Moonstone Beach County Park — Attraction in McKinleyville

Moonstone County Park is a hidden treasure on the rugged Northern California coast, offering a perfect mix of natural beauty, outdoor adventure, and peaceful relaxation. Nestled along the shoreline just north of Trinidad, this park is an ideal destination for families, nature lovers, and anyone seeking a unique coastal escape.

As you approach the park, the view opens up to reveal a stunning expanse of sandy beach framed by dramatic rock formations and the vast Pacific Ocean. The beauty of Moonstone lies in its diversity—there’s something here for everyone. From tide pools teeming with marine life to gentle waves perfect for wading or beginner surfing, this park invites exploration and play.

For adventurers, Moonstone County Park offers opportunities to kayak through hidden coves, paddleboard along calm stretches of water, or even climb the striking rock formations that dot the shoreline. At low tide, the beach transforms into a magical landscape of tide pools, where you can discover starfish, anemones, and other sea creatures—a hit with kids and adults alike.

If you’re looking to relax, the soft sands and rolling waves provide a serene backdrop for picnics, beachcombing, or simply soaking in the sun. The surrounding cliffs and trees offer spots of shade, making it a comfortable destination no matter the season. The sunsets here are nothing short of breathtaking, painting the sky in shades of orange, pink, and purple as the day comes to a close.

Moonstone is also a favorite spot for dog lovers, as it’s one of the more pet-friendly beaches in the area. Watching dogs frolic in the surf adds to the park’s lively and welcoming atmosphere.

What truly sets Moonstone County Park apart is its sense of tranquility. Even on busier days, the beach feels expansive enough to find your own little slice of paradise. The combination of crashing waves, salty sea air, and stunning views creates an experience that’s both invigorating and grounding.

Whether you’re an adventurer, a family seeking a fun outing, or someone looking to unwind, Moonstone County Park has something to offer. It’s a must-visit for anyone exploring the Humboldt County coastline, and you’ll leave with a heart full of wonder and a deep appreciation for the beauty of nature. Moonstone is more than just a beach—it’s an experience you...

Our family loved this beach. It had shallows for our non-swimmer younger kids and great waves for the older kids/adults. Beach had great tide pools to explore as tide went out, which was fun to watch since we were at this beach from 10am to 6pm. We found crabs, sand dollars, starfish and other sea life clinging to rocks as tide went out. There are lots of rocks/cliffs to explore. This beach is clean and just had so much variety, if I could only visit one beach in the area, this would probably be it and we visited 5 other nice beaches in the area. I would visit this beach again if I were in the area. It was sunny and warm (68F) the whole day we were at this beach (in mid August).

Majority of dog owners were very responsible and had dogs well under control and most were kid friendly dogs that were just as happy to play our kids as they were with the owners.

Cons: Bathroom is only a single mobile toilet at the parking lot and parking is very limited, especially the day we visited, parking was more limited due to a wedding at restaurant in parking lot.

There was one dog owner of the probably 50+ we saw that let his dog poop on the beach and then thought it was funny to flick it all over the beach in his terrible attempt to get it into the water. Shame on this dog owner, but kudos to the other 50+ we saw that were...

This place is absolutely amazing for families. There is a little rec room you can rent for weddings or special occasions which is really cool. The beach is humongous plenty of room for tons of people. If you want to wait across the little Inlet this area has you can go to the beach next to you but if you stay more on the Northern side of the beach, you can wade out no more than waist-high almost a football field out. It's so shallow pretty far out. even your kids can go out pretty far without having to worry. This is definitely the place to go if you have kids. I recommend it. The only downfall is there's no spicket to rinse off the sand so be prepared to sacrifice one towel to wipe everybody's feet off before you get back...