We went to the northern entrance of Fitzgerald reserve only to find out it was closed due to sea…read morepups. We drove a few minutes south to the other entrance and found street parking. We skipped the tree tunnel this time only because my kid was anxious to tide pool. We walked down the long flight of stairs to the beach to find amazing tide pools and a clean beach. No restrooms on this side, no dogs, no beach toys, no food (though I saw people with it), and no collecting. If you come here be sure to bring a well fitted hat, sunscreen (even on cloudy days), towel, water, and sturdy shoes. The tide pools rocks can be slippery so wearing shoes with grip can help avoid falls. I saw two adults slip in the 90 minutes we were there. I saw anemones, crabs, clams and so much kelp of all colors.

The Seal Cove Cypress Tree Tunnel is a quick and easy trail to explore, take pictures, and to…read moresimply just enjoy nature. Parking is free which is a plus--located near the Fitzgerald marine reserve, and there are public bathrooms to use as well. The trees do give off a spooky/enchanted vibe, but that's the cool thing about nature!

This is by far the largest tidepool area I've been to and the most interesting place to see marine…read moreand wildlife, especially because it is a reserve. If you go in the wee morning hours, it felt like walking in a dream with fresh ocean mist hitting your face, a layer of light fog, and the serenity of just you and the ocean. A few locals came down for a morning stroll and were all friendly with a quick "find anything interesting?" chat. By 9am though, lots of people start pouring in and you start hearing all the excited screams of kids, if that's what you're into. I'm not. We were there super early and were lucky enough to spot out a great blue heron patrolling the tidepools looking for a snack, a stranded baby harbor seal, starfish, and lots of small crabs. Nearby on the rocks was a washed up decaying whale, we think, from the looks of the thick leather-looking skin and big bones. It stank baking in the sun the day before, but had no smell in the morning after the tide washed it all night. This place was made for exploring. The tide is so low that you're able to walk out suuuperrr far. Some folks were mussel farming from the little Islands. There was also a cliffside that you could climb up which takes you to a whole other side of different terrain. We found a neon green and purple crab on top and nooks of crashing waves. So beautiful. Be careful where you step when exploring. I was sad to see lots of tourists just stomping over delicate barnacles and anemones like they were nothing. Continue to preserve and this amazing place will stay wild for years to come.

What a special marine preserve…read more Parking: very tight. When the tidepools are open; you will find very clean water. Tip: to find the path, walk up the road a couple hundred feet, look on the right side of the road for a path. There are bathrooms and two water faucets and several large wooden lunch tables. No fire pits.

A wonderful place for a pacific-side hike... cliffs and dunes, topped by a unique cypress tree…read moreforest of weathered and worn trees. The trees form a large covered pathway reminiscent of the arches of a large cathedral. We were there in late summer, on a day when the fog was hugging the shore and creating an eerie atmosphere... it made for a beautiful atmosphere so typical of this shore. Parking wasn't an issue as we were there on a Saturday morning. I imagine this gets busier later in the day.... looks like it might be a very popular spot for picnics. The pathways are well maintained, and you get great access to this unique ecosystem. Make sure you hike to the top of the cliff and walk into the "cypress tree tunnels" to see what I'm talking about... it's a beautiful place.

Beautiful beach just down the cliff from Moss Beach Distillery. "Just" down the cliff. You can get…read morean amazing view of the beach from the Distillery parking lot by hiking along a ridge, but I suggest you take the stairs on Cypress Road to actually set your feet on the sand. There's plenty of free parking around the Distillery (don't tell them I sent you) and the residential streets nearby (REALLY don't tell them I sent you). I hope you've been practicing your parallel parking though! This beach is a great place for little ones and anyone with a fascination with marine bio. The seaweed covered rocks create little tidepools that are home to many a ocean-faring creature - anemones (look out for the squishy green ones exposed to air!), hermit crabs, sea stars, and supposedly seals (don't hold your breath though). If sandy shoes aren't your thing, keep going past the stairs and the trailhead and walk along the soft dirt trail. Follow the fence for some gorgeous views of the sea, and eventually you'll come to a gently downsloping road to the tip of the rocky beach. Photo-op anyone?

We loved our visit to Moss Beach! We enjoy Sunday drives to different beaches and this was an…read moreexcellent choice. Within this area, we also checked out the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. There's a small free parking lot here as well. If you have to use the bathroom, it's well maintained and clean. We enjoy the coastal beaches. It's beautiful and serene. It's even more relaxing to hear the waves with a sunset or sunrise. I still enjoy a foggy morning with a good cup of coffee. It's a nice walk to enjoy mother nature. If you enjoy animals, the seals are fun to watch! Lots of birds flying around, too.

Moss Prevention A…read morethree-mile stretch of beach located in the eponymous census-designated place of Moss Beach that features typical amazing California coastal views and clifftops. The Good: * Free to visit. * Small parking lot. * Restrooms in the parking lot. * The main reason people come here is for the amazing tidepooling at the J.V. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, which is a tidal reef ecosystem that one can explore during low tide. * The Cypress Grove at the top is a fun place for photos. The Meh: * A fairly tall staircase is required to access the beach area, and if you cannot handle a few flights, then it is best to skip this place; it is definitely not ADA compliant. * As far as beaches go, if it were not for the tidepooling, I doubt I would ever come here for the beach itself. It is small and not really noteworthy, especially since you have to schlep your stuff down that huge flight of stairs. The Ugly: * The parking lot is not that large and fills up very quickly, especially during the summer months. There is neighborhood street parking available, but I would personally prefer not to bother the neighbors. Conclusion: Come for the exploration and not much else.

We parked at the free public lot here and walked down to the beach. The beach was pretty empty and…read moredog friendly. We then walked along the Coastal trail. The walk parallels the Ritz Carltons golf course. The views and fresh air were excellent. The Ritz Carlton offers free public seating and restroom access to people walking along the trail. The trail s paved and makes it easy for those who might be mobility impaired.

Beautiful lookout and path down to the beach. There are bathrooms at the top, along with a few…read morepicnic tables. Be careful coming here at night for the sunset, lots of people trying to also come and see the gorgeous view

Quiet easy trail and not too long! Peaceful stroll, seems popular as you will see many others and…read moredogs and sometimes bikes on the trail. I liked it, quite unknown little trail. Worth checking out if you want a nice walk. Being outdoors is good for you. Hear the ocean waves, feel the breeze, catch a sight of a rabbit scurrying into the bushes Free parking lot. Not packed

A gorgeous spot for an easy coastal stroll along the bluffs with convenient beach and park access…read more Pillar Point Bluff is a stunning area of Half Moon Bay/Moss Beach that's filled with a ton of beautiful walking trails. I say "walking trails" loosely because many of the trails can be considered light hikes, but it's an enjoyable coastal stroll nonetheless. I did a 6 mile walk through the bluffs from Johnson Pier to Fitzgerald Marine Reserve and it was so unbelievably beautiful. Many of the trails are dirt paths but there are also sections of paved paths making it accessible for strollers and the handicapped. There's little to no shade on these paths, but the cool breeze from the beach will keep you cool. The best part about the bluffs of course are the lovely views. There are coastal views a galore and a few different ways to access the beach if you want to make a pitstop. I stopped by Ross Cove and Maverick's Beach on my jaunt through the bluffs, and both beaches were stunning. The parking lot is extremely small considering the amount of people that flock to this place. It's shared by beach goers, walkers, and fishermen, so you can imagine how busy and crowded it gets. My one piece of advice would be to park somewhere further (I parked at Johnson Pier) and make a day out of it while exploring the entire area. Or, try to stop by in the early morning hours or right before sunset when the crowds is thinnest. This is also a popular destination for people with dogs and small children since the trails are fairly easy to maneuver. I will definitely be exploring the bluffs a lot more when I'm in the area again. It's a great spot for a beautiful coastal walk.

This is such a beautiful park! We rented the biggest space for a babyshower during Labor Day…read moreweekend and it has plenty of tables and a big area for bbq. We did not use the bbq station but used it as a table for food. There are also outlets, we didn't use it though I assume they work. They have a nice playground right next to the picnic site which was convenient for kids. There is also plenty of parking if you come early. Booking the site was very easy. We just called the park & rec for Pacifica and made a deposit. I will be returning for future festivities (bdays, etc). Only thing is that the restroom does not have soap in their dispensers. Pls bring your own soap/hand sanitizer!

What a fantastic park for the little ones, located at the back of Pacifica. Since it's more in the…read morevalley, it's shielded a bit from the sea winds and the weather is quite nice. The play structure is massive and definitely caters to the little ones' imaginations as you can pretend you're in a castle, complete with turrets. They also have a sandbox, playhouses, and swings, so you are sure to find something for all the kids to enjoy. They also have picnic tables and a giant grassy area where you can run around, hold birthday parties, or just sit to have lunch. A couple of bathrooms are located on site, and they are relatively clean, although they do not provide soap or sanitizer.

This beach is very nice absolutely no garbage any where, beautiful water color for pictures, clean…read morebathrooms, lots of parking close to the water, surfers in the water to watch, great place to take your kids. I have a 1 1/2 year old who loved it! Many shells to pick up in the sand. This place is booming with life. Really beautiful drive to the beach as well.

Gorgeous beach, it does get busy, parking can be hard, we have been coming to this beach over a few…read moreyears, though haven't been back in the last couple of years, can't wait to come back. Its fun to see a lot of birds there, the water is cold as always, but its a solid beach

There is no ocean view from here at all, despite the name. Still, this is a wonderful park for…read morekids. There are couple play structures, grass area, restrooms, a large barbecue, and several picnic tables. We stopped by here to have a quick picnic lunch and ended up staying for couple hours because the kids wanted to run around and climb the play structures for a long time. There is not much shade, so do bring sunscreen. Also, try to sit far away from the barbecue grill because you will not want to socially distance from the food others are grilling...

This park is awesome! 3 play structures to meet the play needs of different age groups (big kid,…read morelittle kid, and toddler). Clean equipment that works well. This may be our preferred park playground in Half Moon Bay!

A nice place to come and picnic/let kids run around. I wish there were a few more picnic benches…read moreavailable - they have more available within the playground itself which is technically animal-free but since we had our dog and the one table outside the perimeter was taken, we decided to take our chances and break the rule. Trash cans and bathrooms are on site, it's nice for adults to be able to sit back and enjoy while keeping a close eye on their kids. The park is set back a little bit from the street and has trees surrounding it which helps to provide a buffer on a windy day. There is also a hiking/biking trail available here if you want to go on a short hike.

Just came here to park for a zoom meeting. It was very quiet and it seemed pretty saferead more