Marina State Beach
State Park · Marina, California
Marina State Beach lies in the city of Marina in Monterey County, on the southern curve of Monterey Bay. It is a long, wide sand beach backed by tall, shifting dunes, with a boardwalk that carries visitors over the dune plants to the water (confirm the route and any visitor centre). Wind is the defining feature: it is one of the premier hang gliding and paragliding sites in the United States, and kite flyers use the same steady breeze. The surf is cold, steep and dangerous, with strong rip currents, so this is a place to walk, watch and fly rather than swim. Fog often sits over the bay in summer. Western snowy plovers nest on the open sand in season, and parts of the beach may be fenced off (confirm closed areas). Fort Ord Dunes State Park lies close by as a separate park. Expect a long, windy walk rather than a swim, and bring layers whatever the forecast says for inland Monterey County.
Reservation Rd, Marina, California, 93933, United States
California State Parks has generally listed Marina State Beach as open from sunrise to sunset, and posted signs give the same hours - confirm the posted times at the lot. The beach and boardwalk are day-use only, and the gates, any visitor centre and the restrooms may keep shorter hours than the sand itself - confirm what is staffed on the day you go. Wind usually builds through the afternoon, and fog can fill the bay at any time of year, so mornings are the calmer window for a walk. Sections of beach may be closed to protect nesting plovers in spring and summer, so check the signs at the boardwalk head.
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