Yet, its not just visitors. Located south of downtown Half Moon Bay, Redondo Beach is one of the best beaches in Half Moon Bay. Sign up for our email newsletter to keep up with what's new on the Coastside, and get your free Coastside/365 Guide filled with activities, destinations, local events and much, much more. Written July 21, 2014. Fishing is also popular at Half Moon Bay. The Francis Beach day use area has accessible parking, restrooms, and a beach wheelchair. Most of the Half Moon Bay beaches are California state parks that charge vehicle day use fees. They have full hook-ups go for $84. Mavericks Beach in Pillar Point Harbor is also dog-friendly. The best Half Moon Bay Beaches offer long stretches of sand that are perfect for relaxing and taking in the beautiful scenery. Venice Beach (Half Moon Bay) - BeachCatcher.com This beach park is also close to downtown shops and restaurants. Venice Beach has outside showers, flush toilets and a payphone. Good weather and the facility was very clean. The parking costs around $10, and the self-service kiosks do not offer change, so bring small bills. In the last 3 weeks, humpback whales have been coming through and very close to the. Half Moon Bay is ideal for sunbathing, picnics, surfing, fishing and also has a campground for those who wish to visit longer. It goes 4.5 miles and ends at Pillar Point Harbor. State Parks Home Grab one of the bright yellow picnic tables outside, facing the airport tarmac . Brought our lunches and parked near the restrooms. What makes them cool is that you can visit them on a lovely 4 mile walking loop. Time doesnt move hour to hour but mood to moment. Francis Beach is a popular camp spot, largely because of its proximity to the greater bay area and those killer ocean views. The Coastside encompasses the cities of Half Moon Bay, Miramar, Montara, Moss Beach, El Granada, San Gregorio, La Honda, and Pescadero. Because the Half Moon Bay State Beaches are really three beaches in one, it can get a little confusing. While in the state parks, horses are restricted to the designated horse trail and are not permitted on State Beaches. Half Moon Bay State Beach is one of the San Mateo Coast beach parks. Centuries of colonial violence led to the removal and displacement of the Chiguan. Go early. North of Dunes Beach is Roosevelt Beach with a separate parking area down a long one-lane paved road. Pasta Moon is a restaurant that manages to balance gracefully between two worlds, Indoors or Outdoors, Coastside lodging venues offer great options for location and decor. The Cowell Ranch Beach parking lot is located approximately 4 miles south of Half Moon Bay State Beach, along Highway One. Local Tip: Cant get enough of the ocean views? The ranch has been farmed since the mid-1800s, first by a 16-year-old immigrant from Germany, but later by Henry Cowell who acquired the property due to foreclosure. After paralleling Roosevelt Beach, you'll cross a big arched bridge over Frenchman's Creek, and then be treated to peek-a-boo views of Venice Beach. There are stairs leading down to the beach which makes it easy to access, although there is a $10 parking fee. $10 admission was worth the visit. If you plan on visiting at least 12 state parks in California, then its a good idea to pick up an annual pass. A popular spot for picnics, it has public . 2% Maximum You can take the bus, train, use the BART plus Amtrak, or take a shuttle. This beach can get crowded on weekends, so arrive before 10 am to secure a spot. Roosevelt Beach is the northernmost beach at Half Moon Bay. You can either plan to arrive before 10 am and leave before 4:00 PM or go later and stay til after sunset to beat the traffic. If you plan to visit state parks frequently, consider getting an annual parks pass. Manhattan Beach - 5 tips - Foursquare Share these tips for day use and camping in Half Moon Bay State Beach with your friends on Pinterest: Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a4458f1bf11ce6cfe8034e8437062b6d" );document.getElementById("bdd8f95227").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); We are a participant in the various affiliate programs including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Read More: Get the full downlow on all CA parks with our complete California State Parks list (with map). There are multiple parking and beach access points: By Bus: TakesamTrans route 17 to get to the beach. Miramar Beach in Half Moon Bay, CA - California Beaches 5 reviews. 3. Here are three ways to beat it: 1. Here are a few tips for how to deal with traffic and have a pleasurable beach visit. It's home to theHalf Moon Bay State Beach Visitor Center, which is open on weekends and offers visitors a chance to learn more about the park's ecology and history. This is a city beach park .8 miles south of Francis Beach and is accessed from the same pedway along the coastal bluff. The Half Moon Bay coastline is dramatic, and all three of the beaches are beautiful. Pomponio State Beach (Half Moon Bay) - Tripadvisor Hang around for dinner and the sunset and youll sit out the worst of the returning traffic. The Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail runs north and south to the other state beaches and beyond. This quiet spot has very subtle signage and is easy to miss. Online Reservations at ReserveCalifornia: Half Moon Bay SB Campground Reservations. These are walk-in sites for thru-travelers, such as people doing a multi-day coastal ride. Walk to San Jose Diridon Station and take the (L1) 123 San Francisco Train. A beach overlook, with accessible benches and accessible viewing scopes, is a short 0.6 mile hike on a dirt path from the parking lot. Web design by Crucial Creative. It's a favorite spot for sunbathing, picnics, surfing, fishing, and camping. The trail is generally flat at less than 5% slopes. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Address. There are several ways to get involved at Half Moon Bay State Beach. No fees are charged for this lot. Pillar Point Harbor occupies the north end of Half Moon Bay. Its easy accessibility from the parking lot/main road, makes this an attractive beach for families looking for a great location to spread a picnic blanket and relax on the sand. Both directions are dog and bike friendly. Hotel reception is not manned 1100 to 1600, so take a printed copy of your booking to get into the park first. Francis Beach is the most popular beach among the Half Moon Bay State Beaches, and is also the most crowded. If it has rained recently, you may want to check the water quality in case runoff has made the beaches unsafe. If you visit in the fall, be sure to check out some of the. Plus an $8 reservation fee. . Highway 92 is a one-lane road and gets backed up pretty bad during rush hour. Dunes Beach at Half Moon Bay State Beach - California Beaches You'll take a steep sandy trail through them to reach the beach, Restrooms are available at the parking lot, Venice Boulevard for (you guessed it) Venice Beach. This is a review for beaches near Half Moon Bay, CA: "The quieter side of Half moon bay state beaches. Enjoy your time at the beach and have a great chill pill. This kid-friendly beach near Half Moon Bay has a lagoon which makes for an excellent spot for kids to spend hours on the sand while safely wading in its shallow waters. This pass will give you access to over 111 California state parks, from the state park beaches in Lake Tahoe, to the redwood forests all over the golden state. Find out how to get from SJC to SFO Airport in six ways. It is about 15 miles south of 92 and 1 in Half Moon Bay. Before you visit, check the Recreate Responsibly page to protect yourself, family, friends and your community by following these measures during your visit. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. View the Francis Beach Campground Map here. Be the first one to write one. It frequently rolls in later in the afternoon but will often clear out for sunset. The Francis Beach Campground has 4 accessible sites and 2 accessible comfort stations. They accept the annual pass hangtag, which you can purchase on site. 2023 Chef Travel Guide | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | Disclosure Policy. Half Moon Bay SB - California State Parks Horses are allowedon the designated horse trail only. These other Half Moon Bay beaches are less popular, but that doesnt mean they are less beautiful. Credit card payments are encouraged. The paved California Coastal Trail (and the adjacent dirt trail for use by horses) runs behind the Dunes Beach parking lot and intersects Young Avenue by the entrance to the parking lot. OKO HAUS NAMASTE - Prices & Guest house Reviews - Tripadvisor There are stairs to your right that go down to the beach. Sort by: Distance Price Relevance. Some sites have electrical hookups, but water and sewer hookups are unavailable. The Half Moon Bay State Beach Park group campsite is located between Dunes Beach and Venice Beach. Suggest edits to improve what we show. Now 2 hours. Pacific Coast Highway 7 Day Road Trip Video. Unique landforms underwater create big breaks that can reach as high as 80 feet, especially after storms in the North Pacific. There are various options available, and some offer discounts. There are no lifeguard stations at Half Moon Bay State Beach. Many, but not all, are electrified and none have water/sewer. All rights reserved. Note that swimming is dangerous here due to strong rip currents and cold ocean water. Today, their descendants continue their stewardship and presence here, in partnership with State Parks. What You Need to Know Before You Go to Half Moon Bay State Beach, How to Get to Half Moon Bay State Beaches, use the June Gloom guide to find out more, It's not held at the beach, but the annual. Half Moon Bay State Beach 95 Kelly Ave. Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 (650) 726-8820 Four miles of broad, sandy beaches stretch out to welcome visitors to Half Moon Bay. Use our Pescadero State Beach guide to get all of the specifics on how to visit the beach. Take the Santa Cruz METRO Highway 17 Express to San Jose via SVTC. Copyright 20042023 Yelp Inc. Yelp, , and related marks are registered trademarks of Yelp. Access to this beach can be a bit challenging as it requires a steep descent from the parking area above a bluff, which explains why its less crowded than other beaches in the area. The Half Moon Bay State Beach website warns: "The ocean water is very cold year round. You may see horses passing through the state park on their way southtoPoplar Beach, which allows horseback riding right up to the water's edge. Just south of Francis, red-tailed hawks hunt gophers on the wide open space of the blufftop. If you are feeling energetic, you can also take a blufftop walk south along the Cowell Purisima Coastal Trail. It takes less than an hour to get there from either San Jose or San Francisco. For more information about the beach wheelchair, call (650) 726-8821. Where to eat along Highway 1 from Half Moon Bay to Pescadero The first official mention of Half Moon Bay is on an 1854 Coast Survey sketch of Spanishtown. Pacific Coast Beaches are within walking distance. There are a lot of beachgoers and families right at the bottom of the Poplar beach access, but if you go south, youll quickly get clear of the scrum. This Half Moon Bay public beach is a good place to set up camp with your friends or family for a picnic and maybe even watch the sunset. Dunes and Venice Beach are right next to one another and they are officially part of the Half Moon Bay State Beach Park. Local Tip: Stop by Sams Chowder House next to the Pillar Point Harbor boat launch and warm yourself up with a bowl of clam chowder on a foggy day. The Best California Road Trip Itineraries: 13 Grand Adventures, Where to Go Wine Tasting in Pismo Beach: Complete Winery Guide. The Francis Beach section of Half Moon Bay State Beach lies at its southern end. You can find Venice Beach off Highway One at the end of Venice Boulevard. HomepageAboutBlog ArchiveWork with UsPrivacy PolicyContact Us. It's located in a quiet country area down the road from Cameron's English Pub (which is a very dog friendly restaurant). Parking in Half Moon Bay | Visit Half Moon Bay No beach fires are allowed and fireworks are prohibited. Accessibility Home Local Tip: Free street parking is available in the Alsace Lorraine neighborhood. Six of our lodging venues can host your wedding, from an eloping couple to a full-blown wedding, With grand-scale splendor and small-town charm, the Half Moon Bay Coastside is a beloved destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. Half Moon Bay State Beaches are not dog friendly. The Pillar Point Bluff Trail offers more panoramic views of the wet-suited warriors trying to conquer some of the biggest waves of their lives. Rush hour traffic on weekdays (5:00-7:00 PM) can add hours to the drive, and weekend traffic in the mornings can be particularly bad. If you want to visit the beaches in Half Moon Bay, you may have trouble deciding which one to pick. When the Cowell Foundation decided to sell the ranch in 1986, it was purchased by the Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), a nonprofit land trust serving San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Dog-Friendly Guide to Half Moon Bay, California - Gennifer Rose This is why swimming in Half Moon Bay is not recommended. Coin-operated hot showers are also available. I used to live in Half Moon Bay, so trust me when I tell you that weekend rush hour traffic is real. Francis Beach at Half Moon Bay State Beach - California Beaches You'll often see people wading into the water or surfing the waves, but please use caution around the ocean. The campfire center is also accessible. - Fri. 10am 2pmor By Appointment | Phone:(650)726-8380. For travelers visiting Oberasbach, Oko Haus Namaste is an excellent choice for rest and rejuvenation. Annual State Parks passes also are available to purchase at the entrance kiosk. But more importantly, the Coastside has some incredible beaches. You can watch it below if you want to see how we explored Pacific Coast Highway. What did people search for similar to free beach parking near Half Moon Bay, CA? Pacific Coast Beaches are within walking distance. North from Francis Beach, you can take the paved pedway along the bluff a perfect hiking spot! This paved path extends the entire Half Moon Bay shoreline from Pillar Point to Redondo Beach. Learn more about Cowell Ranch State Beach here. Parking is expensive at $10 and you have to self pay and write your vehicle number in a drop box when there's no ranger around. In addition, some of the beaches have riptides. An excellent fried chicken sandwich that All Spice served as a pandemic-only takeout special is now on the menu here. Exit on main St & Miramontes S. Take the 17 bus on Linda Mar Park & Ride. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Dunes Beach is at the end of Young Avenue off Highway 1. The Francis Beach day use area has accessible parking, restrooms, and a beach wheelchair. No fires or bbq here, you can bring your own portable grill at poplar and surfers beach. 14 Dog Friendly Beaches In Half Moon Bay CA - TTWT - Travel Today Work Parking: Free. I would suggest going through the wide entrance which is better. There is a parallel trail for horseback riders but horses are restricted from entering the beach. In the mid-1700s, Spanish missionaries arrived and drew the native people into the mission system. Half Moon Bay State Beach Park is one large 4 mile beach with bluffs, dunes and a wide sandy beach. Among the beaches listed in this guide, Fitzgerald Marine Reserve is the only beach that focuses entirely on protecting the beautiful and fragile ecosystem while educating visitors about its tide pools and wildlife. "Best spot to park w/music + a view to clear the mind." Asha Servia. Heritage Grove | Trails Huddart Park | Trails McNee Ranch State Park | Trails Memorial County Park | Trails Montara State Beach Pescadero Creek Park | Trails Pescadero State Beach The Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail runs north-south behind the parking lot for running, walking, and biking. Its also a nice spot to park a beach chair if you enjoy watching surfing. The Conservatory. Venice Beach in Half Moon Bay - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go Go Hiking and Biking on the BluffNorth from Francis beach, you can take the paved pedway along the bluff. Sign up for our email newsletter to keep up with what's new on the Coastside, and get your free Coastside/365 Guide filled with activities, destinations, local events and much, much more. Dunes Beach (Half Moon Bay) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go The beaches in Half Moon Bay are popular. Roosevelt Beach connects to Half Moon Bay State Beach via a walking path. All of the beaches are also subject to seasonal fog that's so common it has a name: June Gloom. Local Tip: Visit the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company nearby at Pillar Point Harbor and enjoy a pint of Mavericks Amber Ale. Open Mon. VENICE BEACH - 379 Photos & 56 Reviews - Venice Blvd, Half Moon Bay Leave your mark on this beach by building a driftwood sculpture and end your day by watching a glorious golden sunset. If you dont want to get an annual pass, then be sure to bring $8 in cash with you. People also searched for these near Half Moon Bay: See more free beach parking near Half Moon Bay. Check out our Web Storiesfor more inspiration. Venice Beach is the middle beach of five within Half Moon Bay State Beach. Surfing conditions here are nearly impossible to forecast because of the unpredictable weather and surf action. It's first come first served, but they allow long 28 day stays so call to get a realistic idea about availability. For more information: access@parks.ca.gov | Phone: (916) 445-8949 | Fax: (916) 449-8966 This beach near San Francisco stays pretty quiet, but it does get busy on weekends so plan accordingly. The dog park is located at 400 Wavecrest Rd. For visitor information, the Visitor Center is located at 235MainStreet, HalfMoonBay,CA94019 We used to live in Half Moon Bay and still visit frequently. Coastal Trail Roosevelt Beach, also known as Naples Beach after a nearby road,is the northernmost beach in the State Park. The 10 Best Half Moon Bay Beaches - California Crossings Conditions of Use The beach is located a half-mile west of Highway 1 with 3 parking lots in the City of Half Moon Bay. Location 3.0. But all the better for youespecially if you are in the mood for a quiet sit. Swimming is not a good idea around Half Moon Bay. Parking was in front of Gasthof, on the street. Venice has two parking lots to accommodate extra cars, public restrooms, and outside showers to help you wash the sand off before you leave the beach. Do so very cautiously. Half Moon Bay State Beach offers four different beach day-use parking lots to choose from: Francis, Venice, Dunes, and Roosevelt, as well as a campground that provides accommodations for those who wish to visit longer. It's a favorite spot forsunbathing, picnics, surfing, fishing, and camping. Francis Beach is at the end of Kelly Avenue in the City of Half Moon Bay. To access the beach at this location, find parking spaces near the intersection of Mirada Rd and Medio Ave or look for legal parking spots south of the footbridge (next to address 201 Mirada Rd, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019). The HMB beaches are key nesting sites for the threatened snowy plover and unfortunately enthusiastic dogs and snowy plovers dont mix well. This is because there is a lot of sensitive dune and snowy plover habitat at the other beaches. The highest ocean temperature is 75F in September, with the average air temperature at 67F. You may catch rockfish or striped perch. Its fine to play at the edges of the water but keep your eye on the surf (and the kiddos). The views from the trail are breathtaking which makes it a photographers dream. Half Moon Bay is one of Northern California's best beach towns. This beach has bathrooms and parking here is usually easier to come by. You can also hike in the Pescadero Marsh, which is visited by over 230 species of birds.
