A Walk Up Half Moon Bay's Beach

From HWY 1 take Kelly Avenue to the park entrance. The entrance is at the end of Kelly.

This parking lot also services the Visitor Center, park maintenance area, and a large picnic area. From this entrance, the primary coastal camping facilities are accessed too.

There are two trail heads down to the beach - take either one. The picnic ground between the lot and bluff overlooking the beach is large with about 3 dozen benches, BBQ's, a washroom, and trash cans.

Trail head and beach access down the bluff.

The trail heads are marked by a large informational sign with beach information and warnings.

The bluffs in this area are low. One of the trail heads has steps (the southern one), the other is a broad sandy path.

Pilarcitos Creek. A seasonal drainage creek crossing on the beach.

There are numerous gullies in the bluffs along the coastline providing drainage across the beach and out to sea. These gullies are home to some of the significant animal and vegetation habitat islands within this park.

Surprisingly, there are subdivisions up on the bluffs in several locations (with a natural landscape separator). From the beach one would have no idea along most of this walk.

Creek crossing and additional beach access from the bluff. The creek is Frenchman's Creek.

This stretch is called Venice State Beach. On the bluffs is Frenchman's Creek Community Park and both parking and access to the Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail.

An unnamed Creek outflow.

Naples Creek outflow and Naples Beach. Approaching the bluffs developed with subdivisions and homesites.

The trails up the bluff access a parking area for a portion of the Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail.

At rip rap and homes on the beach. Immediately north of the rip rap is Arroyo de en Medio. A significant Half Moon Bay creek with a coastal trail bridge crossing.

The beach at this point is called Miramar Beach.

The tide’s in with waves washing against the rocks so this will be the extent of this walk. With the tide out, the beach extends to the harbor breakwater further along the coast. At this point the distance traveled is approximately 2.07 miles. The return trip

This point is at Mirada Road in Half Moon Bay and an access point to the Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail.

Beach access up the bluffs to a parking area servicing the Half Moon Bay Coastal trail and beach on Young Avenue.

There appears to be restrooms available.

Frenchman's Creek.

A well developed creek, 3feet deep after a storm right in front of concrete stairs leading up the bluffs to a well developed beach access point.

It requires crossing a creek that flows near the base of the steps.

Today, the water is flowing somewhat and not quite knee deep. The mud is very sticky but will scrape off on the concrete steps up the bluffs.

On top there is a parking area and restrooms. The road in is Venice Blvd. Also, very nearby is a trail head and path along the bluff edge in dune grasslands which we will follow.

The trail is lined with rope fencing to limit access onto the vegetation. The walk is a pleasant break from the beach and takes the visitor though an area with pleasant views of the beach, harbor, and marsh areas.

A few hundred feet inland and unseen is the Half Moon Bay Coastal trail.

Inland is a dune marsh and coastal grass/shrub area.

Cut back down to the beach via a trail. The gully ahead has no obvious crossing.

At this location on the bluff is a parking area and beach access point accessible from Venice Blvd.

Back to top of bluff at the State park Picnic area.