Things To Do
Parks
Monterey County offers quite a few excellent parks for the outdoor fun lovers. People who are in the mood to take it easy and relish nature can choose between a number of respected parks in the area. These include Jacks Peak Park, Toro Park and Forest Hills Park. Jacks Peak Park is great for hiking. Toro Park and Forest Hills Park are excellent picnicking and barbecuing destinations respectively. Be sure to take a look at our extensive list of the finest parks in all of Monterey County.
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Big Sur Visit Website
Andrew Molera State Park
Highway 1 Big Sur, CA 93920
In the spectacular Big Sur area, this park is still relatively undeveloped and offers visitors great hiking and beachcombing. Miles of trails wind through meadows, beaches and hilltops. A primitive walk-in…

Big Sur Visit Website
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
47555 California 1 Big Sur, CA 93920
This state park is named after Julia Pfeiffer Burns, a well respected pioneer woman in the Big Sur country. The park stretches from the Big Sur coastline into nearby 3,000-foot ridges. It features redwood,…

Monterey Visit Website
Monterey Window on the Bay
. Monterey, CA 93940
This beautiful park runs alongside Monterey State Beach, Del Monte Ave and the Monterey Bay Coastal

Pacific Grove
Asilomar State Beach
Beach Trail - Asilomar Pacific Grove, CA 93950

Big Sur Visit Website
Ventana Wilderness
Hwy 1 south of Carmel

Salinas Visit Website
Toro County Park
. Salinas, CA 93908
501 Monterey-Salinas Highway 68

Salinas Visit Website
Laguna Seca Recreation Area
1025 Monterey-Salinas Hwy 68 Salinas, CA 93908
At the Laguna Seca Recreation Area, visitors can camp on the surrounding hillsides for a serene view of the Salinas Valley. Both RV and tent camping are available in a clean, friendly environment. The…

Monterey Visit Website
Jacks Peak County Park
25020 Jacks Peak Park Rd Monterey, CA 93940
Jacks Peak Park has much to offer the outdoor enthusiast. Almost 8.5 miles of horseback riding and hiking trails wind through cathedral-like forests and to breathtaking ridge top vistas. The Skyline Self-Guided…

Carmel-by-the-Sea Visit Website
Carmel River Lagoon & Wetland Natural Preserve
Mouth of the Carmel River Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 93923

Marina Visit Website
Fort Ord Dunes State Park
Beach Range Road Marina, CA 93933
This recently opened State Park has a 1,500 foot trail to 4 miles of ocean beach with beautiful views of Monterey Bay. From the parking area visitors may also take a stroll on the new boardwalk to a bluff…

Monterey Visit Website
Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail
This paved path stretches 18 miles from Castroville in the north to Pacific Grove in the south. Monterey, CA 93940

Carmel Visit Website
Garrapata State Park
Highway 1 Carmel, CA 93923
The park has two miles of beach front, with coastal hiking and a 50-foot climb to a beautiful view of the Pacific and offers diverse coastal vegetation with trails running from ocean beaches into dense…

Watsonville Visit Website
Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve
1700 Elkhorn Rd Watsonville, CA 95076
Elkhorn Slough (ESNERR) is a seven-mile arm of the Monterey Bay located half way between the cities of Santa Cruz and Monterey. This arm has a bend in it as it extends inland, and at the "elbow" lies…

Monterey
Lower Presidio Historic Park
113 Corporal Ewing Monterey, CA 93940
This centrally located park has tremendous potential for all park-goers. It can be a first stop for any visitor to the Monterey Peninsula with its gorgeous views, perfect for their photos and memories…

Pacific Grove Visit Website
Lovers Point Park & Beach
Ocean View Blvd & 17th St Pacific Grove, CA 93950
Lovers Point Park is located at the foot of 17th Street, and is a landscaped community park of 4.4 acres. It is used for picnicking, fishing, swimming, watersports, and surfing. Lovers Point's amenities…