Carmel is blessed with several pleasant stretches of sands. To the south of town, Carmel River State Beach at Carmelo Road, is also known as Carmel River Lagoon and Wetlands Natural Preserve. By whatever name, it's a wonderful place to watch birds and other wildlife while the children play in the shallow lagoon (but be very cautious of walking on the ocean side, due to dangerous surf). A small overland trail leads to Monastery Beach. A modern cross marks the spot where Gaspar de Portola erected a cross in 1769.
In Carmel-by-the-Sea itself, right at the foot of Ocean Avenue, is Carmel Town Beach, locally renowned for good surf and excellent dog-walking conditions. An annual sandcastle contest is testimony to the quality of the silvery sands, punctuated by outcroppings of rock. The beach is level with the modest parking lot on Ocean Avenue; steep staircases lead to the beach from the limited, free, on-street parking on Camino Real or Sunset Drive. No public facilities, but restrooms, restaurants and shops are available up the (steep) hill in town.
In partnership with Monterey County and the cities of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Del Rey Oaks, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Salinas,
Sand City, Seaside, Soledad, Pebble Beach, Moss Landing, Carmel Valley, Big Sur, and Salinas Valley.
