Zmudowski State Beach

Nobody can access this beach. The road is flooded just inside the dune at the shore. I’m not sure how deep it is or if you could wade across easily. We are disappointed because we came last winter and it was flooded then. Being flooded still I wonder if it will ever be accessible.

You’re beautiful, you’re beautiful, it’s true !!!
I heard this song on the way back from the beach. That’s how I feft and sensed when I arrived here. It was my first time also. I believed that all of us have remembered our first love and trust me if you want to find back that feeling, just hop in the car and drive over here.;-)
From highway 1 you will have to drive a couple of miles inside, you will pass strawberry fields where you see all hard working peoples picking up strawberries by hand to fill up the truck. I would never think of how much time and labor they’ve spent to get those fresh fruits to us. Living in the the industrial city doesn’t help you to experience the different life outside. I’m glad that I go, see, feel and appreciate those things.
Parking is a little bit small but hey first come first serve, there’s a portable restroom, not so nice but it’s good for emergengy, hehe (better than nothing).
Very quiet beach. Find your good spot, grab your book, get your sun tan or do whatever you want to do .
Me, personally I just want to be there, get some ocean breezes, feel my feet in the warmed sand and dip in the water. and I’m feeling like a happy Bee. A simple thing to be happy.

How can Zmudowski be anything less than 5 stars?! This place is wild man! You can see dolphins whales and seals straight off the beach! The beach is extraordinarily beautiful and the parking is easy and free! If you want a quiet day on a beautiful beach then this is your place! Plus no dogs is a bonus in my opinion!

Free parking at this quiet, unpopulated beach!!! We pitched our awesome beach shade/​shelter/​tenty thing and enjoyed the sun and the beautiful ocean…5 stars for uncrowded.
beach sand feels very easy and soft, and wonderful calf exercise without any foot pain walking straight from parked car to the area of chill-​out for pitching shade. Loved it here… just unassuming. I read, he napped, I spotted kids building sand castles, and others doing yoga or canoodling.
There are no dogs allowed here. Spotted two very large beached and dead sea lions.
Literally across the inlet channel from Moss Landing… short 5 minute drive.

I agree with the others. Looks like a great beach that would rarely be crowded. Unfortunately tho, no dogs are allowed, even of they are on leash; hence the 3 star rating.

I go here to do some surf fishing and get away from the city.
Pros:
— Because access isn’t as easy as other beaches in the area, it’s not a crowded beach. Awesome isolated beach that’s mostly empty (at least when I’ve gone), there’s times when it seems like you have the place all to yourself.
— There doesn’t appear to be a locked gate so you can go as early as you want, and there isn’t any kind of fee to park.
— The sand is soft and not full of rocks/​shells/​debris/​litter.
Cons:
— It’s a long drive from Silicon Valley and can be hard to find the first time as you have to travel down some long windy backroads weaving through farmland.
— There’s a lone port-​a-​john in the dirt/​sand parking lot, but not much else for amenities so plan accordingly.
— Only one entrance to the beach from the parking lot — you have to walk over a small ridge of sand then might have to do some more walking to find a spot, so don’t pack heavy.
A nice little gem of a beach if you don’t mind the drive.

Hidden gem of a beach along the Monterey Bay. Mostly populated with locals enjoying an evening on the beach, or fisherman trying to bring home a fresh catch.
It’s sad that this beach will be closing in July with the California Budget cuts…

My favorite beach hands down! Zmudowski aka «the hidden beach,» is mostly a locals beach. BIG waves, Strong Undertow so use caution while In the water. Great skim, body, and boogie boarding but Surfing can be dangerous (serious undertow). I’ve lived one strawberry field from Zmudowski since I was 5 years old so I’m a little biased. My family has been making memories at this beach for the last twenty years and God willing my son will be enjoying the wild life and beauty of «The hidden Beach,» for another 20 years.

This is a generic beach. Miles of sand dunes lining miles of beach. The only really unusual thing about it is just how isolated it can feel. Also, there is a pretty large wetland area which might be interesting to hike around. I did not go there to confirm.
I went on a Saturday during January with average weather, so it was less than surprising it was a little empty. Still, I probably saw ten or fifteen people during the several hours I was there. I imagine in the summer it would be more crowded, but I would expect it to be nothing compared to Monterey and Santa Cruz.
Most of the people I did see were fishing. I assume this means there is decent fishing there, but as I was not fishing I cannot confirm this.
Parking was free which was a plus.
When driving there google maps gave me directions which involve driving down Jensen road. Do not do this, it dead ends in private property. The correct way is to take Struve road to Giberson road. Then take that road until it dead ends. This will take you into some real farm country, and it really won’t look like anything at all is there. Just keep driving, eventually you will hit it.