Right Beaches › California › Carmel
China Cove (62 CA-1)
4.8★ · 428 Google ratings · Carmel, California
✓ Parking✓ Short walk✓ Restrooms
At a glance
Parking
On-site lot · 350 ft away · paid · fills up
Walk
150 ft · under a minute
Restrooms
Yes · 150 yd away
Cost
Paid parking
Water
62°F
Tide
2 ft range today
Length
325 yd of shoreline
Sand
170 ft from the water to the back
Crowds
Quietest Mon 7pm
Map of China Cove (62 CA-1)
1
1Parking350 ft from the listing
Guide
Good to know
Visit on clear days
The cove's distinctive emerald-green water is most vivid in bright daylight, not overcast conditions.
Arrive early for parking
The lot fills quickly even on weekday mornings, with some visitors unable to find spots during holidays.
Plan for viewing only, not swimming
Beach access is closed to protect harbor seals; you can only view the cove from elevated cliff-side trails.
Watch for poison oak on trails
The plant encroaches onto narrow trail sections, particularly at stairs and overlooks.
Conditions
How it is right now
Air
64°F · overcast
Water
62°F
Waves
4.7 ft · 11 s apart
Wind
7 mph from the SW
Shelter
Cross-shore · wind running along the beach
UV index
7 peak today
| Time | Tide | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 06:35 | High tide | ↑ |
| 09:23 | Low tide | ↓ |
| 16:21 | High tide | ↑ |
Last updated Sep 4, 5:33 AM.
Crowds
When it gets busy
| 8a | 9a | 10a | 11a | 12p | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p | 7p | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mo | ||||||||||||
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| We | ||||||||||||
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| Su |
QuietBusy
Practical
Plan your visit
📍 Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, 62 CA-1, Carmel, CA 93923, United States
🅿 Parking 350 ft from the listing, Bird Island
🌊 Water 150 ft away, under a minute walk
🚽 Restrooms 150 yd away
Nearby
Other beaches close by
225 yd away
275 yd away
0.8 miles away
1.2 miles away
1.7 miles away
2.1 miles away
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Questions
Common questions
Where do you park at China Cove?
The nearest mapped parking area is 350 ft from the listed location. Positions come from OpenStreetMap, not from review text.
How far is the walk to the water at China Cove?
90 ft in a straight line from the listing to the mapped shoreline, under a minute. Soft sand and dune make the real walk longer than the straight line.
Does China Cove have restrooms?
Restrooms are mapped 150 yd from the listing.
When is China Cove least busy?
Google visit patterns put the quietest hour at Mon 7pm and the busiest at Tue 1pm.
Measured from OpenStreetMap, public aerial imagery and live conditions data, and counted from visitor reviews. Every source, in full.
