Salinas River State Beach, State beach in Moss Landing, California.

Salinas River State Beach sits at the mouth of the Salinas River on Monterey Bay, at the south end of Moss Landing in Monterey County. The park holds the Salinas River Mouth Natural Preserve and the Salinas River Dunes Natural Preserve, with sandy shoreline and dunes where western snowy plovers and California brown pelicans are seen.

The sources document no Native American settlements or European farming history at this site. The beach lies at the mouth of the Salinas River at the south end of Moss Landing, and the park today holds the Salinas River Mouth Natural Preserve and the Salinas River Dunes Natural Preserve, which protect the river mouth and dune habitat.

The beach lies at the mouth of the Salinas River, at the south end of Moss Landing, and its two natural preserves, the Salinas River Mouth and the Salinas River Dunes, protect the river mouth and dune habitat. Visitors come for nature watching, beach combing, fishing, photography and walking rather than swimming or surfing. Birders look for the western snowy plover, California brown pelican and red-tailed hawk among the dunes.

The beach is easy to reach from Highway 1 through the Potrero Road exit, and parking areas are close by. Conditions change with the seasons, so checking weather before you go helps you dress properly and stay safe.

A decaying wooden barge sits partially submerged in the water, visible from the shore as an odd landmark. Visitors often photograph this unexpected feature, as it tells a story of human activity along this coast.