Fort Ord Dunes State Park Beach

Fort Ord Dunes State Park is a relatively new California state park that protects the beach and dunes for a four-mile stretch south of Marina State Beach. This is an excellent beach with a remote feel below undeveloped bluffs that offers some excellent beachcombing.

The parking area is on the former site of Stilwell Hall, a 52,000 square foot officers club and hall that was part of nearby Fort Ord military base. The main part of the base, which was decommissioned in 1991, is a large inland tract with hiking trails and wild open lands that is now Fort Ord National Monument.

Getting to Fort Ord Dunes State Park is a little tricky. Find Divarty Street near Cal State Monterey Bay in the city of Seaside then head west and follow signs for the park.

Access to the beach at Fort Ord requires quite a walk from the parking lot on the bluff to the beach below. Head south from the lot along the gated paved road until you see a trail on the right and then hike down the sandy gulch. If you don’t want to make that trek, then you can walk out a boardwalk trail to the bluff’s edge and a viewing platform.

The Monterey Bay Coastal Trail runs parallel to Highway 1 for this entire 4-mile park and continues north and south to make a great bike ride.

Address

Beach Range Rd and 8th Street
Marina, CA 93933

Park Name

Fort Ord Dunes State Park

Owner

State Park

Pet Details

No dogs allowed on the beach

Activities

Biking, Hiking, Beachcombing, Beach Walking, Fishing

Amenities

Ocean Overlook, Paved Bike Path, Restrooms, Picnic Tables, Historic Sites, Dunes

Links

Surfing Info & Web Cams
Water Temps
Tide Chart