Zmudowski State Beach, State beach in Monterey County, US.
Zmudowski State Beach is a coastal reserve in California featuring long sandy dunes, freshwater wetlands, and the mouth of the Pajaro River on its northern side. The property spans roughly 3 miles of oceanfront with a mix of beach, marsh, and river estuary habitats.
A Watsonville couple donated this coastal property to California in 1950 to protect it from development. Their gift of 155 acres with oceanfront access helped establish it as a protected beach reserve.
The beach serves as a refuge for migrating and resident waterbirds that gather in its marshes and pond areas. Visitors can observe these species throughout the year as they rely on the sheltered wetlands for feeding and rest.
Visitors drive west on Struve Road from Highway One and then turn onto Giberson Road to reach the beach access point. The narrow approach road is about 2 miles long, so arriving early helps secure parking near the entrance.
The name is pronounced without the initial Z sound, sounding like 'mud-OW-ski' instead, which often surprises first-time visitors. This quirk of pronunciation differs sharply from its spelling and becomes a memorable detail of visiting the place.
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