Carmel River State Beach

Located near the southern end of Carmel-by-the-Sea (also known as Carmel), Carmel River State Beach is a large oceanfront state park that has a mile-long beach area. The state park has three beaches - the main beach in Carmel River State Beach, Carmel Meadows Beach, and Monastery Beach. All the beaches have light brown sand and Carmel Meadows Beach has some rocky parts. The water near the beaches in Carmel River State Beach has strong currents. The Carmel River meets the ocean near the northern part of the state park and forms a lagoon here. 

Out of the three beaches in Carmel River State Beach, only Monastery Beach has lifeguards. The main beach in Carmel River State Beach and Monastery Beach both have restrooms, and Carmel Meadows beach has no amenities except some walking trails. The beaches in Carmel River State Beach also allow dogs on leash. 

The beaches in Carmel River State Beach offer many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife watching, fishing, and scuba diving (only at Monastery Beach and the main beach in Carmel River State Beach). Aquatic recreational activities including swimming, surfing, and kayaking are highly unsafe in the water near Carmel River State Beach as it has a severe undertow and dangerous currents. The water near Carmel River State Beach is home to many marine mammals including seals, sea lions, dolphins, and migrating grey whales (between December and April). The main beach in Carmel River State Beach is a perfect spot for sunbathing due to its wide sandy area. In addition, the beach is located adjacent to Carmel River Lagoon and has wetlands near it, which are a part of the Carmel River Lagoon and Wetlands Natural Preserve. This lagoon and the wetlands near it can be explored via hiking trails and are a great bird-watching spot - you can watch a variety of birds around this lagoon including waterfowl and songbirds. In addition, there is a hill near the lagoon that has a cross commemorating the Portolá expedition, which was the first documented European land exploration of northern California and was led by Gaspar de Portolá. The expedition had camped near the Carmel River Lagoon in the 18th century. In addition, the water near the northern part of the beach is a great diving spot in spite of the dangerous water currents. Divers can explore the kelp beds present here that are home to a large array of underwater fauna including fish, shrimp, crabs, nudibranchs, and sponges. The water here also has unique underwater rock formations. Another popular diving spot in Carmel River State Beach is Monastery Beach - the water near this beach has a unique underwater topography and biodiversity. The water here is home to many animals including rockfish, bass, lingcod, perches, scallops, anemones, urchins, and abalone. However, we recommend these diving spots only for experienced divers as beginner divers can have difficulty handling the rough water conditions here while diving. If you like hiking, the blufftop area above Carmel Meadows Beach has beautiful grasslands and lichen-covered rock formations around the beach, which you can explore via the Carmel Meadows Trail. This hiking trail also offers incredible views of the Pacific Ocean.

Getting to the beaches in Carmel River State Beach is easy - the main beach in Carmel River State Beach is located near the intersection of Carmelo Street and Scenic Road, where there is also a nearby free parking lot. The access trail to Carmel Meadows Beach is located near 2575 Ribera Road, where street parking spaces are also available. The entrance to Monastery Beach is near 27951 California State Highway 1 / Pacific Coast Highway, where free parking lots are also available. 

There are many attractions near Carmel River State Beach. Garland Ranch Regional Park has a vibrant array of beautiful landscapes that include oak woodlands, redwood forests, portions of Gazara Creek, and a variety of important historical sites which can be explored via hiking trails. If you like shopping, Carmel’s Ocean Avenue has a variety of interesting shops including jewelers, antique shops, and artisan stores. In addition, it also has many interesting restaurants and hotels. If you are looking for another attraction near Carmel River State Beach, the Sunset Center is a performing arts center which hosts many interesting events including musical performances, stand-up comedy acts, theatrical shows, and dance performances. In addition, the center, along with the Carmel Mission Basilica hosts the annual Carmel Bach Festival which sees a variety of exciting events being organized here including recitals, concerts, masterclasses, open rehearsals, and lectures.

If you get hungry, there are many restaurants near Carmel River State Beach. La Balena is an upscale Italian restaurant that serves outstanding pastas. TreeHouse Cafe has a beautiful outdoor dining area that is set on a terrace and serves delicious dishes from Mediterranean, Greek, and Thai cuisines including green curry, Greek salads, and paella. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Carmel River State Beach, the modestly priced r.g. Burgers offer a variety of outstanding burgers that are served in generous portions and also serve excellent hot dogs, salads, sandwiches, soups, and chili.

If you are looking for a hotel near Carmel River State Beach, there are many great nearby options. The 4-Star Vagabond’s House offers many amenities including complimentary breakfast and wine-and-cheese tasting sessions, a landscaped courtyard with a fountain and a fire pit, a spa, and a lounge with a fireplace and piano. A more affordable option is the 3-Star Briarwood Inn, which is a bed-and-breakfast that offers many amenities including gardens and a complimentary continental breakfast. In addition, the hotel also organizes afternoon port and sherry receptions. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Carmel River State Beach, the modestly priced 2-Star Carmel Inn & Suites offers complimentary breakfast.