Carmel Meadows Beach offers many activities including beachcombing, hiking, sunbathing, and wildlife watching. The water near the beach is unsafe for recreational aquatic activities including surfing, swimming, and kayaking as it has a strong undertow, dangerous waves, and frequent rip currents. The water near the beach is home to many animals including seals, sea lions, dolphins, and migrating grey whales between December and April. The blufftop area above the beach has a hiking trail called the Carmel Meadows Trail through which you can explore the beautiful grasslands and lichen-covered rock formations around the beach. This trail also offers incredible views of the Pacific Ocean. If you like birdwatching, you can walk north of the beach via the Carmel Meadows Trail to a lagoon formed by the Carmel River before meeting the ocean, which is a popular bird-watching spot.