Monterey State Beach

Monterey State Beach shares the waterfront with several municipal beaches, forming a long stretch of public access sand from the Monterey Municipal Wharf to Seaside. A number of local parks and preserves adjacent to the beach expand the public areas. Connecting these beaches and others to the north is the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail.

Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail

Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail is a paved, 18-mile path that stretches from Castroville to Pacific Grove, connecting all the beaches in-between. Among those is the recently opened Fort Ord Dunes State Park. The trail is open to walking, jogging, cycling, skating, and similar activities.

Beach Maps

The northern section of Monterey State Beach and adjoining beaches are shown below. The adjoining portion of Monterey State Beach adjacent to the city of Monterey is shown in the lower map.

Monterey State Beach Map, Monterey County, CA

Del Monte Beach

Del Monte Beach is adjacent to Tide Avenue and Surf Way. It includes a boardwalk, volleyball courts, sand dunes, and picnic tables and benches.

Monterey State Beach

El Estero Park

Directly across Del Monte Boulevard from Window on the Bay Park, El Estero Park is filled with attractions worth visiting. Dennis the Menace Playground is a great play area with creative structures for children to explore. The playground is open 10:00 AM to dusk every day (except Tuesdays from September to May).

Inside the park you will also find a weekend snack bar, dog park, skate park (9:00 AM to dusk), boating concession, and fishing piers.

Window on the Bay Park

Window on the Bay, also called Monterey Bay Waterfront Park, is a located north of El Estero Park, next to the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail and facing the state beach. The park has sand volleyball courts, tree-shaded picnic tables, and BBQ pits. Group picnic areas and volleyball courts can be reserved. As opportunities arise to acquire more property, Monterey hopes to expand the park.

Coastal Recreation Trail

Eolian Dunes Preserve

Eolian Dunes Preserve's 28 acres are located off the Sand City portion of the Coastal Trail. The area is open to the public. The dunes were once a landfill, but were closed in 1954 and later acquired by the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District. Restoration of the area in the mid-1990s returned it to its original character. Today the dunes are a wonderful open space for walking and enjoying views of the bay.

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Ocean Safety

California State Parks and Recreation cautions that "large surf, cold water temperatures, backwash, sudden drop-offs, pounding shorebreak, and dangerous rip currents can turn what seem like safe activities such as playing near the surf line, wading, or climbing on rock outcroppings, deadly." Learn more about ocean safety at CA State Parks: Ocean Safety

Monterey State Beach

Monterey County

Monterey State Beach

Monterey County