beach on and off their leash but all were friendly. There is one portable toilet in the parking lot and although I did not open it a friend did and said it was disgusting and appeared that it hasn't been cleaned in weeks/months/maybe ever? So just make sure you go to the bathroom before visiting the beach. read more

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Moonstone stole my heart at its first sunset. Continuous waves, big open beach, a river running through it, surrounded with high cliffs and picturesque trees, the humble guardians. Sunsets are fully panoramic turning wheels of color, it's mesmerizing. This is a great beach for sand sculpture, skipping, playing frisbee, having a picnic, walking your dog, and no kidding Rock Climbing!!! When I was running the local kids aquatic camp back in the day, we would bring the kids here for a surf session. From the cliffs, we taught them about the moon, tides, the weather and then big blue. Then down at the beach, we practiced pop ups, surf etiquette, safety first, small ho-daddy chant for sacred purposes and then we were off. It was pure chaos in motion with a whole lotta laughing, big smiles and constant head counting. Oh yes in deedy, fond memories at Moomstone!! read more

So much change here. The water is shallow so the change in tide is huge. At high tide there isn't much here but as the waters recede, Little River Beach reveals it's self across the river and there is plenty of space to share then. At low tide, obviously the waves are far out. The river however is perfect for little kids or dogs to play in. read more

There are too many dogs!! I love dogs, but when they are peeing on you bags, pooping in the water in front of you, and beach is covered in dog feces which carries disease!! It is disgusting!! It is a fabulous beach for family and kids. Won't go back until dog issues are in control, read more

Perfect spot to relax and find moonstones. My daughters found sand dollars and we were one of three other families on the beach. Great tide pools and view read more

I love this beach, but on a nice day, have fun parking at least a mile away to get there. It's ridiculous, it's like no one car pools when they go. It's always packed, I much prefer to go to Trinidad Beach. Also, there's a crazy guy that lives on the beach that freaks me out. read more

This was an amazing beach! Gorgeous at sunset! So wonderfully dog friendly. It reminded me of Cannon Beach Oregon but if possible it was prettier.I can't wait to go back there and explore during the day. I didn't want to leave when it got dark. read more

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Moon Rocks (Not from the Moon) Caves and Surfing Moonstone beach is great place to walk around and enjoy the sea, roll up your pants and climb into a cave or apparently have a wedding. There is a restaurant Moonstone Grill which can host special events and a wedding was taking place by the large rock cropping. One down side was a lot of flies buzzing about the sand when we rested but could be the time of year, or perhaps that's why no one was just chilling out here. Walk to the right from the parking lot and the end of the cove has a cool cave with a fresh water shower you can play in. A close inspection of the cliff rocks reveals what does look like the moon's surface with a variety of small rocks embedded in a sand stone like base. The sand was super soft I had fun drawing things with my toes. A bunch of surfers were out catching the waves, I liked watching them paddle out in that oh so gosh darn cold water. Dog Friendly - Four paws for a dog friendly beach cove and my pooch did enjoy checking out the cave pond and trying to eat the flies. read more

SUCH A BEAUTIFUL BEACH! This beach is where the forest meets the ocean sands. I took my kids here once when they were 1 and 3 years old and they still remember how beautiful this beach is (then they go on to complain about how we don't travel as much anymore lol). There are starfish on the rocks of the tide pools and little crab claws can be found along the beach. Whats great about it is that there is never a ton of people at the beach like there is down here in SoCal.Its uniquely quiet so you can really appreciate the beauty of the beach. read more

A beautiful beach. A favorite of mine. A river runs through it. I love it. We love this beach. I will miss it, but know, that California's North Coast calls for my return, and return, I will! And, on a side note, people without dogs are not overwhelmed by dog friendly Moonstone Beach, as stated by a previous yelper, no, not me, I just get pissed off at owners who leave their dogs POOP on the beach or parking lot without picking it up. Poor dogs, to be owned by you people. I still love the beach but on this night, the poop ruined my day. read more

Beautiful beach in Trinidad. If you are visiting from out of town, visiting Moonstone Beach is a must. The rock formations are stunning, and the backdrop is lovely. However - if you do go on a cool/cold day, make sure to bring your jacket & dress warm! My brother lives in Arcata and took my Mom & I here to do a bit of sightseeing. He mentioned that on nice, warm days, you'll see surfers out in the water and sunbathers on the beach enjoying a sunny day. Also, be sure to check out the "Camel Head" scenic spot, which is just a few minutes above Moonstone Beach. That is another breathtaking spot to enjoy, relax and get a good photograph! read more

We walked down the mirrored wet, sandy beach with its mammoth rock formations in the distance. The fog we experienced here is specific to regions of Northern California, it's colloquially called tule fog. Visibility is severely limited like walking through a dense cloud but it's the finest mist to walk through creating its own wall of water particles. It's an enchanting experience though quite different than hot, tropical beaches. There are areas here where you can sit next to streams of water as they carve their way through the sand to the ocean. My pants were rolled up and the sky was overcast through the fog as we walked through the stream on the beach, a special experience. Worth a view of the wide beach with craggy formations off through the clouds in the distance on the right. read more

A beautiful beach that changes constantly with the seasons. The river is there, oh now it's here, oh now it's back over there. A very dynamic beach which keeps things interesting even after many return visits! Check out the cool cave! read more

Life is good on moonstone beach. Parking can be little tuff on hot summer weekend days but overall its rarely a problem. Super dog friendly and i think some people without dogs find it overwhelming at times, but i think its pretty entertaining myself. Huge amount of sand to sit and have a snack or chill and read a book. Also it has some good rock climbing rocks if thats your thing. read more

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Cool beach for walking and play. Probably too cold and windy for just lying around. If you like dogs, this is the beach. Plus plus for this area... no hike! unlike a lot of other beaches around here. read more

This restaurant was a pleasant surprise on our trip through the north coast. We were checking out restaurants in the area and decided to give The Moonstone a shot. It was Sunday at 5:30 and Casey, the host, was very gracious and was able to fit us in. Reservations are recommended especially if you're trying to catch a dinner sunset. Brooke was our waitress and she was gentle, kind and accommodating. We shared a wonderful Caesar salad. I requested extra anchovies and was they were given with no extra charge. My wife had the coconut crusted halibut with Yukon Gold garlic mashed potatoes with fresh veggies. It was excellent. I had the bone in pork loin with a wonderful peach sauce, potatoes and asparagus. Again a nice presentation and great flavors. The lava cake a la mode was a nice finish. The restaurant has a beautiful view of Moonstone Beach where the Little River empties into the ocean. My only complaint was that even on a cool day outside, there wasn't enough open air inside which made the restaurant warmer than it should have been. read more

Moonstone Beach - Beaches Near Me - Trinidad, California

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