Sunset at Fort Ord Dunes State Park

Dune It Right

Watch a Beach Sunset at Ford Ord Dunes State Park in Monterey

Want a beach that will really get you away from it all? Fort Ord Dunes State Park is just the ticket. And it often glows golden toward sunset. Opened to the public in 2009, this less-known addition to the state parks system gives an impressive perspective of the half-moon shaped Monterey Bay.

Fort Ord was once an army training facility, and while there are remnants of its past and an audio tour available for more context and history, it’s been transformed into a recreational landscape, and a sublime place to watch ocean meet land at its beautiful beach.

Paraglider at Fort Ord Dunes State Park

Sunset at Fort Ord Dunes State Park

Sunset at Fort Ord Dunes State Park

Get a great perspective from the main parking lot, where a short ascent goes to a bird’s-eye view of the coast. Then stroll down to the beach via a short hike that starts on the paved recreation trail running north to south through the park (a favorite for bikers and walkers, and it’s dog-friendly).

Sunset at Fort Ord Dunes State Park

A sign points the way to a sandy trail leading down to the beach (no dogs here, sorry). At the beach stroll for a while or take a seat on driftwood. Soak in views all the way north to Santa Cruz and the peak of Loma Prieta and south to the Monterey Peninsula. The late-day sun spreads across the horizon, casting a marigold hue across the sand as pelicans coast the skies, buoyed by the sea breeze. Sand, salty air, sun … magic. 

Here's a map to Fort Ord Dunes State Park. Dog-friendly on the trails and parking area. No dogs on the beach.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View
  3. Hike the Rainbow

    Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

    View
  4. Hike Purisima Creek Open Space Preserve

    Purisima Charisma

    Hundred-foot redwoods, a shaded canyon, and views overlooking Half Moon Bay. This 10-mile loop hike in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is a roller-coaster of uphill and downhill along with easygoing stretches through some of the Bay Area’s most beautiful landscape.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. People on a guided horseback tour with Central Coast Trailrides at Santa Margarita Ranch near Paso Robles

    Saddle Up with Central Coast Trailrides

    Untouched and sweeping, the mountainous scenery and deep valleys of Santa Margarita near Paso Robles are just begging to be explored. So saddle up for a scenic adventure with Central Coast Trailrides (CCT) at the 14,000-acre Santa Margarita Ranch.

    View
  2. A woman on a hiking trail with huge open space and yellow flowers around her at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

    Going Wildwood

    Consider this your invitation to get a little untamed. In just one walk through Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, you can chase the sound of a cascading waterfall, duck into a shadowy cave, and soak in big hillside vistas. The mostly flat 4.25-mile loop makes wild feel wonderfully accessible.

    View
  3. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View
  4. A woman on the overlook deck overlooking the Truckee River at Oxbow Nature Study Area in Reno

    This Way to Oxbow and Dickerson Road

    Just west of downtown Reno—tucked right alongside the Truckee River—is a nature haven for wildlife spotting and waterside relaxing. The 22-acre Oxbow Nature Study Area is ideal for those seeking solitude and a short hike. Afterwards, explore the creative hub of Dickerson Road.

    View