Skip to content
Byway
Nature reserve · California

Salinas River State Beach

Salinas River State Beach from directly overhead

Salinas River State Beach is a nature reserve in California, at a recorded elevation of 4 m. Mount Toro stands 1,081 m to the south-southeast, 20 miles off. The nearest named place is Salinas River Dunes Natural Preserve, a nature reserve 0.2 miles away. Big Sur Coast Highway - Route 1 passes 13 miles off.

The record

What the record says

Elevation
4 m
Visiting

What to expect

Operated by
California Department of Parks and Recreation

Official site

Getting there

How to reach it

Driving directionsPlan a drive around it
Coordinates36.77927, -121.79578

Overlooks nearby

Around it

Named places within 25 miles

Nature reserves
Beaches
Peaks
Parks
  • NCRPD: 2.4 mi
  • Crane Street Park: 2.6 mi
  • Cato Phillips Park: 2.9 mi
  • Little Acorn Park: 5.1 mi
  • Kirby Park: 5.2 mi
Attractions
  • Giant artichoke: 2.6 mi
  • Sea otters: 2.8 mi
  • Crystal Bay Farm: 9.7 mi
  • Kissing Rock: 12.3 mi
  • Kelp Forest: 12.6 mi
Artworks: 60
  • Motorcycle from license plates: 3.8 mi
  • Motorcycle from chains: 3.8 mi
  • If it has no other explanation, it must be art: 4.3 mi
  • Jesus Statue: 6.9 mi
  • Compass: 11.4 mi
Picnic sites: 51
  • Lower Shade Ramada: 7.3 mi
  • Outdoor Navy Dining Area: 13.4 mi
  • El Estero Picnic Area: 13.5 mi
  • Veteran's Park Picnic Area: 14.0 mi
  • Monterey Pines Group Area: 15.3 mi
Historic sites: 47
Museums: 46
Gardens: 40
  • Yorktown community garden: 8.1 mi
  • Memorial Rose Garden: 10.1 mi
  • Sand City Community Garden: 11.9 mi
  • Pacific Grove Community Garden: 13.0 mi
  • Sensory Garden: 13.4 mi
Waterfalls: 13
  • Bonfante Falls: 18.0 mi
  • Fairy Falls: 18.2 mi
  • Five Finger Falls: 19.0 mi
  • Maple Falls: 19.3 mi
  • Triple Falls: 20.7 mi
Springs: 10
  • El Pajaro Springs: 13.6 mi
  • Horseshoe Spring: 19.6 mi
  • Dodero Spring: 19.8 mi
  • Crystal Springs (private): 20.3 mi
  • Olive Springs: 20.4 mi
Cliffs: 7
Lighthouses: 3
Covered bridges: 2
Ghost towns: 2
Natural arches: 1
  • Natural Bridges Rock Arch: 18.6 mi
On the horizon

Summits around it

The highest named summits within 22.4 miles of Salinas River State Beach. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.

SummitBearingElevationDistance
Mount ToroSSE 149°1,081 m20.3 mi
Mount HarlanESE 105°991 m22.4 mi
Fremont PeakE 95°966 m16.2 mi
Santa Rosalia MountainN 351°806 m20.5 mi
Knibbs KnobN 358°801 m21.2 mi
Bluerock MountainESE 111°782 m18.4 mi
Lands EndN 1°780 m19.7 mi
Simas PeakSSE 152°685.3 m16.8 mi
Conditions

When to go

Light through the year

DateSunriseGolden hourSunset
March equinox07:1218:4519:19
June solstice05:4919:5220:30
September equinox06:5618:3119:06
December solstice07:1716:1516:55

Local time (America/Los_Angeles).

Climate normals

Months averaging 50–80 °F: year-round.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °F515254565961636364615651
Precip in4.44.53.61.60.60.10.00.00.11.02.34.5

1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Watsonville WTR WKS, 11 mi away.

Sources

Where this comes from

Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.

OpenStreetMapWikidataOfficial site

OpenStreetMap element relation/5173236

More nature reserves in California

Day trips start here

Drive to it

Byway plans a real route around stops like this one.

Plan a driveMore nature reserves
Private beta · Free to join

Take the scenic way to Salinas River State Beach.

Byway plans around your taste, verified places, real weather and opening hours — then opens every leg in Google Maps with one tap.

Private beta · Free to join · No card · Invite when a spot opens