Maenporth is an easterly facing cove lying on the south coast between the Fal Estuary to the east and the Helford Estuary to the west. 

It has a wide and gently sloping beach with soft sand up to the backshore dune, which is levelled for car parking.

The cove is approached by two valleys. The northern one contains a wetland and pool. The outflow from the pool discharges into a tunnel, beneath the road and emerges through a portal within the cliff rock, onto the beach. The southern valley is low-lying, below the level of the road and levelled sand bar.

There is a narrow strip of dune between the car park and the road. There is low-lying wetland behind the road.

There are no coastal defences other than the car parking area. This is presently a bare sand surface.