In
brief:
2.7 mile loop along bluffs and beach.
Distance, category, and difficulty:
This 2.7 mile loop walk is very easy, with less than 100 feet in elevation change.
Exposure:
Totally exposed.
Trail traffic:
Moderate.
Trail surfaces:
Paved trail, dirt trail, and beach.
Hiking time:
1 1/2 hours or less.
Season:
Nice any time.
Getting there:
From CA 1 in San Mateo County, about 1 mile south of the CA 92 junction,
turn west onto Poplar. Drive west on Poplar about 0.6 mile, to the parking
lot at the end of the road.
GPS Coordinates* for Trailhead:
Latitude
37°27'18.44"N
Longitude 122°26'37.76"W
(* based on Google Earth
data, shown as degrees, minutes, seconds)
Gas, food, and lodging:
Gas, stores, restaurants, and pay phones in Half Moon Bay. Half Moon Bay
State Beach has a bluff-top campground for tents and RVs (upgraded in 2004).
Trailhead details:
Parking fees are charged: $2 hour or $10 day. Parking in a paved lot. No maps or drinking
water. There are portable toilets and four designated handicapped parking
spots (restrooms and drinking water can be found near the campground at
the state beach). A paved path is well suited to wheelchairs and strollers.
There is no direct public transportation to the trailhead. Half Moon Bay
State Beach is within walking distance of SamTrans bus #294. Visit 511.org for details. There are several other beach access trailheads
along the coast in Half Moon Bay; look for the coastal access signs along
CA 1. If you've come to camp at Half Moon Bay State Beach, turn west
onto Kelly Avenue, north of Poplar.
Rules:
Half Moon Bay State Beach hours: 8 a.m. - sunset (gates may be open earlier).
Blufftop Coastal Park parking lot hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. (standard time)/6
a.m. to 8 p.m. (daylight time). Trails and beach at Blufftop Coastal Park
are open to hikers, cyclists, and equestrians. Half Moon State Beach has
paved multi-use paths, dirt multi-use trails, and hiking-only paths. Dogs
are not permitted on every trail described below. Dogs are not permitted on the beaches.
When in the campground, in the dayuse picnic areas, or on the Coastside
Trail, dogs must be on a leash no more than 6 feet long.
The Official Story:
CSP's Half
Moon Bay State Beach page
Half Moon Bay State Beach park office 650-726-8819
City of Half Moon Bay's Parks and Recreation Department office 650-726-8297
Map Choices:
Park brochure (pdf) includes map
Trails of the Coastside and Northern Peninsula has a good map of the area, and is helpful in getting there (available from Pease Press).
Half Moon Bay beaches in a nutshell -- a printable, text-only guide to the featured walk.
Go to Bay Area Hiker Home page