Popular Coastside Beaches Include:

Gray Whale
Montara State Beach
Fitzgerald Marine Reserve
Mavericks & Pillar Point Marsh
Waterfront Oceanside Trail in Half Moon Bay
Miramar Beach & El Granada Beach
Naples/Roosevelt Beach
Dunes Beach
Sweetwood Group Camp
Venice Beach
Francis Beach
Poplar Beach
Pelican Point Beach
Cowell Ranch State Beach
Martin's Beach
San Gregorio Private Beach
San Gregorio State Beach
Pomponio State Beach
Pescadero State Beach
Bean Hollow State Beach & Pebble Beach
Pigeon Point Beach
Gazos Creek Coastal Access
Ano Nuevo State Reserve
 

Gray Whale Cove
Park at Gray Whale Cove State Beach on the inland side of Highway One, 1.4 miles north of the Chart House Restaurant in Montara. This beach is clothing-optional.
Information: Half Moon Bay State Beach, 650-726-8819.

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Montara State Beach
Park in the designated lot on the west side of Highway 1 at 2nd Street, just south of the Chart House Restaurant in Montara.
Information: Half Moon Bay State Beach, 650-726-8819.

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Fitzgerald Marine Reserve in Moss Beach
Take California Avenue off Highway One in Moss Beach. Interpretive Center and docent tours.
Information: Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, 650-728-3584.

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Mavericks & Pillar Point Marsh
From Highway 1, take Capistrano Road to Pillar Point Harbor. Continue past the harbor entrance to Prospect Way and turn left. Turn right on Broadway, then immediately left on Harvard. Continue to the end of Harvard. Turn right on West Point Ave. Go 0.5 mile to the Pillar Point Marsh parking lot.
Information: Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, 650-728-3584.

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Waterfront Coastside Trail in Half Moon Bay
Park at Pillar Point Harbor on Mirada Road off Highway One in Miramar, or at Roosevelt Beach, Dunes Beach, Venice Beach, Francis Beach, or Bluff Top Coastal Park.
Information: Half Moon Bay Parks and Recreation, 650-726-8297.

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Miramar Beach & El Granada Beach
From Highway 1, turn west on Magellan Avenue, then left on Mirada Road.

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Naples/Roosevelt Beach
From Highway 1, turn west on Washington Boulevard. Turn right on Naples Avenue, then left on Roosevelt Boulevard.
Information: Half Moon Bay State Beach, 650-726-8819.

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Dunes Beach
From Highway 1, turn west on Young Avenue, north of Half Moon Bay.
Information: Half Moon Bay State Beach, 650-726-8819.

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Sweetwood Group Camp
Highway 1 at Ruisseau Francais, north of Half Moon Bay.
Information: California State Department of Parks & Recreation, 800-444-7275.

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Venice Beach
From Highway 1, turn west on Venice Boulevard, north of Half Moon Bay. Information: Half Moon Bay State Beach, 650-726-8819.

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Francis Beach
From Highway 1, turn west on Kelly Avenue (south of Highway 92) in Half Moon Bay. Location of Half Moon Bay State Beach headquarters office.
Information: Half Moon Bay State Beach, 650-726-8819.

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Poplar Beach
From Highway 1, turn west on Poplar Avenue (south of Highway 92) in Half Moon Bay.

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Pelican Point Beach
Highway 1 at Miramontes Point Road, 2 miles south of Half Moon Bay.

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Cowell Ranch State Beach
Take Highway One south of Half Moon Bay for 3.3 miles. Park at the marked parking lot.
Information: Half Moon Bay State Beach, 650-726-8819.

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Martin’s Beach
Highway 1 (22325 South Cabrillo Highway), south of Half Moon Bay.
Information: Martin’s Beach, 650-712-8020.

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San Gregorio Private Beach
Highway 1 just north of Highway 84/La Honda Road in San Gregorio, 11.5 miles south of Half Moon Bay. This beach is clothing-optional.

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San Gregorio State Beach
Highway 1 at Highway 84/La Honda Road in San Gregorio, 12 miles south of Half Moon Bay.
Information: California State Department of Parks & Recreation, 800-444-7275.

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Pomponio State Beach
Highway 1, south of Highway 84/La Honda Road & north of Pescadero Road.
Information: California State Department of Parks & Recreation, 800-444-7275.

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Pescadero State Beach
Highway 1 at Pescadero Road in Pescadero, 17 miles south of Half Moon Bay.
Information: California State Department of Parks & Recreation, 800-444-7275.

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Bean Hollow State Beach & Pebble Beach
Take Highway One south of Half Moon Bay for 18 miles. Park at Pebble Beach or Bean Hollow State Beach.
Information: Bean Hollow State Beach, 650-879-2170.

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Pigeon Point Beach
Highway 1, north of Pigeon Point Lighthouse in Pescadero.

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Gazos Creek Coastal Access
Highway 1, north of Gazos Creek Road & south of Pigeon Point Lighthouse in Pescadero.
Information: Bean Hollow State Beach, 650-879-2170.

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Ano Nuevo State Reserve
Take Highway One south of Half Moon Bay for 27 miles. Turn right at well-marked park entrance. From December to March, elephant seal guided tours by reservation only. Call 1-800-444-4445 for reservations.
Information: Ano Nuevo State Reserve, 650-879-0227.

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For more information on Coastside trails & beaches, consult these books, which are available locally and at Bay Area bookstores:
The Coastside Trail Guidebook:
Plants, Animals, Historical Lore along Half Moon Bay on the San Mateo County Coast
by Barbara VanderWerf, [$10.95. Gum Tree Lane Books. El Granada, CA]

Exploring Half Moon Bay and the San Mateo County Coast
by Nancy and Neil Evans, [$10.95. Worldview Associates, Inc. El Granada, CA]

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