Salinas River State Beach

Salinas River State Beach lies at the mouth of the Salinas River on Monterey Bay near Moss Landing and forms part of Monterey County’s coastline. Encompassing the Salinas River Mouth Natural Preserve and the Salinas River Dunes Natural Preserve, it is valued chiefly for quiet coastal scenery and wildlife rather than ocean recreation. Visitors come for nature watching, beachcombing, fishing, photography, and walking the shore, while swimming and surfing are discouraged by cold water, strong waves, unpredictable surf, and the absence of lifeguards. Its dunes and shoreline support birdlife including the California brown pelican, red-tailed hawk, American kestrel, western snowy plover, western gull, and several songbirds.

California · United States