Moss Landing State Beach
Moss Landing, CA
Moss Landing State Beach sits right where Elkhorn Slough meets the ocean, a genuinely reliable spot to see sea otters in the entrance channel without needing a boat tour. The harbor here, reached via Sandholdt Road past Phil's Fish Market, adds a real working waterfront element to the visit.
The reliable sea otter sightings genuinely set it apart from a typical beach stop, made even better by the working harbor and fish market right nearby.
How we score beachesBring binoculars and watch the slough entrance channel rather than the open ocean, that's where the otters reliably show up.
Free parking is available at the beach.
A path leads from parking to the beach; Sandholdt Road provides an additional route toward the harbor.
Dogs are not allowed on the main state beach or in the dunes, though leashed dogs are permitted on nearby Jetty Road and around the harbor entrance area outside the state beach boundary.
Fog is common most mornings year round, typical of the Monterey Bay coast.
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