Monterey State Beach

Beach Maps

The first map below shows the the northern part of Monterey State Beach around Seaside. Below that is a second map, rotated with east at the top instead of north, showing the continuatiion of the beach to the south around the wharf.

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 beaches is the recently opened Fort Ord Dunes State Park. The trail is open to walking, jogging, cycling, skating, and similar activities.

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.

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.

Monterey Bay Water Quality

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.

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.