Moonstone Beach Boardwalk, Cambria
Across from the hotels in Cambria, is the 1.5km Moonstone Beach Boardwalk, a narrow wooden boardwalk right above Leffingwell Cove. This is a rugged, windswept beach with large driftwood, kelp balls, and grey sand. It is particularly pretty when you look north because of the outline of mountains, dark strand of forest, and honeycomb cliffs. The cold north wind blows strong, so bring a puffer jacket and beanie that covers your ears. Kids like to play with the many sea treasures the rough waves wash onto the sand, and adults make driftwood teepees. This is a barren, dry coastline. The native plants replanted instead of ice plant along the boardwalk are usually just sticks with no greenery. For clear skies and turquoise water, come in early autumn. Late summer afternoons usually have less fog too. Check a webcam before you head out, to avoid grey, bleak weather. Surfers, and even hydrofoil surfers, enjoy the waves here and it's fun to watch them from the cliffs.
The parking lot, at the south end of the boardwalk, has an amazing view of the ocean! You can park there and watch nature on a rainy day when it's too cold to go outside.
At the north end of the boardwalk is gorgeous Leffingwell Landing Park.
Drive a few minutes south to waterfront Nottingham Drive and you will find a cute neighborhood with adorable views over little coves. This is a great place for a walk, where you may see amazing purple ice plant on the cliffs, if it hasn't been removed yet.
For a large playground, check out Shamel Park, south of the boardwalk past the creek, where kids can listen to the ocean while they play.
The fog clears a little earlier in Cambria town because it's slightly inland. It's nice to sit in the garden patio filled with flowers, or the cute upper garden room, at Robin's Restaurant and enjoy a delicious yet expensive meal. After, walk around the streets filled with enchanting gift shops in charming historic buildings on Burton Drive, Main Street, and Bridge Street, admiring the lush trees of all different shades of green. If you love beauty, you will love Cambria Nursery and Florist, which is almost like walking around a botanical garden, perched on a hill above the town.
Make sure you visit the unforgettable Hearst Castle, just 12 minutes north!
During World War II, in December 1941, the SS Montebello, a steam oil tanker, was struck by a Japanese submarine torpedo. Today, it lies 900 feet down, six miles out to sea from Moonstone Beach. All crew members escaped safely with lifeboats.
Large driftwood!
The wild sea.
Kids playing on the beach.
Kelp ball!
Stairs down to the sand.
You can tell this is a windswept spot!
The long boardwalk.
Bench by the boardwalk.
Colored rocks in the water at Moonstone Beach.
View of blue-green wave breaking.
Wooden stairs down to the sand.
Driftwood teepee hut.
Bench and information plaques at the end of the wooden boardwalk.
View across the creek.
When they remove ice plant and replant with native plants, it's not a good look. Native plants don't stay green in our current climate change conditions.
Huge driftwood piles on the beach!
Honey brown cliff.
Birds following a wave.
Birds in formation close to the water.
Blue-green wave. On sunny days, it's lovely at Moonstone Beach Boardwalk!
Plaque along the boardwalk.
Bench with curling wave.
Turquoise wave and black rock, with a surfer in the distance.
Stairs down to the sand, where you will find driftwood teepees!
Surfers catching a wave, in October.
Mother and child at the beach, driftwood teepee, honeycomb cliffs, strand of forest, puffy clouds, and blue sky.
A hydrofoil surfer gliding over a turquoise wave.
A surfer catches a wave, while white wash makes pretty paintings on the shore.
The boardwalk with birds flying overhead.
Birds flying in a V formation over the ocean surface.
Looking north, the beach is particularly pretty because of the outline of mountains, strand of thick forest, and honeycomb cliffs highlighted by sun.
A little wave breaking shows how clean the water is.
Cypress trees create so much atmosphere, and there are many at the south end of the boardwalk.
Cypress tree making shade at the south end of the boardwalk, and views of the houses across the creek.
The Santa Rosa Creek Trailhead Parking Lot is at the south end of the boardwalk. It is located at 5885 Moonstone Beach Dr, Cambria, CA.
Last Updated: Fri, 20 Feb 2026 16:13:36 GMT
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