I was very confused about where the otters were based on the reviews. I also expected there to be a lot of them but there weren't. I'm a HUGE otter fan and was super excited to see them. I looked forward to the day I went to this beach all week. As soon as we got there, I pulled into the first parking area, climbed up the sand onto the beach, and walked around only to see the ocean. I walked around some more and did not see otters anywhere. My heart sank and I was disappointed. I climbed back up the mountain of sand and went back to my car. By this time I was out of breath and tired. Walking in the sand is tiring. Then I got back in my car, went as far as the road goes, parked, and walked around. I asked people who passed me if they knew where the otters were or if there were any at all but they had no idea. I didn't see any otters. Determined, I went down toward the little body of water where there were tons of seagulls on rocks. I climbed said rocks. They were filthy, full of seagull poo. It scared me to walk by the seagulls because they made so much noise and I didn't want them to poo on me when they flew over. But finally, as I climbed up the rocks, I saw the otters! They were far away and there were only a handful of them but they made my day. One of the rangers I talked to at a different location told me the ones here are all males. I cannot verify if this is true. It was neat to see them so close. There were also a few seals. I came here during late October. Maybe there are more otters at different times but the numbers were pretty sparse. I think it's better to go kayaking if you want to see them up close. I was so far away that I couldn't take good pictures of them even with the zoom function. Also, I realized you dont need to climb the rocks to see the otters (depending on where they are). You can see them from the shoreline. You can also see them from the dock on the other side by the seafood restaurant. The only negative experience I had are the seagulls. They are everywhere and there is bird poo everywhere. My shoes were filthy. Overall, very neat to see otters in the wild. I heard that they are an endangered species so it was really an experience to remember. I'll be back! read more

One of the most amazing wildlife-viewing spots anywhere. Get off the highway, stretch you legs, breathe in the salt air, watch otters in the shallow slough, seals in the ocean surf, whales just offshore, shorebirds, raptors...all just a stone's throw from the power plant. Tip--restroom facilities are crude (read: portajohns). read more

Serene beach with surfers everywhere. Tides are pretty good on all days and there are very few people who come by here. You can enjoy a day by yourself here without any disturbance of any form. I used to work at moss landing and came by beach every day by evening after work. Tons of sea gulls and sea lions can be seen lazing around in all their glory. S-E-R-E-N-I-T-Y. read more

Moss Landing State Beach - Beaches Near Me

Good - Great place to beachcomb. I often see marine life from shore - otters and sea lions in the surf zone and whales in the distance. There's a nice half mile path behind the dunes connecting Moss Landing's Sandholtz parking lot to Potrero Ave for birders, joggers and dogwalkers. You can walk for miles and see few people. Too Bad - please leave the shells and other natural things you find (it's the law but it's also part of the ecosystem) Often windy especially in afternoon. Ugly - Be careful to stow away any valuables in your car trunk or out of sight b/c there have been some car break-ins over the years. read more

Saw tons of wild otters here which was my goal. If that's what you're looking for, check it out

Great beach for tourists looking to do touristy things. Like watch sea otters, seals, bird watch, or possible experience some whales. There is a lot to do at the Moss Landing state beach include catch some gnarly waves with locals. It's sad this beach will be closing in July due to the budget cuts. But really I think everyone will just park on the road and hop the gate. read more

Moss Landing State Beach - Beaches Near Me

Actually, I went to this beach on July 4th weekend, so it was awhile back, but overall it was a decent beach. The only thing I can say about it, is that there are no public restrooms, just a single port-a-potty so it was a bit difficult to change (best to do it in your car) and it was a bit dirty, but eh. Another thing was that the entire beach smelled a little bit, most likely due to the moss =/! But that's to be expected since it IS "Moss Landing State Beach." The sand was nice, the shore itself had a lot of random miscellaneous things laying about but it can be ignored. The water was freezing like most Nor Cal Beaches. It was decent ;]. read more

Hide your valuables from sight when parking! My vehicle and a few others were broken into. Some scum ruined a beautiful day!

Best wildlife viewing in California. My mom and I sat on rocks at the entrance to the harbor and watched sea lions swimming out to hunt and sea otters coming back in to laze around and sleep. They swam/floated/played/jumped within yards of us. A bit farther in is a small beach/eddy where the otters all congregate and play. When we arrived, there were about nine otters in this little area; by sunset, there were 25. When we arrived, there were about 100-150 sea lions sunning themselves in the harbor; by the end of the night, there were about a dozen, since they had all gone out to hunt. Saw a couple of harbor seals as well, but they were more shy. The only downside is there is a giant factory marring the landscape, but it is still very, very worth it. If you go, do NOT go down to the beach by the otters and ruin it for everyone. I wanted to write this review so everyone knows how great this area is, but this trip has reminded me how stupid tourists are (feeding wildlife, trying to touch them, etc.). PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL AND RESPONSIBLE SO EVERYONE CAN ENJOY THIS WONDERFUL PLACE. read more

A gorgeous wild sea. It's not a beach to swim in. It's dangerous, windy and wild. It's a beach to take a walk, have a picnic or to just sit and enjoy the beauty. read more

Tons of sea otters and seals. Great place to view them with some binoculars. Gross bathrooms.

I'm torn, because it was one of the first times since living in the Bay Area that we were able to visit a beach with soft white sand. We were excited about the possibility of seeing whales, but didn't see any the day we visited (I know they were out there in the canyon, just too far for the naked eye on shore). Otters are great, but visitors beware... most of the wild"life" we saw was dead. Three dead sea lions on the beach, a dead harbor seal that looked like a shark victim, and a pelican that was reduced to bones. I know it's nature and all, but you'd think someone would take care of the carcasses on a state beach! read more

we parked in the lot for this beach, just off the highway. our rental car was broken into on the morning of 7/28/15. many valuable things were stolen from us. afterwards, we were told this happens every day at beaches along highway 1, including this beach. while the beach is beautiful and the ocean full of very cute seals, please be careful if you park at this beach. do not leave belongings out in the open. read more

Came here on a random Thursday with my boyfriend. 70 degrees no body but us. Hard not to love a beach all to yourself! The only downside was this one bully seagull picked on a smaller seagull that was hanging out with us. Everytime the little guy would land the big guy would chase it away.. Although.. it was free entertainment.. read more

The porta-potty's are disgusting!!!! There was a clogged urinal and for some reason they kept urinating in it, so almost full urinal. Another restroom was full of human excrements almost to the brim of the seat. The worst restrooms I've seen at any state beach. Will not be going here again. read more

What a gem! We found a peaceful & relaxing place away from the crowds on Monterey Beach. We arrived today around 5pm and the beach was not crowded. Possibly 30 people all together spread out. A lot of open sand to lay a blanket out and sit to enjoy the waves & breeze. In the 2 hours we were there were multiple whale sightings. We counted 8 "jumps out of the water" and saw these magnificent mammals :-) We will be visiting this place again surely. It is difficult to express in words how special this place is, but if you are looking for that peace, "solitude" and to forget about how busy our world is, this is the place for you :-) read more

Secluded beach! Where is everyone? The sand is super clean and plenty of space to chill and relax without feeling crammed with people. But seriously. Condoms in the parking lot? Can we all grow up a little and clean up after ourselves!??!!!??! read more

Great place to see otters and the pacific on nice but windy beach. I didn't kayak this time but will update when I have a chance! read more

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Went to this beach during thanksgiving week and it was one of the quieter beaches in the area. Tons of dunes and the feel of the beach was different compared to the others as well. Tons of birds and great for bird enthusiasts. Great for surfing and windsurfing, hiking, horseback riding and surf fishing. Most of the wildlife people are talking about are in the Elkhorn Slough/ Moss Landing harbor area towards the Moss Landing Power Plant and not on the actual beach area. I got my hopes up for seeing otters and pelicans etc but but I was in the wrong area! This area is well worth visiting. Next time hope to spend more time in the area with all the wildlife. Would also how to rent a kayak! read more

I've come here on and off throughout the years and I've always enjoyed it! SUCH a gorgeous location and the amazing views it offers. I love that it's a dog friendly beach since I have a dachshund that likes to do some exploring. Since Monterey kinda makes it difficult to do beach walks with your dog, I just opt to come here instead. Besides, folks here are respectful and take the time to clean up after their fur ball. If you're looking for great views of the local marine life, this is definitely the spot to hit up! I've been able to watch pods of whales go by, see momma otters with their babies, sea lions with pups and so on. Tons and tons of photo opprotunities!! read more

The best place in the world to ride a horse on the beach me & my 2 sisters went last year, it was so wonderful!

Our first true stop after driving up towards Monterey! What a great location! Plenty of otters to see, without the crazy crowds that you find near the aquarium. Plenty of easy parking, and a volunteer was there to talk to us about the otters. Loved it! Call Kayak Connection to see what the otter count is ahead of time to see if there'll be otters around or not. read more

Not really a big fan of this beach. I have been here 3 or 4 times and it's always cold, overcast, and windy with dangerous surf. There's really no reason for me to take my kids here. However this beach is a stones throw from Phils Fish Market and The Whole Enchilada and those are 2 of my favorite places to eat. read more

Could this little state beach be the best wildlife viewing spot between Los Angeles and San Francisco? Based on my Highway 1 road trip between the two cities, I'd say so. When you first turn onto Jetty Rd, you pass a small wetland area that's great for bird watching. Drive a few hundred yards farther along the sandy road and take the pullout to the left, and you're likely to find a gang of sea otters hanging out right along the shore (as seen in Nicole W.'s photo) or sometimes even on the shore, as well as harbor seals occasionally poking their heads out above the water or sunning theselves on sand islands. Across the bay, you're likely to see and hear a group of sea lions hanging out on a dock. You can get a very close look at them by driving south on Highway 1 for just a few hundred yards and then pulling into the large parking lot on your right, and heading toward the seafood restaurant. You can also take a kayak tour starting from this location, but considering how close you can get to the wildlife on land, it's not really necessary. When I was there (early August) the water was also full of sea nettle jellyfish. The only downside to Moss Landing is the setting - you're fairly close to Highway 1 and there's a big factory along the bay that negatively impacts the scenery. read more

We spent a few hours at the beach on 09/19/15 to hopefully spot some whales. It didn't take very long.. Maybe it was beginners luck? But we immediately spotted Humpbacks spraying, and caught their tales as they dived. Binoculars are a must. The beach was clean and dotted with fisherman. We enjoyed our stay... No issues. Porta Potties were clean. We will definately return. read more

Moss Landing State Beach - Humpbacks - Beaches Near Me

Beautiful beach to walk on, but usually crowded, and parking's not great. Not a beach I would spend the day at, but good for when you want to catch a glimpse of the ocean and walk on the sand for a few minutes. The waves here are a bit more unpredictable than other beaches in the area, so maybe not a great place to play in the water. read more

On our last day in Moss Landing my family and I came here to photograph the sunset. My son is the photographer and we arrived about 15 minutes before sunset. The beach is mostly empty all the time and this time of year not great for sunbathing . Easy access from Hwy 1 with plenty of parking. read more

Im a local and moss landing has always been a spot for me to go on runs or have a nice beach day . The other day (Monday 5/22) I went to have a picnic with my son and someone broke my car window and stole my make up bag. Watch out for the sketchy people that sit in their cars waiting for an opportunity! Also don't leave anything visible and be careful to see who's watching what u put in your trunk. Worst part is Monterey sheriff doesn't bother to show up to make a police report because they are so common! Just a warning...WATCH OUT! Summer is approaching and these low life's will be out there! read more

Didn't go to the beach side, but on the other side of the jetty which uses the same parking lot (free!). It's a pretty neat area due to the bewildering concentration of wildlife - all in one convenient location. Lots of sea otters, sea lions, and hundreds of shore/sea birds. You can rent kayaks to get even a closer view of the wildlife (on the protected inner portion, behind the jetty - the waves were rough on the actual beach). read more

The beach itself is nothing impressive, but the walk along jetty road leading up to the beach is quite interesting. One can see the seals and clusters of sea otters in the elkhorn slough bay area. Bring binoculars!!!! Kayaking is a must do as well. read more

Nice little beach and wetland right off hwy 1. we also got to see a group of sea otters on a second visit.

Peaceful, clean, easy to get to....total win. We typically head up the highway to hit up Sunset or the SC area, but this is such a treat instead. Lots of dolphins and seals and otters. read more

kind of interesting that i'm the first reviewer. i've seen quite a few people here the last few times. you can see sea otters and sea lions. there are folks that surf, run, bring their dogs, kayak, etc. for anyone who is searching for this area, they can search for "jetty road". highly recommended. read more

This place is super cool. Both awesome and cold! We went in November as a storm was coming in and the waves were spectacular but it was cold and windy. We saw 6 sea otters right off the road, playing and eating. It was super cool to get the real life, up close version of what you see at an aquarium feeding time. read more