Moss Landing and Elkhorn Slough

Moss Landing is a small working harbor halfway between Santa Cruz and Monterey, at the mouth of Elkhorn Slough. The slough is a seven-mile tidal waterway that curves inland through salt marsh, mudflats and eelgrass beds. It is often described as one of the largest and richest coastal wetlands left in California. More than 340 bird species have been recorded here and the calm water shelters a resident population of sea otters.

For visitors from Palo Alto, that adds up to an easy and memorable day: paddle with otters in the morning, walk the reserve trails, eat at the harbor and be home for dinner. This guide covers the drive, kayaking and boat tours, the Elkhorn Slough Reserve's hours, the beach and what officials have reported about the January 2025 fire at the battery storage plant next to the harbor. For more paddling closer to home, see our kayaking and paddling guide.

Getting there and drive time

There are two good routes, both about 65 to 75 miles and 1.25 to 1.5 hours with light traffic.

• Over Highway 17: take Interstate 280 or Highway 85 to Highway 17, cross the mountains to Santa Cruz, then follow Highway 1 south past Watsonville to Moss Landing. This is the natural route if you want to stop in Capitola on the way.
• Down US 101: take 101 south past San Jose and Gilroy. For the reserve, CDFW's directions use Exit 337 for San Miguel Canyon Road, then Castroville Boulevard and Elkhorn Road. The reserve entrance is 2.2 miles along Elkhorn Road on the left. For the harbor, continue west to Highway 1 and head north.

Highway 17 is slowest on summer weekend mornings southbound and Sunday afternoons northbound. Highway 101 can back up through south San Jose at commute hours. A morning start also gets you on the water before the afternoon wind. There is no practical transit, so you need a car. You can compare rental cars if you are visiting without one.

Kayaking Elkhorn Slough

The slough is close to ideal for paddling. The water is protected from ocean swell, wildlife is everywhere and you can go as far inland as your arms allow. Outfitters around the harbor rent boats and launch straight into the slough.

• Monterey Bay Kayaks runs a Moss Landing location with kayak and paddleboard rentals and guided slough tours. Its website lists daily hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Other outfitters also rent boats around the harbor. Compare what each includes, such as wetsuits, a safety talk and whether you can paddle on your own.

Paddling tips

1. Go early. Afternoon wind off the bay can make the paddle back to the harbor hard work.
2. Ride the tide. Paddle inland on the incoming tide and come back as it turns. Outfitters will tell you the day's timing.
3. Give otters space. Federal law protects sea otters. Stay at least five kayak lengths, about 60 feet, away and move off if one lifts its head to watch you. Never paddle between a mother and pup.
4. Dress for cold water. Even on warm days, wear layers that can get wet and keep your phone in a dry bag.

New to paddling? A guided tour handles the gear, the tide and the wildlife rules. You can compare kayak and wildlife tours on Monterey Bay or book directly with the outfitters.

Boat tours

If kayaking is not for you, Elkhorn Slough Safari runs narrated boat tours up the slough from Moss Landing, with otters, harbor seals and shorebirds along the way. Its website lists daily tours, private charters and specialty tours for fall 2026, plus a new electric catamaran. Boats are calm and stable, which makes this a good choice for young children and older visitors. Book ahead on weekends.

Elkhorn Slough Reserve

The Elkhorn Slough Reserve protects more than 1,700 acres of salt marsh, oak woodland and grassland on the east side of the slough. It is a state ecological reserve owned by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and also a National Estuarine Research Reserve. Here is what the CDFW reserve page says:

• Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
• Admission: no fee.
• Wildlife: more than 340 bird species, 100 fish species and 500 documented invertebrate species, plus more than 100 sea otters in the slough.
• Groups: school and youth groups should call at least two weeks ahead to book a field trip.

A network of trails loops through the reserve to overlooks above the marsh. Bring binoculars. Winter is the busiest season for migrating shorebirds and waterfowl. Spring brings nesting birds and wildflowers. Leave dogs at home and check the reserve's posted rules before you go. Our birdwatching guide covers spots closer to Palo Alto.

Moss Landing State Beach and the harbor

Moss Landing State Beach lies on Jetty Road, on the sand spit north of the harbor mouth. The state park page lists hours of 8 a.m. to half an hour after sunset and says there is no fee. Dogs are not allowed on the beach or dunes, though leashed dogs may walk on Jetty Road. Vehicles longer than 21 feet are not allowed. Dunes block the afternoon wind, which makes it a good picnic spot. Rip currents and cold water make swimming dangerous.

The harbor itself is worth a slow walk. Sea lions bark from the docks, otters float in the channel and fishing boats unload at the piers. A few antique and gift shops sit on the east side of Highway 1.

The power plant and the battery fire

The two tall stacks of the Moss Landing Power Plant are the landmark everyone notices on Highway 1. On January 16, 2025, a fire broke out at the Vistra battery storage facility on the plant site. The building held about 100,000 battery modules. The fire burned for several days and flared up again the following month. EPA estimates that about 55 percent of the batteries were damaged.

Here is how the cleanup stands, based on the EPA's update page and EPA statements reported by local public radio in September 2026:

• Vistra is paying for the cleanup under an agreement with EPA signed in July 2025.
• The first phase began September 29, 2025. Crews removed nearly 40,000 intact batteries and sent them to recycling facilities.
• The final phase began in late summer 2026, with crews demolishing the burned building to reach damaged batteries and debris.
• On September 18, 2026, remaining damaged batteries reignited and about 1,300 modules burned. Monterey County ordered residents within one third of a mile to shelter in place until about 4:15 p.m. No injuries were reported.
• EPA says air monitoring continues on site and in the community. Heavy trucks use Dolan Road during the final phase.
• EPA expects the cleanup to be finished around mid-2027. The cause of the fire was still under investigation in late 2026.

Neither EPA nor the county had announced closures of the harbor, the beaches or the slough for visitors when we checked. Before you go, look at the EPA page and Monterey County's alerts. If an alert is active, choose another day or head to Capitola or Pacific Grove instead.

Where to eat

Moss Landing has a handful of seafood restaurants, fish markets and cafes around the harbor and along Highway 1. Expect chowder, fish and chips and whatever the boats brought in. Hours change with the season and some places close one or two days midweek, so check before you count on a late lunch. Castroville is a few minutes south and Watsonville is to the north. Both have more choice. Our seafood guide covers Palo Alto.

A sample day

1. 7:30 a.m. Leave Palo Alto and drive over Highway 17 or down US 101.
2. 9 a.m. Two to three hours of kayaking or a boat tour on the slough.
3. Noon. Seafood lunch near the harbor.
4. 1:30 p.m. Walk the Elkhorn Slough Reserve trails, Wednesday to Sunday.
5. 4 p.m. Sunset picnic at Moss Landing State Beach, or drive 30 minutes south to Monterey.

To stay over, you can compare hotels around Monterey Bay. Monterey and Santa Cruz both have far more rooms than Moss Landing itself.

Frequently asked questions