Sunsets and Tide Pools at Asilomar State Beach
3.6 Miles | 9 Minutes Drive
Asilomar State Beach runs along the western edge of Pacific Grove, where the Monterey Peninsula turns to face the open Pacific. Rocky tide pools, small sandy coves, and restored dunes crossed by a wooden boardwalk make it one of the most peaceful stretches of coast on the Peninsula. It is about nine minutes from Cannery Row Inn, following the shoreline past Lovers Point and Point Pinos.
Across the road, the historic Asilomar Conference Grounds include buildings designed by architect Julia Morgan. Because the beach faces west, it is a natural place to end the day with the sunset before heading back to Cannery Row for dinner.
Tips
- Check a tide chart and go at low tide for the best tide pooling.
- Stay on the boardwalk and marked paths. The dunes are being restored.
- The surf here is powerful and the water is cold. Enjoy it from the shore.
Photo: Sunset tidepools Asilomar State Beach Monterey County by Lianguanlun, via Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under CC BY 4.0. Resized; website renditions may be cropped and converted to WebP for display. This license applies only to the photograph.
