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. It offers some excellent beachcombing.
The parking area is on the former site of Stilwell Hall, a 52,000 square foot officers club and hall. This was part of nearby Fort Ord military base. The main part of the base, decommissioned in 1991, is a large inland tract. It has hiking trails and wild open lands, now Fort Ord National Monument.
Access to the Fort Ord Beach 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. Walk until you see a trail on the right and then hike down the sandy gulch.
If you don’t want to make that trek, you can walk out a boardwalk trail to the bluff’s edge. There is also a viewing platform. The Monterey Bay Coastal Trail runs parallel to Highway 1 for this entire 4-mile park. It continues north and south to make a great bike ride.
Getting here is a little tricky. Find Divarty Street near Cal State Monterey Bay in Seaside then head west. Follow signs that say Fort Ord Dunes State Park.
Or take the PCH in Marina. Take the Imjin Exit where you can only go east at the top of the exit ramp. Drive to 2nd Ave and go right. Drive to 9th Street and turn right. Follow 9th around the traffic circle. Cross back over the freeway and you will arrive at the parking lot for the beach and the Dunes Park.
Do not swim there because of very strong rip tides and currents. Be careful. There are no life guards at this beach at all. Yet this is a very beautiful beach without many people and beautiful sunsets over Monterey Bay.
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