California State Parks has closed Garrapata Beach, Carmel River State Beach and Asilomar State Beach in Monterey County as large swells and high tides reach the Central Coast. The closures affect weekend trips to the coast south of Carmel and to Pacific Grove. The National Weather Service’s high surf warning runs until 4 a.m. Pacific on Sunday, Nov. 15. That is the warning’s end time. State Parks sets the reopening times.
Which areas are closed
At Asilomar State Beach, State Parks listed both the beach and the Coastal Trail as closed in its Saturday 12:22 p.m. status check. The Asilomar Conference Grounds remain open. At Carmel River State Beach, the main beach entrance and parking lot are closed, according to the park’s Saturday status. Both park pages say the closures are scheduled through Sunday morning and could extend through Tuesday if the swells persist.
Garrapata State Park lists the beach as closed and the park as open with restrictions. The beach notice gives no reopening hour. The park says the designated Soberanes Canyon Trail route runs inland from the gated trailhead on the east side of Highway 1. The Rocky Ridge portion remains closed.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported waves overtopping seawalls and flooding streets farther north on Saturday. In Monterey County, State Parks advises people to stay off sandy beaches and away from rocks and tide pools. For Sunday plans, check the individual park’s current restrictions before leaving. The parking lot and trail closures can remain in place after the weather warning expires.
