Carmel Beach

Carmel Beach is located at the foot of Ocean Avenue in the picturesque town of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. It sits along the Monterey Peninsula, offering sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and Carmel Bay. It is famous for its stunning sunsets and dramatic cypress-lined cliffs.

Yes, Carmel Beach is renowned as one of the most dog-friendly beaches in California, allowing dogs to run off-leash under voice control. The city even provides complimentary waste bags and treats the beach as a designated dog park. However, owners must be mindful of the sensitive snowy plover habitat near the dunes.

Yes, visitors are allowed to have bonfires directly on the sand at Carmel Beach, making it a popular evening gathering spot. The city provides specific fire rings, and fires must be extinguished completely by 10:00 PM. You are required to take all your trash with you when you leave the beach.

The water at Carmel Beach is generally very cold, typically ranging from 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit, due to the California Current bringing water down from the north. While surfers wear thick wetsuits year-round, casual swimmers usually find the water too chilling for extended periods. The beach is more popular for walking, picnicking, and beach-combing than for swimming.