Sand City Beach

About Sand City Beach

From about 1920 the towns around Monterey ran a public dump on the bluff at what is now Sand City, burning rubbish at night, until it closed in the 1950s. As the dunes erode, glass from the old tip works its way on to the beach, making this one of the more productive spots on the central coast. Some pieces are freshly exposed and still sharp.

Sea glass at Sand City Beach

Mostly white, green and brown, with some seafoam and the odd cobalt. Look at the gravel patches and the steep stretch just north of Tioga Avenue, ideally at low tide or in the days after a storm.

Visiting Sand City Beach

Safety

Check the tide times before you go and head out on a falling tide, so you're never cut off. Keep away from the bottom of cliffs, wear sturdy shoes on rocks, and follow the collecting rules above.