Zmudowski State Beach
Moss Landing, CA
Zmudowski State Beach is a genuinely remote stretch of sand north of Moss Landing, reached by a boardwalk over the dunes with almost none of the development found at the more central Monterey Bay beaches. Horseback riding is allowed, though only on the wet sand, a rule that keeps the softer dune habitat protected.
A genuinely remote, undeveloped beach that most Monterey Bay visitors never see, though the lack of any facilities means coming prepared.
How we score beachesBring everything you need, there are no facilities out here and the remote setting is exactly the point.
Free parking is available; the CCC lists a lot here but doesn't specify its size.
A boardwalk crosses the dunes from parking to the beach.
Dogs are not allowed on the beach or in the dunes, a restriction meant to protect nesting snowy plovers.
Fog is common most mornings year round, typical of the Monterey Bay coast.
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