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I love it here at Moss Landing, it's very peaceful and reminds me of growing up as a kiddo. Used to come out here a lot with my uncle who has passed, but coming out here reminds me of a use and hanging out with him.
Always a five star review for this beach! It is an excellent place to see sea life. Otters, sea lions, harbor seals, pelicans, seagulls, and many others! Right out in front of this beach in the deep ocean is the underwater Grand Canyon of Monterey Bay. And during whale season you can see whales lunge feeding off the coast. I am so blessed to be able to drive 15/20 minutes and see these sights. Be careful entering this beach. Please drive slowly and carefully. I have gotten a mail in my tire once before parking here. The road is very sandy. Many families and surfers come here this drive slow!! Parking is free. Happy Yelping adventures to all!
It's always nice to come out to this beach when you want to clear your mind of everything going on in life. The chirping of the sea birds along with the calming sounds that the tides make as they meet the shore are simply relaxing. I also really like how you can encounter some friendly folks and dogs as you take a stroll around the beach. I usually like to check out the little tide pools that come up when the tides have receded far enough. You'll be able to see some starfish, sea anemone, and tons and tons of barnacles! However, you don't have to take my word for it! Make a visit and check it out yourself :) Tip: Try to plan your trip to this beach early, as the parking lot can fill up rather quick, especially during a weekend!! There are other areas where you can park, but it's gonna be a bit far from the beach itself as the lot already is off to the side.
For wildlife lovers, this is 10/10 must visit. There are so many sea otters, seas, and birds to see along the opening of Elkhorn Slough. As soon as you park, you'll look into the slough and see otters and seals, and it might be hard to make it to the actual beach! I spent about 45 minutes watching a male sea otter dive and eat clams. It was time well spent. The only down side was the amount of litter and cigarette butts around. It will all end up in the ocean, so let's all just pack out what we've brought in and maybe leave it better than we found it.
Arrived on a Saturday around noon and there were parking spots - either in this gravel section or along the fence. I walked along the rocks where people were fishing and immediately saw jellyfish swimming in the water. I also saw otters. It's not too crowded so it was a pleasant escape from the rest if bay area. I saw a couple portapotties but no other established restrooms. Next time I would reserve a time to kayak.
Moss Landing is located in northern Monterey County. We visited in November 2023 for the first time and loved it! We stayed at the Moss Landing RV park, which is located next to the beach. We ate at The Haute Enchilada Art restaurant, which offered really delicious food. We visited a local farmer's market, an antique store, and the Shakespeare Society of America. Next to the rv park, there's a harbor with many sea lions. Great little gem!
We haven't actually been to the beach here, but there's a really good place to view otters in the harbor. The last two times we were here there was a raft of 15-20 otters in the water. A few of them had come up on the beach below to nap, and they looked like furry sausages. Bring your binoculars!
Depending on what you're looking for, this beach is either a five star or a one star. I will start with the five star review. This natural bird and sea life preserve is an incredible place for photography and nature viewing. You can see several protected and some endanger species. The opportunity to get up close viewing of California Sea Otters, see lions, pelicans and several other birds is incredible. Be sure to pack a lunch, as you will want to stay as long as possible. The beach and ocean entry area is a little bit hazardous and probably scary to people who have not spent much time in the ocean. It to you are looking for a sunny beach side resort to hang out in, this is your one star review. The parking is limited and very difficult. Be careful not to get stuck in the sand. If you're looking for a clean restroom go somewhere else, in this area only out houses are an option. The water is cold, the waves and surface are rough and riptides will kill you, it's frequently cold and very foggy weather brisk wind. But overall this is a excellent naturalists location!
Review #002 - 2017 This beach is absolutely beautiful! For a few minutes, I almost made myself believed that I was back in Hawaii again... I actually drove by this beach twice in October 2016, but didn't get a chance to stop by because it was raining on both occasions. So, when my brother and nephew from Laos came to visit, I decided to bring them here to get some tourist shots to post on their Facebook accounts. I managed to get one of myself as well. We showed up around 1:30 PM on Friday, Dec. 30th, and it was so beautiful. Considering that it was wintertime, the weather was still nice and there were so many surfers around. I almost couldn't find a parking spot, but I was lucky enough that someone was leaving and we only needed to park for about 10 minutes just to snap a few pictures so we managed to park right at the entrance of the beach. Unfortunately, since I didn't really expect to stop at the beach, I had my boots on and it was quite a tough walk through the beautiful sand to get close to the water and capture the waves in the background. I'm glad I made the effort because our photos came out quite nicely.
Lots to do kayak, swim (although I'm not sure it's permitted), and fish. I saw lots of small crabs beneath the dock located on the rocks covered in algae. There were tons of them just crawling around. Also as the kayakers are strolling the waters there was sea lions swimming beside them was a great view to see. Lots of bird species flying about the area and a nice little restaurant was located in the same parking lot that smelled amazing like fish and chips!!!
Oh. My. God. Sea Otters. If I could just leave my review at that, I would. But I guess I should explain a little bit more. So my husband and I were in Monterey for a day. While doing some research before we left, he just so happened to find this place marked on the interwebs as "Secret Sea Otter Hideout." Or something like that, I don't have photographic memory so don't sue me if you can't find it. Anyways....he kept saying, "Well we don't need to go, it's probably no big deal. Only if we have time and I know we won't. Blah blah blah." All I heard was, "Secret Sea Otter Hangout." I tuned out the rest. There was nothing else I needed to hear. So while heading back to San Francisco, we made a quick stop at the park. We had no idea where we were going and when we should stop or where these sea otters would be, but all I kept thinking was "I'm going to see these Sea Otters, and their hideout will be a secret no more." We followed the path around the park, passing by what appeared to be locals getting ready for a day of watercraft-filled activities. We finally found a dirt lot and pulled in. I stepped out of the car, mouth agape - there was a mass of sea otters napping in the water right in front of us! About two dozen furballs of adorable just a few feet away causing my head to nearly explode from the cuteness overload. Ok, I know. I sound dramatic. I guess I should say that I'm a nature lover kinda gal and I could have spent the entire afternoon watching these sea otters hang out in the water. If you went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and thought to yourself that it wasn't very interesting, then this place should definitely be a skip on your itinerary. Reading other reviews, I'm apparently a dummy and this place has a gorgeous beach to see. Well, we missed that. We parked in a spot, stared at some sea otters, got a good look at lots of birds and some sea lions too, and left. We were pretty pressed for time, so maybe it's a good thing we didn't know about the beach. Otherwise, my friend in San Francisco would have been filing a report for a missing person.
Beautiful park and beach access. We saw over a dozen little otters the day we went. Also on clear days you can see whales. It was crazy awesome! They also have restrooms here so great place to stop and stretch you legs. The scenery is beautiful al around! This beach is super smooth not many rocks and would make a great photo opportunity!
F*ck yeah, sea otters!!! I came here thinking I'll probably see a few otters, if any at all, but I saw a ton!! You can't get super-up close to them, there's a small cliff that separates you from the bay and where the otters hang out. But if you have a camera with zoom, you're sure to get some amazing photos.
Such a peaceful place to go to watch the sea lions, otters, rabbits, birds.... Lovely wildlife all around. Some people go fishing here too. There is a little bit of trash that people leave behind that can get super irritating. Free parking. Access to nice beaches. read more
1 year ago
Smells fishy. Lots of dead fish along the shore. Lots of boaters and kayakers when we stopped for lunch nearby. Busy, busy road here. Hwy 1 was almost bumper to bumper along this stretch. Patience, please! read more
6 years ago
Always a five star review for this beach! It is an excellent place to see sea life. Otters, sea lions, harbor seals, pelicans, seagulls, and many others! Right out in front of this beach in the deep ocean is the underwater Grand Canyon of Monterey Bay. And during whale season you can see whales lunge feeding off the coast. I am so blessed to be able to drive 15/20 minutes and see these sights. Be careful entering this beach. Please drive slowly and carefully. I have gotten a mail in my tire once before parking here. The road is very sandy. Many families and surfers come here this drive slow!! Parking is free. Happy Yelping adventures to all! read more
It's always nice to come out to this beach when you want to clear your mind of everything going on in life. The chirping of the sea birds along with the calming sounds that the tides make as they meet the shore are simply relaxing. I also really like how you can encounter some friendly folks and dogs as you take a stroll around the beach. I usually like to check out the little tide pools that come up when the tides have receded far enough. You'll be able to see some starfish, sea anemone, and tons and tons of barnacles! However, you don't have to take my word for it! Make a visit and check it out yourself :) Tip: Try to plan your trip to this beach early, as the parking lot can fill up rather quick, especially during a weekend!! There are other areas where you can park, but it's gonna be a bit far from the beach itself as the lot already is off to the side. read more
For wildlife lovers, this is 10/10 must visit. There are so many sea otters, seas, and birds to see along the opening of Elkhorn Slough. As soon as you park, you'll look into the slough and see otters and seals, and it might be hard to make it to the actual beach! I spent about 45 minutes watching a male sea otter dive and eat clams. It was time well spent. The only down side was the amount of litter and cigarette butts around. It will all end up in the ocean, so let's all just pack out what we've brought in and maybe leave it better than we found it. read more
Arrived on a Saturday around noon and there were parking spots - either in this gravel section or along the fence. I walked along the rocks where people were fishing and immediately saw jellyfish swimming in the water. I also saw otters. It's not too crowded so it was a pleasant escape from the rest if bay area. I saw a couple portapotties but no other established restrooms. Next time I would reserve a time to kayak. read more
3 years ago
Moss Landing is located in northern Monterey County. We visited in November 2023 for the first time and loved it! We stayed at the Moss Landing RV park, which is located next to the beach. We ate at The Haute Enchilada Art restaurant, which offered really delicious food. We visited a local farmer's market, an antique store, and the Shakespeare Society of America. Next to the rv park, there's a harbor with many sea lions. Great little gem! read more
We haven't actually been to the beach here, but there's a really good place to view otters in the harbor. The last two times we were here there was a raft of 15-20 otters in the water. A few of them had come up on the beach below to nap, and they looked like furry sausages. Bring your binoculars! read more
6 years ago
8 years ago
Depending on what you're looking for, this beach is either a five star or a one star. I will start with the five star review. This natural bird and sea life preserve is an incredible place for photography and nature viewing. You can see several protected and some endanger species. The opportunity to get up close viewing of California Sea Otters, see lions, pelicans and several other birds is incredible. Be sure to pack a lunch, as you will want to stay as long as possible. The beach and ocean entry area is a little bit hazardous and probably scary to people who have not spent much time in the ocean. It to you are looking for a sunny beach side resort to hang out in, this is your one star review. The parking is limited and very difficult. Be careful not to get stuck in the sand. If you're looking for a clean restroom go somewhere else, in this area only out houses are an option. The water is cold, the waves and surface are rough and riptides will kill you, it's frequently cold and very foggy weather brisk wind. But overall this is a excellent naturalists location! read more
10 years ago
Review #002 - 2017 This beach is absolutely beautiful! For a few minutes, I almost made myself believed that I was back in Hawaii again... I actually drove by this beach twice in October 2016, but didn't get a chance to stop by because it was raining on both occasions. So, when my brother and nephew from Laos came to visit, I decided to bring them here to get some tourist shots to post on their Facebook accounts. I managed to get one of myself as well. We showed up around 1:30 PM on Friday, Dec. 30th, and it was so beautiful. Considering that it was wintertime, the weather was still nice and there were so many surfers around. I almost couldn't find a parking spot, but I was lucky enough that someone was leaving and we only needed to park for about 10 minutes just to snap a few pictures so we managed to park right at the entrance of the beach. Unfortunately, since I didn't really expect to stop at the beach, I had my boots on and it was quite a tough walk through the beautiful sand to get close to the water and capture the waves in the background. I'm glad I made the effort because our photos came out quite nicely. read more
Lots to do kayak, swim (although I'm not sure it's permitted), and fish. I saw lots of small crabs beneath the dock located on the rocks covered in algae. There were tons of them just crawling around. Also as the kayakers are strolling the waters there was sea lions swimming beside them was a great view to see. Lots of bird species flying about the area and a nice little restaurant was located in the same parking lot that smelled amazing like fish and chips!!! read more
Oh. My. God. Sea Otters. If I could just leave my review at that, I would. But I guess I should explain a little bit more. So my husband and I were in Monterey for a day. While doing some research before we left, he just so happened to find this place marked on the interwebs as "Secret Sea Otter Hideout." Or something like that, I don't have photographic memory so don't sue me if you can't find it. Anyways....he kept saying, "Well we don't need to go, it's probably no big deal. Only if we have time and I know we won't. Blah blah blah." All I heard was, "Secret Sea Otter Hangout." I tuned out the rest. There was nothing else I needed to hear. So while heading back to San Francisco, we made a quick stop at the park. We had no idea where we were going and when we should stop or where these sea otters would be, but all I kept thinking was "I'm going to see these Sea Otters, and their hideout will be a secret no more." We followed the path around the park, passing by what appeared to be locals getting ready for a day of watercraft-filled activities. We finally found a dirt lot and pulled in. I stepped out of the car, mouth agape - there was a mass of sea otters napping in the water right in front of us! About two dozen furballs of adorable just a few feet away causing my head to nearly explode from the cuteness overload. Ok, I know. I sound dramatic. I guess I should say that I'm a nature lover kinda gal and I could have spent the entire afternoon watching these sea otters hang out in the water. If you went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and thought to yourself that it wasn't very interesting, then this place should definitely be a skip on your itinerary. Reading other reviews, I'm apparently a dummy and this place has a gorgeous beach to see. Well, we missed that. We parked in a spot, stared at some sea otters, got a good look at lots of birds and some sea lions too, and left. We were pretty pressed for time, so maybe it's a good thing we didn't know about the beach. Otherwise, my friend in San Francisco would have been filing a report for a missing person. read more
Beautiful park and beach access. We saw over a dozen little otters the day we went. Also on clear days you can see whales. It was crazy awesome! They also have restrooms here so great place to stop and stretch you legs. The scenery is beautiful al around! This beach is super smooth not many rocks and would make a great photo opportunity! read more
F*ck yeah, sea otters!!! I came here thinking I'll probably see a few otters, if any at all, but I saw a ton!! You can't get super-up close to them, there's a small cliff that separates you from the bay and where the otters hang out. But if you have a camera with zoom, you're sure to get some amazing photos. read more
13 years ago
11 years ago
My favorite beach in the Santa Cruz/Monterey area. My dad brought me here as child and I brought my son here when he was a toddler for his first beach experience. It's a quite and clean beach with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Center just down the way. During the season, you can see sea otters, dolphins and even whales from afar. read more
11 years ago
15 years ago
The best beach EVER! At least coming from a SoCal person that's used to crowded beaches. Heh. Of course, this time of the air and the water is waaaay chilly. But the big highlight...we let our dogs loose to run crazy up and down the beach. Yeehaw! They had a blast and nobody was bothered. Oops! Just saw a previous post - no dogs on beach. Doooh..... I guess we time it right. Just before sunset and no one around. Phew! P.S. I DID pick up after my pooches, so I don't feel too guilty. :-\ read more
Dogs are NOT allowed on the beach itself. I love this beach. Understated, but wide open and not very many people. Great place to take the puppy for socialization over at the Sea Lions section At least I think the sea lion part of this is attached and considered as such? read more
Could I LOVE this beach any more? Probably not! While touring Highway 1 and beyond, came across this GEM (my FAVORITE word!) LOVED IT! First thing I had to do was put my toes in the sand. Weather was unstable, raining a bit, but WHO cared! Due to work and coaching/volunteer schedule, we really can't take BIG trips (nor are we interested in doing so.) Day and weekend trips SEVERAL times a year suit us just fine. We LOVE it when we can get in a BUNCH of stops, and this beach just fit the bill. Loved the path to the beach itself, and the dune area that was lovingly protected by ropes. We are able to catch some surfers AND some otters on our day visit. This water can be pretty unforgiving, so we did heed the multiple signs that clearly indicated "Intermittent Waves." So, toes in sand and a stroll is what we did. Just sat and talked and talked about how AWESOME life is, and what a BEAUTIFUL beach we were enjoying it from! read more
9 years ago
If you want to view sea otters in their natural habitat then this is the place. We usually stop here on the way up to Big Sur and I am always happy that we made the stop. read more
9 years ago
It's a beach. I didn't see anything particularly special about this beach that is set in front of the Moss Power Plant. It's not pretty and doesn't have anything special to offer. There are far more scenic views at beaches only a few miles south of it. One plus: you can see tons of seals bathing on the sand or feeding in the water. read more
10 years ago
14 years ago
Sea otters are probably one of my favorite animals and this is the one place where you get to see them congregate in their natural habitat. Depending on where they are you can see them pretty up close too! I mean how do you not get excited by those adorable little faces rolling around in the water?! I think you can see other wildlife like seals and birds but my main focus was on my otter friends. The only downside to this place is that there are kayakers in the water too and if they get too close (which they often do) they will scare away the otters. Like someone mentioned in a review before me DONT BE THAT KAYAKER! Don't ruin the moment for everyone else just so you can "get a closer look." read more
11 years ago
11 years ago
The Best place to stop and enjoy Sea Otters and Seal Lions... tons of people fish here and very quiet beach just to relax. Great parking . read more
13 years ago
Nice, quiet, and relaxing spot to spot seals and sea otters. Parking is limited, there's no public restrooms, but due to how little tourists seem to be interested in this place, it's pretty clean. read more
11 years ago
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More info about Moss Landing State Beach
Moss Landing, CA 95039
Directions
(831) 649-2836
Call Now
Visit Website
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=574
Hours
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
Ask the Community - Moss Landing State Beach
Does this beach have easy access down to the beach? I have 4 kids and just don't want to end up having to hike down to the beach. Are there restrooms? How is the parking?
Easy beach access, parking can get full fast, didn't use the restrooms, sorry
Is there bathrooms here?
There are the blue portable potties. Across the bay where the kayak rentals are, there is a more regular beach restroom, but you need to drive to it from Moss Beach.
