Moat Creek Beach(Moat Creek Coastal Access, Whiskey Shoals)

Located in the city of Point Arena, Moat Creek Beach is a small, narrow, and rocky beach that is part of a park named Moat Creek Coastal Access. Moat Creek Beach is situated at the point where Moat Creek meets the North Pacific Ocean. Also known as Whiskey Shoals, Moat Creek Beach is a well-known spot for surfing, abalone diving, scuba diving, kayaking, and tide pooling. Moat Creek Beach is managed by the State Coastal Conservancy and the non-profit Moat Creek Managing Agency. The Surfrider Foundation and the Conservancy played a major role in the opening of Moat Creek Beach along with the adjacent H Bar H Ranch that gifted the property for the beach.

Moat Creek Beach welcomes dogs on leash and offers many amenities including restrooms, tide pools, driftwoods, trails.

There are many fun activities at Moat Creek Beach including surfing, abalone diving, scuba diving, kayaking, hiking, fishing, birdwatching, and whale watching.

To access Moat Creek Beach, drive down to 27312 Shoreline Highway where you will find a free parking lot called Moat Creek parking lot just off the highway. There is a three-mile-long trail that starts from the lot and leads directly to the beach.

If you are looking for attractions near Moat Creek Beach, you can drive five minutes to the 330-feet-long Point Arena Fishing Pier, a public pier that is a great spot for diving, kayaking, surfing, and fishing sea urchins, crabs, and salmons. The historic village of Mendocino is known for its cliffside trails, restaurants, galleries including the Mendocino Art Center, and the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse Museum. Spread across 47 acres, Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens features canyons, wetlands, coastal bluffs, a closed-cone pine forest, and many plant collections including Magnolias, Dahlias, Camellias, Maples, and Fuchsias. The historical Californian landmark Temple of Kwan Tai is a Chinese Taoist temple where visitors can learn about the history of Chinese Americans. Another great attraction near Moat Creek Beach is the Greenwood Visitor Center Museum that features photos and antiques of the nearby area from the 1800s.

If you get hungry, there are many restaurants within a 15-minute drive of Moat Creek Beach. The American vegetarian-friendly restaurant Flats Café serves chips, omelets, sandwiches, salads, bacon, and onion rings. Greenwood Pier Restaurant is a seafood restaurant with a nice menu that includes steaks, salads, wines, and desserts. Another great restaurant near Moat Creek Beach is the vegetarian-friendly Bridget Dolan's Pub & Dinner House that offers traditional American items including bangers and mash, bread pudding, homemade pizza, local craft brews, and imported wine.

If you are looking for a hotel near Moat Creek Beach, you can drive 25 minutes to the pet-friendly luxurious 4-Star hotel Elk Cove Inn & Spa that has incredible views of the Mendocino village coast and features a sauna, spa, and hiking tours. Sandpiper House Bed and Breakfast is a 3-Star hotel that offers oceanfront rooms and suites. If you are looking for an affordable hotel near E Moat Creek Beach, The Andiron Seaside Inn & Cabins welcomes pets.