Moss Landing

Moss Landing is a tiny town on the Monterey Bay in California's Central Coast. Moss Landing is an often-overlooked destination that lies almost exactly halfway between Monterey and Santa Cruz, and while it does not have the amenities of some of the nearby towns, it offers excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing and whale watching.

Understand
There is also a large slough, called Elkhorn Slough, to the north of Moss Landing.

By car
The majority of visitors arrive on the Pacific Coast Highway (California highway 1), which is the main road through the town. Dolan Road goes to the northern part of town, where the power plant is.

By boat
There is a harbor at Moss Landing, and it could be reached by boat from nearby towns.

Get around
Moss Landing is so small that you can easily navigate it by walking, although a car is helpful to reach nearby attractions like the slough and boat trips, which are mostly to the north of the town.

Do


Moss Landing is the departure point for several whale watching companies. Odds of spotting a whale are approximately 95%. Humpback whales are in the bay from March through December, gray whales migrate from December to mid-May, and blue whales are most often seen between July and August. Dolphins and orcas (killer whales) are present year round. Travelers should dress warmly as temperatures are typically 10°F cooler on the water, and those who are prone seasickness should take medication prior to setting off as the bay can often be rough (note that conditions are typically calmer in the morning).

Moss Landing is also a departure point for tours of The Elkhorn Slough. With otters, sea lions, harbor seals, and over 340 species of bird throughout the year on the migration path of the Pacific Flyway. The Elkhorn Slough offers amazing views of the wildlife.

Buy
There are few small shops and markets in town, but no grocery stores or shopping malls.

Go next

 * Santa Cruz - large coastal town to the north of Moss Landing
 * Monterey - coastal town to the south of Moss Landing
 * Watsonville - town in the fruit-growing region inland from Moss Landing
 * Marina - town ten miles south of Moss Landing with some interesting nature viewing, parkland, and other attractions