Carmel River State Beach

Carmel River State Beach is the calmer, wilder alternative to Carmel Beach at the foot of Ocean Avenue, and it is a short walk from the Carmel Mission: a long crescent of coarse sand where the Carmel River meets the Pacific, backed by a seasonal lagoon and wetland that serve as a sanctuary for waterfowl and songbirds. Depending on the season, the river either pools behind a sandbar (creating a glassy lagoon full of ducks, herons, egrets and pelicans) or breaks through to the sea, and the scene changes week to week. From the beach, the views run south to the granite headlands and cypress of Point Lobos and north to Carmel Point, and sunsets are spectacular. Birders bring binoculars for the lagoon, especially in fall and winter migration; families like the space and the relative calm; dog owners appreciate that leashed dogs are welcome (be considerate of nesting snowy plovers in late winter and spring). The southern end of the park, Monastery Beach (also called San Jose Creek Beach), is famous with scuba divers for its underwater canyon and kelp forest, but it is notoriously dangerous for swimming and wading, with a steep drop-off and powerful surf, so admire it from the sand. There is no entrance fee, no campground and few facilities, which is exactly why it feels uncrowded. Fit: couples (sunset walks), families with dogs, birders and wildlife lovers, and anyone visiting the Carmel Mission who wants the river mouth that gave the mission its setting.

The Carmel River lagoon is one of the most important wetlands on the Monterey Peninsula, and state parks and local groups have worked for years to restore its habitat. Steelhead trout still run up the river, and the lagoon supports a remarkable variety of birds for such a small area. The beach also sits within sight of the Carmel Mission, founded in the 1770s, and walking from the mission down to the river mouth is a lovely way to understand why the padres chose this valley.