 | San Mateo Coast Park Brochure |

Our Mission
San Mateo Coast
State Beaches
The mission of California State Parks is
to provide for the health, inspiration and
education of the people of California by helping
to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological
diversity, protecting its most valued natural and
cultural resources, and creating opportunities
for high-quality outdoor recreation.
San Mateo Coast’s
state beaches are dotted
along 40 miles of steep
bluffs, sandy beaches,
and scenic wonders.
Stroll the shoreline,
California State Parks supports equal access.
Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who
need assistance should contact the park office at
(650) 726-8819. If you need this publication in an
alternate format, contact interp@parks.ca.gov.
have a picnic, gaze into
the tide pools, and
thrill at the roaring surf.
CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS
P.O. Box 942896
Sacramento, CA 94296-0001
For information call: (800) 777-0369
(916) 653-6995, outside the U.S.
711, TTY relay service
www.parks.ca.gov
San Mateo Coast State Beaches
Highway 1, Pacifica to Pescadero, CA
Parks Sector Office: 95 Kelly Avenue
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 (650) 726-8819
On the cover: Pomponio State Beach
© 2016 California State Parks
San Gregorio State Beach
T
he San Mateo coast encompasses a treasure trove of exquisite landscapes on the 40-mile stretch from Pacifica to the northern boundary of
Santa Cruz County. The wild backcountry and deep canyons of the Santa Cruz Mountains help protect the coast and preserve its natural beauty for
millions of visitors each year. The coastline’s rich mosaic includes prehistoric fossils, a 19th-century lighthouse, historic ranch structures, and other
features reflecting human uses of both terrestrial and marine environments, as well as stunning natural views.
area history
Native Americans first settled along the
California coast during the end of the Great
Ice Age, about 14,000 years ago. Over the
millennia, they managed the productivity of
the plants and animals that they harvested
for food and material by systematically
burning selected areas, pruning plants, and
hand-tending bulb and root gardens. By
doing so, they improved the browsing and
foraging vegetation that was important to the
deer, elk, antelope, bear, rabbit, and other
species that the indigenous people hunted
and trapped.
Before the arrival of Europeans, several
individual tribes controlled territories
throughout the San Mateo coast and adjacent
mountains — including the Chiguan of today’s
Half Moon Bay State Beach
Montara area, the Cotegen of Half Moon
Bay, the Oljon of San Gregorio, and the
Quiroste of the Pescadero, Butano, and Año
Nuevo regions. Together, these and some
45 additional tribes located throughout the
larger San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas
have come to be called the Ohlone people.
Today, Ohlone still honor and practice
ancient cultural traditions.
Soldier and explorer Juan Rodriguez
Cabrillo sailed his ship north along the
coastline in 1542. The names that he and
later Spanish maritime explorers gave to
points along the coast are still in use today.
The first Spanish overland expedition to
explore Upper California took place in 1769
under the command of Gaspar de Portolá.
Portolá expedition members reported that
as they traveled north along the San Mateo
coast from Baja California, they were given
food from many Native Americans in villages
along the way.
When hunters from the expedition climbed
Sweeney Ridge above present-day Pacifica,
they became the first Spaniards to see San
Francisco Bay. Campsites used by Portolá’s
explorers at Pacifica, Bean Hollow, and San
Gregorio are now state historic landmarks.
Several Spanish missions had cattle
ranches in the 1780s; later, wheat, corn, and
beans were planted as income crops.
After the Mexican revolution and
independence in 1822, the new Mexican
government granted large coastal properties
to just a few citizens. These included Rancho
Butano, Rancho San Gregorio, and Rancho
Coral de Tierra, among others.
With the advent of the California gold rush
and subsequent statehood in 1850, droves of
settlers flocked here. Row crop farms gained
momentum when Portuguese and Italian
vegetable farmers arrived in the 1870s. Today,
Photo courtesy Tammy Lin
many crops are still grown
in the area, including cut
flowers, artichokes, and
brussels sprouts.
During the 19th and
early 20th centuries,
the great redwood
forests of San Mateo
County were extensively
logged. Resort hotels flourished, and on
the coastside, tourists reported that both
salmon fishing and upland game hunting
were outstanding.
Low dunes host
a coastal strand
community, including
beach bur, yellow sand
verbena, prostrate
coyote brush, yarrow,
and non-native iceplant.
Significant species
San Francisco garter snake
diversity can be found;
many of these parks support sensitive,
threatened, or endangered species,
including the San Francisco garter snake and
California red-legged frog.
Birds nest in the coastal scrub along these
natural history
beaches, with wrentits and song sparrows
Flora and Fauna
among them. Residents include mallards,
The main coastal attractions are the
black phoebes, American coots, warblers,
sandy beaches at the base of moderately
and hawks. Migrating cinnamon teal and
high bluffs. Native plant communities
buffleheads pause on their travels.
include riparian, coastal dunes, coastal
The riparian/marsh habitat is home to
bluff scrub, coastal prairie, and both
raccoons, opossums, shrews, western pond
freshwater and saltwater marsh. Non-native
turtles, and Pacific tree frogs.
vegetation includes eucalyptus groves and
Broad-handed moles, badgers, and
grassland. Willows and alders line most of
coyotes are found in the area. Sandy and
the coastal creeks.
rocky beaches also attract whimbrels,
sanderlings, marbled godwits, willets, black
oystercatchers, and various gulls hunting for
intertidal invertebrates.
Geology
The Seal Cove-San Gregorio fault — a major
branch of the San Andreas fault — is the
dominant geologic feature in this area. A
100,000-year-old broad marine terrace east
of the fault warped downward over time
between Montara and Miramontes Point,
giving rise to the crescent shape of Half
Moon Bay.
Rocks as old as 70 to 150 million years,
exposed in the sea cliffs at Gray Whale Cove,
once formed the southern extension of the
Sierra Nevada. Over the past 30 million years,
these rocks have been moved northward
about 350 miles along the San Andreas fault.
In the sea cliffs between Seal Cove
and Pescadero, marine sandstones from
the Purisima Formation (1½ to 5 million
years old) are exposed, while in the cliffs
between Pescadero and Pigeon Point,
pebbly sandstones and mudstones from the
70-million-year-old Pigeon Point Formation
are visible. Tafoni, small honeycomb-like
pits, and the well-rounded pebbles on
Pebble Beach are the result of weathering.
The seacliffs are eroding due to surf action
and can collapse.
Use caution on cliff edges. Many of these
beaches can be completely flooded during
high tides, trapping unwary visitors.
Gray Whale Cove State Beach
Photo courtesy Avis Boutell
the beaches
Pacifica State Beach
Linda Mar Beach’s wide, day-use-only
crescent is operated by the City of Pacifica.
Parking fees apply, and California State Parks
passes are not accepted.
Gray Whale Cove State Beach
The 800-foot beach (adjacent to Devil’s
Slide) is reached via a steep stairway.
Gray whales migrate along the coast from
December to January and March to May.
Montara State Beach / McNee Ranch
Montara State Beach is a popular spot for
sunbathing, strolling, nature study, and
picnicking. Two beach access points from the
bluff area lead to the beach.
Inland, the 690-acre McNee Ranch (on
Montara Mountain) encompasses coastal
mountain habitat with sweeping coastal
vistas. The ranch’s two-mile Pedro Mountain
Trail connects to trails leading to Montara
Beach and Gray Whale Cove.
Dogs are allowed on Montara Beach and
McNee Ranch only when leashed.
Photo courtesy Merrill Gosho, NOAA
Gray whale
Burleigh H. Murray Ranch bank barn
Half Moon Bay State Beach
Miles of fine sand include narrow beaches
with clear, compelling views. From north
to south, the Roosevelt, Dunes, Venice,
and Francis Beaches lure visitors. A paved
recreational trail retraces the route of the
historic Ocean Shore Railroad.
Parking lots are near the beaches.
Francis Beach has day-use picnic tables,
barbecues, showers, and family tent or RV
campsites. Sweetwood Group Camp holds
up to 50 people in a tents-only site.
An equestrian trail extends between
Venice Beach and Francis Beach. Horses
can be rented from a private stable
off Highway 1. Horses are restricted to
the designated horse trail; they are not
permitted on state beaches.
For camping reservations, call
(800) 444-7275 or visit www.parks.ca.gov.
Burleigh H. Murray Ranch
A 1.4-mile trail starts at the park entrance
off Higgins-Purisima Road and extends
east across bridged streams to the Mills
Barn, listed in the National Register of
Historic Places.
This dairy barn, called a “bank
barn” since it is built into a hillside,
is California’s only known example of
an English-style bank barn. No fires or
smoking are allowed in this park. Bring
your own drinking water. Horses may use
the gravel road.
Cowell Ranch
A half-mile walk into the park takes hikers
past farmland to a spot overlooking the
sea, and then to a sandy beach with rocky
outcrops, high cliffs, and harbor seal
viewing opportunities.
Bean Hollow State Beach
Right: Starburst anemone
In 1987 the property was
saved from development by the
Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST),
which maintains an adjoining 3.6 miles of
hike / bike trails to the south.
San Gregorio State Beach
Site of the Portolá Expedition campsite
in October 1769 — now a state historical
landmark — San Gregorio State Beach’s milelong, narrow beach sits at the mouth of San
Gregorio Creek.
Pomponio State Beach
Pomponio State Beach, named for a Native
California Indian who rebelled against the
missions, has high sandstone bluffs — some
as high as 190 feet.
Day-use amenities at Pomponio and San
Gregorio Beaches include barbecues, picnic
tables, and vault toilets.
Pescadero State Beach /
Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve
Seventeen miles south of Half Moon
Bay, Pescadero State Beach has two
miles of beach, dunes, and rugged
outcrops. From the blufftop parking
lot north of the Pescadero Road /
Highway 1 intersection, stunning views
await visitors.
The 500-acre Pescadero
Marsh Natural Preserve hosts
resident bird species and
protects a vital stopping
point for migratory species
along the Pacific Flyway.
Bean Hollow State Beach /
Pebble Beach
These day-use beaches have a
self-guided nature trail. Dogs on leash are
allowed here. Do not disturb the tide pool
creatures — anemones, crabs, sea urchins,
and other marine inhabitants.
Colorful stones from an offshore gravel
bed dating from the Pleistocene era wash
in to Pebble Beach: jade, chert, agate,
jasper, and moonstone may be found
among them. Collecting is not permitted.
For more information about all of
these state beaches and parks, visit
www.parks.ca.gov or call the San Mateo
Coast Sector Office at (650) 726-8819.
EVents, Weddings, photography
Permits must be obtained prior to all
beach events and weddings. For permit
information, call the San Mateo Coast
Sector Office at (650) 726-8815.
Photography for profit on state
property requires advance permission.
For commercial still and video filmpermit information, visit the State’s Film
Commission website at
http: // film.ca.gov / Permits.htm.
Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve
western snowy plovers
This small shorebird nests on open, sandy beaches. Plovers rely on stealth
and their sand-blended coloring to escape detection from people and
predators. If parents sense any threat, they may run or take flight — wasting
precious energy reserves and leaving eggs and chicks exposed to predators
and the elements. To help these threatened birds survive, avoid posted
sensitive areas.
Marine Protected Areas
Offshore, the Montara State Marine
Reserve and the Pillar Point State Marine
Conservation Area extend south from
Montara. Marine protected areas help
conserve ocean wildlife and ecosystems.
For boundaries and more information, see
https: // www.wildlife.ca.gov / Conservation /
Marine / MPAs.
ACCESSIBLE features
Half Moon Bay SB — Camping: Francis Beach
Campground has accessible campsites
and restrooms. A beach wheelchair may be
checked out. Sweetwood Group Camp has
accessible parking and a vault toilet.
Accessibility in state parks is continually
improving. For updates, visit the website at
http://access.parks.ca.gov.
please remember
• The surf is very hazardous due to large
sneaker waves, recurring rip currents,
and bitterly cold water. Never turn your
back on the ocean.
• Use extreme caution: lifeguards patrol
the length of the coast, but they are not
stationed at each beach.
• All natural and cultural features are
protected by law and may not be
disturbed or removed.
• Except for trained service animals, dogs
are not permitted on most state beaches.
These parks receive support in
part through three nonprofit
cooperating associations:
Coastside State Parks Association
www.coastsidestateparks.org
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks
www.thatsmypark.org
The Waddell Creek Association
www.ranchodeloso.org
to San Francisco
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State Marine Reserve
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Locked Gate
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© 2016 California State Parks
SAN GREGORIO S B
North Pond Trail
San
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84
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Sequoia Audubon
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200'
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Castle Rock SP
Big Basin
Redwoods SP
Año Nuevo SP
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Gray
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Devil’s Slide
Portola
Redwoods SP
Butano SP
San Carlos
Miramar
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Pescadero
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Pigeon Point Light Station SHP
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Bean Hollow SB
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San Francisco
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SB
Half Moon Bay SB
Montara
680
Thornton SB
Pacifica SB
Gray Whale Cove SB
see
detail
map
Oakland
80
Pacifica
GRAY WHALE COVE SB
Mount
Diablo SP
Berkeley
Angel
Island
SP
101
82
an
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Mount Tamalpais SP
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San Mateo Coast
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PIGEON POINT
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10 Miles
10
15 Kilometers
236
QUIROSTE VALLEY
CULTURAL PRESERVE
(NO PUBLIC ACCESS)
WE ST WA D DE LL
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AÑ O NUEVO COAST NP
WILDERNESS
AÑO NUE V O SP
Año Nuevo Island
AÑO NUEVO
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Waddell Beach
GREYHOUND
ROCK SMCA
to Santa Cruz