Carmel Beach
A white-sand beach at the western end of Ocean Avenue, backed by Monterey cypresses and overlooking the Pebble Beach headland. Dogs can run off-leash here, and the sunsets are spectacular.
Carmel Beach lies at the western end of Ocean Avenue in town. Its fine white sand stretches for about 1.6 km, backed by cypress groves and a coastal trail, and to the north you can see the headland where Pebble Beach Golf Links sits. It is one of the few beaches in California where dogs may go off-leash, so on weekends it is full of residents walking their dogs. The crowds peak around sunset. The water is cold and the waves are big, so swimming is not advisable, and fires are banned after 10 p.m.
Opening hours
Open all day (06:00–22:00)
Nearby sights
- Carmel-by-the-Sea
- Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo
- Pebble Beach Golf Links
- Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
- The Lone Cypress
- 17-Mile Drive
- Monterey State Historic Park
- Monterey Bay Whale Watching