Salinas River State Beach is a beach at the river mouth of the Salinas River at Monterey Bay, in Monterey County, California offering nature watching, beach combing, fishing, photography, and taking a walk. It is located at the south end of Moss Landing, California.

Zmudowski State Beach is a popular fishing area. The beach features the Pajaro River estuary, where a natural preserve has been set aside. The sandy beach is also popular with bird watchers and equestrians. Perch, kingfish, sole, flounder, halibut, bocaccio (tomcod), jacksmelt, lingcod, cabezon, salmon, steelhead and occasional rockfish can be found here.

Offshore fishing, surfing, windsurfing and horseback riding are popular activities. Moss Landing State Beach is a favorite place for picnics because the dunes protect it from afternoon winds and provides scenic panoramic views of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, a federal marine protected area. This area is an important stop along the Pacific Flyway so birdwatching is popular.

Moss Landing is a census-designated place in Monterey County, California. Moss Landing is located 15 miles (24 km) north-northeast of Monterey, at an elevation of 10 feet (3 m). It is located on the shore of Monterey Bay, at the mouth of Elkhorn Slough, and at the head of the submarine Monterey Canyon. It had a population of 204 in 2010.

Moss Landing Wildlife Area is an 872-acre property that is part of the largest unaltered salt marsh along the California coast. The tidal marsh is dominated almost exclusively by perennial pickleweed. Elkhorn Slough is an essential 'pit-stop' for migratory shorebirds. Mammals such as harbor seal and sea otter also occur in the area.