Malpaso Beach Trail
About
Malpaso Beach Trail leads to a public ocean beach on the California coast, about 5 miles from Carmel-by-the-Sea. There is no fee to visit, and dogs are not allowed. Late summer into fall is the most comfortable time to go, with typical highs around 69 to 71°F and only two to four wet days a month from August through October, based on averages from a nearby weather station in Monterey. Winter brings cooler days near 60°F and more frequent rain, with ten or eleven wet days a month from December through February. For a hike to pair with a beach visit, Peak Trail lies about 2 miles away and Soberanes Canyon Trail about 2.4 miles away. Redondo Real Trail is a little farther, at roughly 6 miles.
Beach Details
Dogs
Not allowed
Parking
None at the access
Fee
Free
Restrooms
None
As published by the managing agency. Lifeguards, fees and dog rules are often seasonal, so check posted signs before you swim.
Location
Malpaso Beach Trail
California
Data: California Coastal Commission, YourCoast public access data. Source metadata
Facts about this place
When to go
Best time to go: Jan–Nov. The mildest months here, with typical highs of 60–71°F and lows of 45–54°F.
Typical monthly averages (not a forecast) from the Monterey, CA weather station, 7.7 mi away. High / low in °F, and days with snow.
- Jan60° high45° low
- Feb61° high45° low
- Mar63° high46° low
- Apr63° high47° low
- May64° high49° low
- Jun66° high51° low
- Jul67° high53° low
- Aug69° high54° low
- Sep71° high53° low
- Oct71° high52° low
- Nov64° high48° low
- Dec59° high44° low
Nearby
Peak TrailHikingPhoto: Alexander Hatley, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)1.9 mi
Soberanes Canyon TrailHikingPhoto: Alexander Hatley, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)2.4 mi- (unmaintained trail)Hiking2.6 mi
- Redondo Real TrailHiking5.9 mi
- Rhus TrailHiking6.6 mi
- Coffeeberry TrailHiking6.6 mi
- Iris TrailHiking6.8 mi
- Madrone TrailHiking6.9 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Best time to visit Malpaso Beach Trail
Best months: Year-round. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
60° / 45°
11 wet
Feb
61° / 45°
11 wet
Mar
63° / 46°
10 wet
Apr
63° / 47°
7 wet
May
64° / 49°
5 wet
Jun
66° / 51°
3 wet
Jul
67° / 53°
3 wet
Aug
69° / 54°
2 wet
Sep
71° / 53°
2 wet
Oct
71° / 52°
4 wet
Nov
64° / 48°
8 wet
Dec
59° / 44°
10 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Monterey, CA, 7.7 mi away at 260 ft. We don't have this place's elevation, so higher spots nearby can run cooler. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
