San GregorioState Beach - California |
San Gregorio State Beach is near San Gregorio, California, USA, south of Half Moon Bay. Part of the California State Park System, the beach lies just west of the intersection of California State Route 1 and State Route 84.
San Gregorio Creek widens to form a small freshwater lagoon in the park behind a sand berm, or barrier beach, which typically blocks the mouth of the creek, forcing the creekwaters to flow underfoot as they seep into the Pacific Ocean. During the rainy season the creek often cuts through the sand berm and flows directly into the ocean. Historically the creek was a coho salmon spawning site, and the Department of Fish and Game is considering restocking it with coho to improve the salmon fisheries south of San Francisco.
It is one of the cleanest in the state.
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Vintage USGS - San Francisco - 1957
Vintage 1957 USGS 1:250000 Map of San Francisco in California. Published by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=529
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Gregorio_State_Beach
San Gregorio State Beach is near San Gregorio, California, USA, south of Half Moon Bay. Part of the California State Park System, the beach lies just west of the intersection of California State Route 1 and State Route 84.
San Gregorio Creek widens to form a small freshwater lagoon in the park behind a sand berm, or barrier beach, which typically blocks the mouth of the creek, forcing the creekwaters to flow underfoot as they seep into the Pacific Ocean. During the rainy season the creek often cuts through the sand berm and flows directly into the ocean. Historically the creek was a coho salmon spawning site, and the Department of Fish and Game is considering restocking it with coho to improve the salmon fisheries south of San Francisco.
It is one of the cleanest in the state.
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 his
Playas Estatales de la
Costa de
San Mateo
Nuestra Misión
La misión de California State Parks es proporcionar
apoyo para la salud, la inspiración y la educación
de los ciudadanos de California al ayudar a
preservar la extraordinaria diversidad biológica
del estado, proteger sus más valiosos recursos
naturales y culturales, y crear oportunidades para
la recreación al aire libre de alta calidad.
California State Parks apoya la igualdad de
acceso. Antes de llegar, los visitantes con
discapacidades que necesiten asistencia
deben comunicarse con el parque llamando
al (650) 726-8819. Si necesita esta publicación
en un formato alternativo, comuníquese con
interp@parks.ca.gov.
Las playas estatales de
la costa de San Mateo se
encuentran distribuidas
a lo largo de 40 millas de
peñascos empinados, playas
arenosas y pintorescas
maravillas. Dé un paseo por
la línea costera, organice un
pícnic, observe las pozas
de marea y deléitese con el
rugir de la rompiente.
CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS
P.O. Box 942896
Sacramento, CA 94296-0001
Para obtener más información, llame al:
(800) 777-0369 o (916) 653-6995, fuera de los
EE. UU. o 711, servicio de teléfono de texto.
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
En la portada: Playa Estatal Pomponio
© 2016 California State Parks
Playa Estatal San Gregorio
L
a costa de San Mateo comprende un tesoro invaluable de paisajes exquisitos en un tramo de 40 millas desde Pacífica hasta el límite norte del
condado de Santa Cruz. Las travesías silvestres y los cañones profundos de los Montes de Santa Cruz contribuyen a proteger la costa y preservar
su belleza natural para los millones de visitantes que asisten cada año. Los ricos mosaicos costeros incluyen fósiles prehistóricos, un faro del siglo
XIX, estructuras de un rancho histórico, y otros elementos que reflejan la interacción humana en ambientes tanto marinos como terrestres, así como
también maravillosas vistas naturales.
HISTORIA DE LA ZONA
Los Pueblos Nativos de los Estados Unidos
primero se asentaron a lo largo de la costa
californiana durante el fin del último periodo
glacial, hace aproximadamente 14 000 años.
A lo largo de los milenios, fueron capaces
de administrar la producción de animales y
de las plantas que cosechaban para obtener
alimentos y materiales mediante la quema
sistemática de zonas seleccionadas, la
poda de plantas y la siembra de bulbos y
tubérculos. Mediante dichas actividades,
favorecían la búsqueda de vegetación que
era tan importante para los ciervos, uapitíes,
antílopes, osos, conejos y otras especies que
los indígenas cazaban y atrapaban.
Antes de la llegada de los europeos,
numerosas tribus individuales controlaban
los territorios a lo largo de la costa de San
Playa Estatal Half Moon Bay
Mateo y las montañas adyacentes, incluidos
los chiguan de la actual zona de Montara,
los cotegen de Half Moon Bay, los Oljon de
San Gregorio y los quirostes de las regiones
de Pescadero, Butano y Año Nuevo. En
conjunto, estas tribus más otras 45 ubicadas
a lo largo de las áreas de San Francisco y la
Bahía de Monterrey se han dado por llamar
pueblo ohlone. Actualmente, los ohlones
aún honran las prácticas tradicionales y
culturales de sus antepasados.
En 1542, el soldado y explorador Juan
Rodriguez Cabrillo navegó hacia el norte a lo
largo de la línea costera. Los nombres que él
y sus subsiguientes exploradores marítimos
españoles le dieron a diversos puntos
costeros aún son los que se usan en la
actualidad. La primera expedición por tierra
española de exploración de la Alta California
tuvo lugar en 1769 bajo el mando de Gaspar
de Portolá.
Los miembros de la expedición de Portolá
informaron que, a medida que viajaban
hacia el norte a lo largo de la costa de San
Mateo desde Baja California, numerosos
Pueblos Nativos de los Estados Unidos les
proporcionaron alimentos en las villas que se
ubicaban a lo largo del camino.
Cuando los cazadores de la expedición
llegaron a Sweeney Ridge sobre la actual
Pacifica, se convirtieron en los primeros
españoles que vieron la Bahía de San
Francisco. Los lugares de campamento
usados por los exploradores de Portolá
en Pacifica, Bean Hollow y San Gregorio
son, en la actualidad, monumentos
históricos nacionales.
En 1769, numerosas misiones españolas
contaban con haciendas de ganado y luego
sembraron trigo, maíz y arvejas como
plantaciones de renta.
Luego de la revolución mexicana y la
independencia en 1822, el nuevo gobierno
mexicano concedió grandes propiedades
costeras únicamente a unos pocos
HISTORIA NATURAL
Flora y fauna
Las mayores atracciones costeras son las
arenosas playas en la base de los peñascos
de mediana altura. Las comunidades de
plantas autóctonas incluyen dunas costeras y
riparias, chaparrales de peñascos costeros y
esteros tanto de agua dulce como salada. La
vegetación que no es autóctona incluye las
praderas y las arboledas de eucaliptos. Los
sauces y