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Salinas River State Beach
UPDATE (Sept 17, 2020) - Thank you for your patience and continued support of California State Parks as we work to limit your risk for exposure to COVID-19 in the outdoors. Salinas River State Beach is open for active recreation, and parking is available to vehicles on a limited basis. Social distancing protocols of maintaining a 6-ft distance and wearing masks are required.
As a reminder, Californians are encouraged to avoid road trips and stay close to home, maintain physical distancing, wear a face covering when a physical distance of six feet from others who are not from the immediate household members cannot be maintained, and avoid congregating. Everyone has the responsibility to slow down the spread of COVID-19.
Park phone contact: (831) 649-2836
Here are some guidelines for people visiting Salinas River State Beach:
What is open now?
What is currently closed at this park and throughout the State Park System?
At this park:
Are there any new visitor guidelines?
Yes, please see below:
Statewide, California State Parks continues to work with locals on a phased and regionally-driven approach to increase access to state park units where compliance with state and local public health ordinances can be achieved. Even though the department has increased access across the State Park System, the need for Californians to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the outdoors remains critical.
For information on statewide current closures and available services, please visit parks.ca.gov/FlattenTheCurve.
As a reminder, Californians are encouraged to avoid road trips and stay close to home, maintain physical distancing, wear a face covering when a physical distance of six feet from others who are not from the immediate household members cannot be maintained, and avoid congregating. Everyone has the responsibility to slow down the spread of COVID-19.
Park phone contact: (831) 649-2836
Here are some guidelines for people visiting Salinas River State Beach:
What is open now?
- The beach is open for active recreation, and parking is available to vehicles on a limited basis.
- There is no campground at Salinas River State Beach.
What is currently closed at this park and throughout the State Park System?
At this park:
- Dogs are not allowed on Salinas River State Beach.
Are there any new visitor guidelines?
Yes, please see below:
- Stay Safer at 6 Feet: Maintain a physical distance of 6 feet or more. Gatherings, picnics and parties are not allowed. Visitors will be asked to leave if there are too many people at the park to allow for the required physical distance.
- Stay Clean: Be prepared. Bring soap/sanitizer and pack out all trash. Restrooms will be temporarily closed in order to keep up with cleaning schedules.
- Stay Covered: The state now requires you to wear a face covering in most indoor settings and public outdoor spaces when you cannot maintain physical distancing of six feet or more from people outside of your immediate household. For details, please visit CDPH’s guidance here. Visitors should also abide by their local county health orders.
Statewide, California State Parks continues to work with locals on a phased and regionally-driven approach to increase access to state park units where compliance with state and local public health ordinances can be achieved. Even though the department has increased access across the State Park System, the need for Californians to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the outdoors remains critical.
For information on statewide current closures and available services, please visit parks.ca.gov/FlattenTheCurve.
Phone Number
(831) 649-2836
Park Hours
Dogs Allowed?
No
Dogs not allowed beyond day-use parking lot.
Driving Directions to Salinas River SB
The beach is located one mile south of Moss Landing. Take Potrero from Highway 1.Online reservations are not available for this park.
Upcoming Park Events
No events scheduled at this moment.
TRAIL USE
Horseback Riding
Horseback Riding
DAY-USE ACTIVITIES & FACILITIES
Picnic Areas
Fishing
Interpretive Exhibits
Beach Area
Swimming
Nature & Wildlife Viewing
Windsurfing/Surfing
Geocaching
Picnic Areas
Fishing
Interpretive Exhibits
Beach Area
Swimming
Nature & Wildlife Viewing
Windsurfing/Surfing
Geocaching
OTHER FACILITIES & VISITOR INFORMATION
Parking
Wheelchair Accessible
Parking
Wheelchair Accessible
DOLAN FIRE - WHAT'S OPEN UPDATE
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California State Parks has reopened Point Lobos State Natural Reserve and Andrew Molera State Park for active recreation. Some walking trails are open, and parking is available to vehicles on a limited basis. Social distancing protocols of maintaining a 6-ft distance and wearing masks are required. Point Sur State Historic Park will resume tours of the exterior of the Pt Sur Lightstation and the Naval Facility on October 10. Visit www.pointsur.org or call 831-625-4419 for tour information.
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Also opened is the Soberanes Canyon Trail in Garrapata State Park –located on the east side of Highway 1. California State Parks continues to work to increase access to state park units where compliance with state and local public health ordinances can be achieved.
Due to the Dolan Fire burning across the southern region of Monterey County, California State Parks urges the public to avoid traveling to impacted areas/park units in Monterey County due to safety and health concerns for any visitors. Air quality remains poor throughout the state.
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Current Park Closures
The following State Parks, including all campgrounds, day use areas, and hiking trails, are already closed due to fire and/or traffic concerns on Highway 1 in the greater vicinity of the Dolan Fire:- Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
- John Little State Natural Reserve
- Limekiln State Park
California State Parks is asking for the public’s cooperation at this time when our state is severely impacted by the multiple fires burning throughout the state, including fires in Monterey County and in neighboring Santa Cruz and San Benito counties. Your assistance is appreciated!
For additional information about the Dolan Fire, please see the below resources:
Dolan Fire
California Interagency Incident Management Team 2
Incident E-mail:2020.Dolan@firenet.gov
Incident Website: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7018
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About Salinas River State Beach
The beach and dunes at Salinas River State Beach are part of Monterey Bay’s unique coastal dune system and it is home to many species of birds, including the California brown pelican, red-tailed hawk, American kestrel, western snowy plover, western gull, black phoebe, western scrub-jay, California towhee, white-crowned sparrow, and more. The beach is a popular fishing site.
PARK HOURS – 8 a.m. to ½ hour after sunset.
FEES – there is no fee to visit this park.
OCEAN SAFETY – dangerous rip currents, frigid water, and deep offshore drop-offs make surfing and swimming hazardous for all but the most experienced surfers.
DOGS are not permitted on the beach or dunes. On-leash dogs are allowed on the trail adjacent to the wetland that runs between the Potrero Road and Sandholdt Road parking lots.
HORSES are permitted to access the beach only by the designated routes and to ride only on the wet sand, below the high tide line to protect wildlife and vegetation. Horses are also permitted on the designated equestrian trail. In the parking lots, owners are required to clean up after their horses, including removing horse manure. Manure and straw should be shoveled into the horse trailer. Manure and straw shall not be thrown into the dunes.
FIRES are not allowed.
DRONES are not allowed in the park. To protect wildlife and for the safety and welfare of visitors and staff, the park is closed to the use of Model Aircraft and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).
WESTERN SNOWY PLOVERS use Salinas River State Beach, including the beach and foredune areas for nesting, rearing of young, and for winter habitat. This bird nests directly on the beach sand. Entering or disturbing a posted plover nesting area is a violation of state and federal law. Click this link to view a video of a hatching snowy plover nest.
Location-Directions
The beach is located one mile south of Moss Landing. Take Potrero Road from Highway 1.
Seasons/Climate/Recommended Clothing
The weather can be changeable. Layered clothing is advised.
Pets
Dogs are not allowed at this location.
Dogs on leash are allowed at Monterey State Beach (South of the Monterey Beach Resort hotel), Asilomar State Beach, Carmel River State Beach, and Garrapata State Park.
