Moss Landing: Harbor, Nature, and Wildlife

Moss Landing Harbor and Getting Around

When looking for a hotel in Moss Landing, specific plans for outings can help shape your stay: the harbor, waterfront paths, and wildlife viewing offer different experiences. North Harbor has a parking lot and boat ramps. It is about one mile north of South Harbor, across the Elkhorn Slough Bridge on Highway 1. This distinction is relevant if you plan to include parking or boat ramps in your day’s itinerary.

Kirby Park: Trails and Water Access

At Kirby Park, the focus is on trails and water access. The park offers public access to Elkhorn Slough and hiking trails; it also has a small ramp for launching boats and kayaks. This lets you distinguish between planning a hike and launching a boat or kayak. The ramp is small; since park facilities can change, check its condition before launching. The park thus offers different activities without requiring you to treat access to the slough as the same thing as using the ramp.

Marine Protected Areas and Wildlife

Three marine protected areas are near Moss Landing State Beach, including the Elkhorn Slough State Marine Conservation Area. The nearly seven-mile-long Elkhorn Slough waterway is home to abundant marine life. More than 340 bird species live or migrate through the species-rich marine protected areas near Moss Landing State Beach. Sea otters, sea lions, and harbor seals feed and rest along the muddy shores of Elkhorn Slough. If you want to fish, there is a clear restriction in the Elkhorn Slough State Marine Conservation Area near Moss Landing State Beach: only hook-and-line fishing is permitted there.

Trips on the Water

Elkhorn Slough Safari offers trips on calm waters, giving guests access to sea otters, seals, and hundreds of bird species. Which animals you see on a departure can vary. Tours depart from Dock A in Moss Landing’s South Harbor. If you plan to include a trip in your stay, check the departure details when booking. The safari is a different way to experience the area from the trails at Kirby Park: here the focus is on traveling by water, while there it is on access by foot.

Public Wharf and Tall Ships

Moss Landing’s public wharf offers harbor and ocean views and makes a good stop for taking photos. Historic tall ships often use the wharf for public tours when visiting Moss Landing. Whether a tour falls during your travel dates depends on which ships are visiting; if you’re interested, check the dates before making firm plans. The wharf and Dock A serve different purposes: the wharf offers views and may be the site of a ship-dependent tour, while safari tours depart from Dock A in South Harbor.

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