Sand City Beach in Sand City, CA

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About Sand City Beach in Sand City, California

The small city of Sand City, California (population 328) is completely surrounded by the city of Seaside. Once an industrial area along the shoreline, Sand City Beach is going through changes. The entire dunes structure west of Highway 1 is being protected from development. Much of this land has already been designated as Eolian Dunes Preserve.

The paved Monterey Bay Coastal Trail runs through the dunes providing access to trails that lead to Sand City Beach. The trails in the preserve are open to hiking, biking, and leashed pets, but don’t trample the vegetation next to the trails.

Because of the remoteness of the Sand City Beach and its industrial past, this is an excellent spot for beachcombing. Colorful sea glass can be found all over the place and it is considered one of the top California beaches with sea glass. Walking barefoot is probably not a good idea as some of the glass here hasn’t been tossed around enough to smooth out the edges. Also swimming here is dangerous due to strong rip currents and the lack of lifeguards.

The best way to get to Sand City Beach each is to park at the back of the Sand City Shopping Center located at the end of Playa Avenue at Metz Road. A few parking spots are provided along Metz Road next to the paved pathway that goes under Highway 1 toward the beach. Another popular access with parking can be found at the end of Tioga Avenue.

There is a unique place down the shore to the north called The Crater where a deep depression in the dunes can be found behind a tall sandy berm.