Photo of Gray Whale Cove Beach with bright fine sand surface

Photo of Gray Whale Cove Beach with turquoise water surface

Photo of Gray Whale Cove Beach with spacious shore

Photo of Gray Whale Cove Beach with very clean level of cleanliness

7.7

Very good

Gray Whale Cove Beach

Montara, United States

#118 out of 385 in California

7.7

Very good

Free entrance Virgin beach Picturesque Easy access Bright fine sand Fine sand bottom Good for swimming

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Located outside the settlement

Montara • 2.5 km

Map of beach

Tourist Attraction Gray Whale Cove State Beach

9.4 - Excellent 50m

Tourist Attraction McNee Ranch State Park

9.4 - Excellent 750m

Tourist Attraction San Pedro Valley Park

9.4 - Excellent 3.6km

Tourist Attraction Pillar Point Bluff

9.4 - Excellent 5.4km

Tourist Attraction Riptide Charters

7.8 - Very good 6.9km

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About

Gray Whale Cove Beach is located on the Pacific ocean and it is in the 118th place out of 385 beaches in the California region 144 km away from its center, the city of Sacramento. It is one of the beaches of Montara settlement, just 2.5 km from its center. The beach is located in a natural place with very picturesque views, among the mountains, surrounded by the cliffs.

It is a spacious coastline with turquoise water and pure bright fine sand, so you don't need special shoes. The entrance to the water is very smooth. This beach is suitable for different categories of people, lonely travellers, relaxation getaway lovers etc. It is partially crowded during the high season.

Gray Whale Cove Beach coast is free for all. It has no amenities, only nature. .

In addition to swimming and sunbathing, you can also take part in other activities.

This beach is easily accessible, it is located very close to road. Parking is located at some distance, within 300 meters.

3 more beaches are also available within a 5 km radius. The best one is Montara Beach, which has a rating of 8.1.

Gray Whale Cove Beach (California) is located outside the Montara settlement, which may cause some difficulties for travelers who stay far from the coast. However, the remoteness from the village is not always a bad thing. Lovers of quiet rest know, the farther the beach, the fewer crowds.

The beach stretches on the sunny coast and the easiest way to get to the beach is by car or bike. If you don't have this option, then the second best solution is to use the taxi, which can drive you directly to the beach. The only problem, if your stay is far away it can be quite expensive. There is also a possibility of use of public transport, but in this case you need to check the correct route to the Gray Whale Cove Beach with the locals. Take into account that the bus stop is usually in some distance., but accessing the beach requires traversing some distance on foot. While driving or cycling are the most convenient options for reaching the start point of trail, these methods may not be feasible for everyone. Alternatively, a taxi can be used to drive directly to the location. Public transportation is another option, but it's important to confirm the correct route with locals beforehand as the bus stop may be located at some distance.

Weather

history

+18 ^o C +13 ^o C

Air temperature

7.4 M/S

Wind

+13 ^o C

Water temperature

1.5 M

Wave height

Located outside the settlement

Montara • 2.5 km

Map of beach

Tourist Attraction Gray Whale Cove State Beach

9.4 - Excellent 50m

Tourist Attraction McNee Ranch State Park

9.4 - Excellent 750m

Tourist Attraction San Pedro Valley Park

9.4 - Excellent 3.6km

Tourist Attraction Pillar Point Bluff

9.4 - Excellent 5.4km

Tourist Attraction Riptide Charters

7.8 - Very good 6.9km

View all on map

Booking.com

Stays nearby

12 accomodations nearby

Stunning Oceanview Coastal Home Beach Trails Family Activities

2.3km from the beach

7.2 Good

Stunning Oceanview Coastal Home Beach Trails Family Activities

Entire House

Located at nearest locality

Montara • 440m from center

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Area

Average rating of nearest beaches is 7.4 (Good)

View map

Nearest Beaches

2km 26 min walk

Montara Beach Montara Beach

8.1 Very good

3.7km

Shelter Cove Beach Shelter Cove Beach

6.8 Good

4km

Pacifica Beach Pacifica Beach

7.2 Good

5km

Moss Beach Moss Beach

7.6 Very good

5.2km

Rockaway Beach Rockaway Beach

7.2 Good

7.6km

Pacifica Beach Park Pacifica Beach Park

7.3 Good

7.8km

Mavericks Beach Mavericks Beach

7.1 Good

11.4km

Dunes Beach Dunes Beach

7.8 Very good

Localities

Nearest

Montara • 2.5km

Main locality of province

Sacramento • 144km

Transport

Airport

HAF • 5.8km

Bus Station

Main St & 7th St • 2.5km

Train Station

San Bruno Station • 11.6km

All nearest beaches

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Travelers reviews

Average Reviews rating

7.7 Very good

Contribute

Share your experience with other travelers

Average Reviews rating

7.7 Very good

Liyun Zhang

10 Exceptional

The beach in North California is a fantastic spot to watch the waves and take in the ocean view. Despite the recent incident in Half Moon Bay, the beach remains beautiful and there were fewer visitors than usual. However, the stairs leading to the beach are quite tall and slippery, as they are often covered in sand brought by other visitors. It's important to be careful when climbing them, as a fall could result in a dangerous accident.

April 2023

Sylvaire

10 Exceptional

I visited this beach on Memorial Day and was pleased to find a parking spot after only waiting for a few minutes despite the lot being full. The beach had a decent amount of people, but wasn't overly crowded. Upon descending the stairs to the beach, there's a rocky area on the right that offers some secluded spaces. The rocks have flat surfaces that are comfortable for lounging. If you're comfortable navigating the rocks, you can make your way to the right side of the beach.

April 2023

Dr. Zarek

10 Exceptional

This beach is a great spot for relaxation and reading. It's a public area with free parking and stunning natural scenery, featuring a mix of sea and mountains. It's not too crowded, which keeps the area clean and peaceful. It's also a great spot for taking pictures and videos. Five stars just don't do it justice.

April 2023

Kairos

10 Exceptional

This beach is definitely worth the short hike from the free parking lot just south of the tunnels on hwy 1. The old military bunker is really cool and the views are beautiful. Plus, there are plenty of fun things to do.

April 2023

Sarai Rodriguez

10 Exceptional

This beach is absolutely lovely and peaceful, with stunning views that don't require any additional spending. It's perfect for a family outing or a picnic, but it's recommended to arrive early as parking can fill up quickly. Additionally, crossing the highway to access the beach requires caution.

April 2023

Questions and answers

What is the water and sand quality of the Gray Whale Cove Beach?

The Gray Whale Cove Beach is covered with soft and fine golden sand. It's very clean, the surface is pure and unmixed. The water is impeccably turquoise. The entrance to the water is also very convenient, covered with excellent fine sand.

What are the key activities at Gray Whale Cove Beach?

For the main activity - sunbathing, there are no sun loungers on the Gray Whale Cove Beach, so you need to take personal items with you and there is no natural shade, so be careful on a hot day.

Is the Gray Whale Cove Beach good for swimming?

The entrance to the water is very smooth, the bottom is comfortable. The area has the high prevalence of sharks so all swimmers should be very careful.

The waves in the Gray Whale Cove Beach are usually strong.

So the overall recommendation of the Gray Whale Cove Beach for swimming is positive.

Is the Gray Whale Cove Beach good for families?

Family travelers should consider the following features of the beach. This is the natural virgin beach with minimal amenities. It's covered with pure soft sand and the entrance to the water is very smooth.

Is the Gray Whale Cove Beach secluded and good for relaxing?

The beach is located in a natural area. During the high season, the beach can get very crowded, making it an unsuitable place for those looking for a relaxing holiday.

The following features add extra points:

Picturesque views of the sea and the surrounding nature
Mountains/hills in the vicinity

Is there any food or beverages in the area of Gray Whale Cove Beach?

There is no restaurant or bar directly on Gray Whale Cove Beach.

What is the closest accommodation to the Gray Whale Cove Beach?

There are 128 places to stay in the Gray Whale Cove Beach area.

Some of the best hotels in the area of Gray Whale Cove Beach include:

Anchor Inn Pacifica

The most popular other types of accommodations nearby:

How far is the Gray Whale Cove Beach from parking?

The Gray Whale Cove Beach has a parking spot. It is not very large, so in high season it can be busy. It's not very close, about 300 meters.

Are there any attractions nearby Gray Whale Cove Beach?

There are 2 attractions near Gray Whale Cove Beach that are popular with travelers. The nearest are McNee Ranch State Park located in 1.2 km. See the attractions section for details.

What is the best time of the year to visit Gray Whale Cove Beach?

The month with the highest temperature in Gray Whale Cove Beach is September. Its average value reaches 20°C. The warmest sea is in September, the average value is 15°C. The coldest month is December with air temperature 12°C and water 12°C. See more details in weather section.

Is the beach good for sunbathing?

Gray Whale Cove Beach (California) is not fully equipped for sunbathing. However, if you are not picky and are willing to spread out on a towel, you can sunbathe here as well. The natural shade will allow you to hide from the scorching sun in the peak of its activity. Well, the photos of our visitors will be the best proof of that, all the available photos of the beach are above.Gray Whale Cove Beach (California) is a place for true nature lovers, but if you like sunbathing on the beach, then this location is not the best option. There are no sunbeds and umbrellas, and even there is no natural shade to hide you from the scorching sun. From positives, the presence of sand, on which you can sit comfortably. But do not forget sunscreen for this place, such a recommendation is relevant. Photos of the beach you can see above. All photos are taken by our visitors personally.