Sunset State Beach
Managed by California Department of Parks and Recreation
160 acres0.6 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
–Not graded
Outdoors in Pajaro Dunes
Few parks or trails are on the map in Pajaro Dunes
The biggest trail networks: Sunset State Beach (0.6 mi). 6% of Pajaro Dunes’ land is conserved, about 102 acres. 168 acres are parks and preserves, 1,177 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
6%
102 acres · of 2.6 sq mi of land
Trails
4.1 mi
1.6 per sq mi of land
Park land
168 ac
1,177 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
81%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
0.6 mi
0.6 mi lanes
Lakes & rivers
1
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Sunset State Beach, with 0.6 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Sunset Wetland Natural Preserve
Nature preserve
42 acres
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Zmudowski State Beach
Managed by California Department of Parks and Recreation
9 acres
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
Pajaro River Mouth Natural Preserve
Nature preserve
9 acres
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Who protects it
102 conserved acres
6% of Pajaro Dunes’ land. Who manages Pajaro Dunes’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State parks98 ac
County5 ac
State Park · 98 acLocal Other or Unknown · 5 ac
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunset State Beach State Park | State parks | 102 | Open |
Trails & water
1 lakes & rivers
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
Biking & sports
0.6 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
0.6 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
Courts & fields
6Pickleball
5Tennis
1Basketball
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
When to get out
The best walking months in Pajaro Dunes: April to August
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.9 | 10.8 | 11.9 | 13.1 | 14.1 | 14.7 | 14.4 | 13.6 | 12.4 | 11.2 | 10.1 | 9.6 |
| High (°F) | 61 | 61 | 63 | 64 | 66 | 68 | 68 | 69 | 70 | 69 | 65 | 60 |
| Rain (in) | 4.8 | 4.6 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 4.6 |
July is the driest month (under 0.1 in) and September the warmest (highs of 70 °F). 4.8 inches fall in January, the wettest month. The climate in Pajaro Dunes →
Questions about parks and trails in Pajaro Dunes
Where can I hike in Pajaro Dunes?
The longest trail networks: Sunset State Beach, 0.6 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Pajaro Dunes’ trails?
Sunset State Beach and Sunset Wetland Natural Preserve don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Pajaro Dunes?
0.6 miles of bike routes are on the map: 0.6 of painted or protected lanes.
Is there public land near Pajaro Dunes?
8,604 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Pajaro Dunes or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 168 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Pajaro Dunes neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →