Montara State Beach is one of my favorite beaches for engagement sessions in the Bay Area! It's clean, relatively quiet, with access to public parking and bathrooms before heading down to the sand. As a photographer, I love shooting here because the light is always beautiful; whether it's golden hour in the wintertime, or fog in the summer, there's plenty of space to explore. Even on breezier days, the movement adds such an organic, natural feel to the photos. It's perfect for couples who want something adventurous and a little wild, but still close to the Bay Area, and always highly recommended! read more

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Beautiful scenery Montare is. And it's & great for fishing and surfing from dusk til dawn

Montara State Beach - Where the Ocean Meets the Sky North of Half Moon Bay, where Highway 1 curves along the cliffs, Montara State Beach unfolds like a hidden dream. A golden ribbon of sand stretches beneath rugged bluffs, kissed by waves and wrapped in sea mist. Mornings arrive in a hush of fog; by noon, sunlight spills across the hills, inviting barefoot walks, quiet picnics, and moments that feel timeless. Montara Mountain watches from the north, offering trails that lift you closer to the sky. Here, every breath is salt and silence, every view a painting. Montara isn't just a beach--it's where nature whispers and the soul listens. read more

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We had the most amazing weekend here. It's a small beach, but we had a beautiful rental on the cliff that overlooked the beach. We took a quick walk down to the beach every day and was blessed to hear the ocean every morning and all night the sand was perfect for the kids. However, the waves were a little rough, not recommended for a tiny kids. We loved watching the surfers and even met a couple new friends. Definitely worth spending the day here. However, parking is really bad if it's busy, that's the only car. read more

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Beautiful state beach, pristine white sand and lightly populated. Beware the riptide: No lifeguard and unpredictable sleeper waves. (Do NOT turn your back to the water; if caught in a riptide, swim right, paddling horizontal to the shore, don't fight it!) Free public parking. There is no disabled access to the beach I could see - so they lose a star. Dogs are welcome, leashed though I saw a couple of leash free go' boy dogs not admonished. Every dog day is a good day! There is a trash somewhat hidden in the northwest corner of the parking lot. Be sure to leave the beach as you found it, and then some. Wonderful spot 22 miles south of San Francisco, just south of Pacifica. Dramatically beautiful. read more

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I stopped here while driving home from a business meeting in Half Moon Bay. Parking was right off the HWY. Pretty sure I was on HWY 1 maybe it was 101... Anyways the parking was right off the highway, you can see the ocean from your car. There was a trail to get down ti the beach but it was steep and kinda long and it was raining so I just stepped out took in the view, took a couple pics and left. read more

Montara State Beach - Parks Near Me - Montara, California

MSB is great. Depending on conditions it can be one of the sketchier beaches in the area. If you're getting in the water there's a really high chance you will be surprised by the shore break. Due to unusually steep drop off - the shore break tends to be unexpected for most people - it can be challenging even for seasoned and experienced water-peeps here. Otherwise - pretty beach. read more

Absolutely beautiful beach-- accessible parking, a great sunset, white sand, who could ask for more! be careful about the sleeper waves, it rises up quickly, keep an eye on your stuff as it can sneak up on you. took a star off because there is no accessibility ramp for people who might need it. Highly recommend ! read more

Montara State Beach - montara state beach - Parks Near Me - Montara, California

My family was here on Sat Aug 31, where it's the start of 3 day Labor day weekend. We arrived past noon time and there's still plenty of parking. The beach is gorgeous with white sand and not much people. There is a Porta potty and trashcan at the parking lot. There's no commercial facilities (food, etc). On this day, there was a lifeguard on duty. The water is clear, but strong waves, so it's best for surfers. Opinion: The absence of commercial establishment and bare bone facilities is what's making this beach attractive. There's less people, no trash, cigarette butt's, etc. What you need is to bring food and water, and beach stuffs. The kids enjoyed playing with the sand and occasional splashes in the water. The sand is still coursed, so not a smooth white pristine beach. But it's not rough and doesn't hurt when walking barefoot. There's no parking fee, it's closer to bay area than half moon, Santa Cruz or Capitola. So, this and some few beach areas north of this location are exactly what I'm looking for. read more

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Beautiful, clean, quiet, dog friendly! Definitely glad a came early. Warm enough to get in the water. A long narrow beach with perfect wether. Many more People started showing up around noon. Before that it was quite tranquil. Better in a weekday. Absolutely lovely. Many dogs were off leash but well behaved. Delicious restaurant right above the beach. Lots of trails to hike around as well. Getting down to the beach is where it gets tricky. VERY STEEP! Not flat at all, takes a Bit of finesse. Nevertheless, worth it! read more

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Simply Beautiful and for us Bay Area people, it's in our backyard. 15 min past San Francisco. I spent New Year's Day on this beach and was in awwww! read more

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I just.... loooove this beach so damn much! I realize that my previous review was actually of the nearby Gray Whale Cove State Beach which is actually my favorite beach in this area now, but Montara State Beach is definitely a super close second. Been coming here for the past 5 or 6 years now, and it's always a pleasure to spend time here. It's warm, it's relaxing, and it's a great alternative to the often overcrowded Linda Mar Beach on the other side of the tunnel. What I love about this beach is that it's super accessible but it never feels overly crowded. Also, there's a decent amount of parking here and you can also park off the side of the road and take one of the easy trails straight to the water. It's one of the few beaches in this area that actually gets some sun all year around, and it also stays pretty warm considering that it's on the peninsula. Of course, it's just insanely gorgeous here. This is your picture perfect beach. The soft white sand, the shallow white waves, and those addictive coastal views. This beach seriously has it ALL. Sometimes I feel like I take beaches like this for granted since it's less than an hour drive from me. But whenever I come here, I get humbled real quick. As I sit here on the beach at 7:30 pm on a Tuesday evening after work, I realize that this beach is simply a blessing. It's a blessing to be able to just get in my car and come here whenever I feel like it (like today). Oh yeah, those sunsets are straight killer. Addictive really. I live for those magical beach sunsets. I'm a beach baby. A water gal. A summer bum. And beaches like this are my therapy. I soak up my visits here like a sponge and it always makes me wonder why I don't come here more often. Welp, I'm here today. Sitting here enjoying as I'm writing this review. And all that I can say is that this little beach is breathtaking. If you haven't experienced this beauty yet... what are you waiting for?! read more

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Beautiful beach! I came here on a Monday and was so happy I didn't have to fight for parking, as I heard it can be tough on the weekends. I brought 3 kids a long with me and they had a great time playing in the sand and water. The stairs going down to the beach are really strep and there is a rope part that was a little sketch, especially if trying to bring down a cooler or big bags. But to the right of it, there is a hidden pathway that is a lot easier and less slippery Beach is sooooo clean. No garbage bins, so make sure to bring out what you bring in. They do have bathrooms, but they are glorified out houses, so just be prepared, they are funky! But this is a perfect beach to come and enjoy nature in. read more

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This is a beautiful beach. Great surf. Great cliffs. Beach! Go there! Apparently it's a nude beach. I jumped in with my shorts on at 7:30am. It was cold as hell. I loved it. read more

Montara State Beach - Parks Near Me - Montara, California

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A not so hidden gem close to SF along the coast. This was SO clean and peaceful to visit and the weather really held up with the sun. Seems like mostly a family oriented spot and good for dogs as well. read more

Montara State Beach - Parks Near Me - Montara, California

This is a wide, mile-long beach you see on the approach as you're driving south on Hwy One away from Devil's Slide. It was an inviting sight as most of the beaches along this part of the coast are hidden from view, and it was relatively easy to turn into the first available parking lot. In particular, fishermen, surfers, and volleyball players were lured to the crashing waves here, families with small children less so. All of them have mastered the steep path to get from the high bluffs down to the sand, especially after a hard rain when everything was pure mud. Not me. I kept walking the trail along the bluffs hoping for an easier path down, but no such luck. In fact, due to the formation of the cliffs, you're forced to walk precariously on the hazardous shoulder of Hwy One if you want to get to the only staircase available behind the La Costanera restaurant. You can park in the lot there, but it's smaller and usually packed even when the restaurant isn't open. The beachcombing is nice no matter where you park. Just be careful of stray volleyballs that are drawn inexplicably to my head. If you're willing to risk your life by crossing the highway, you can enter McNee Ranch State Park which contains some of my favorite hillside hikes in the Bay Area (review: https://bit.ly/3qT59wm). RELATED - Exploring the Pacific side of the peninsula? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3aiDR9I read more

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Did not know this beach exist until I saw someone post it on Instagram. Parking was limited but the beach was beautiful with the water and sand easy access for family and dogs. The water always cold in California so I didn't see a lot of swimmer here. The sand is not soft but it is durable for a picnic or bbq on the beach. There are couple trails near by where you can hike up for a better view. read more

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I love going to this beach on my days off from work. The parking lot can get busy. So happy that they finally installed two toilets. No running water to wash your hands or fill up your bottles. Be sure to bring sanitizer. I've seen people picnic on the beach. I take the stair route. This is not at all ADA compliant. Enjoy this super clean and beautiful beach if you can. read more

Montara State Beach - Parks Near Me - Montara, California

Another beautiful and clean beach along Highway 1. The waves seem to be a bit bigger here than at nearby beaches (like Rockaway)... great for bodyboarding/surfing. Small, free parking lot, a bit limited. Giant rocks you can climb to enjoy the scenic views of the ocean and horizon (though can be dangerous, so I don't recommend). There's also what looked like an abandoned building on site, adjacent to the parking lot (maybe a restaurant?!?), but looked deserted as of Jan 2022, and no other businesses here. No restroom at this beach, so that's a downside. If you're just looking for a peaceful "not too crowded" place to relax along the water, feet in the sand, sun in the sky... this is a cool spot :) read more

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We come here all the time. Our little get away for the day. Peaceful and lovely. The sand is a bit coarsely. But overall we love it.

Beautiful beach. Limited parking but there's around 3 small lots along the highway. Pretty wildflowers in the spring (around May) Only 2 portapottys. read more

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I used to go here with friends all the time in high school so there are a lot of good memories here! Now that we were looking for a place to have a beach day with the kiddo, I was hoping that my good memories were still applicable to this place. We visited on a Thursday morning so parking was plentiful even in the small first lot as you go north on Highway 1. We walked down the stairs to the beach and it was pretty empty except for a few people fishing, a handful of surfers, and a few other beachgoers. We had a great time and will definitely be back again! Other relatives visited on a weekend and it was a bit busier but still not overcrowed. They said the sand here is a bit more coarse than other beaches but I love the free parking and the scenic drive here! The only restrooms we saw were the porta potties in the parking lot where we parked and there are no garbage cans on the beach so please pack your litter out! read more

Been going here since 2015, found it from just driving and exploring the SF California coast. Good nice Northern California beach to visit, family and pet friendly beaches. Only about 8 minutes south from Pacifica, Ca and about 20 minutes south from San Francisco, Ca and only about 2 hours from Sacramento, Ca. Eat and support the local shops and restaurants. I recommend a visit. read more

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Beautiful beach! Took our maternity photos here along with 2 other couples. A great combination of bluffs overlooking the beach and surf. Definitely recommend for those looking for 2 different settings/looks in 1 location. read more

Great beach. No restrooms where I was located and parking was free here... but very limited. I parked on the side of the road. This beach has gorgeous brown sand and for me when I came during the weekday. It was not too crowded. I will tell you the trail getting down is very misleading. The stairs are closed off mid way so you will need to climb down off trail (wouldn't recommend for elderly or someone not very experienced). Or use the off trail to the right (can't really see) and walk down via dirt trail. This route is easier but will required some climbing. But if you can make it down it's worth it. read more

Entrance is free. Cheap date area or friends get together. The beach was just like any hwy 1 beaches. Fairly clean beach. Come in Late June, July and early August for the blooming flowers. You can see the flowers at mid area of Montara state beach. See pictures below. read more

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The beach is clean, sand for miles to walk on and enjoy the ocean and amazing cliffs. You need to be mobile as there are a lot of steps to get down to the actual beach. Parking is available in the restaurant parking as restaurant didn't survive COVID and is closed read more

All of these beaches along highway 1 are a must see. You can just pick one at random. I'm clearing my phone pix so all the beaches are here. Take a look if you're considering renting a car when in SF. I've done both old school rental companies and zipcar. I find zipcar ends up being the most convenient, but also more expensive. If you book ahead, you can find cheap cars, Oakland airport being cheapest, SFO being more convenient. Rumor says, don't leave the car anywhere in SF, unless it's an insured parking garage, or in your hotel. read more

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Nice beach. It is a lot cooler here. Right along Highway 1. A few beach towns along the way.

Beautiful beach! Their are two small parking areas available. We ended up on the side that had a steep trail going down toward the beach. We didnt know that their was another set of stairs about 10 feet away until we left. All well, we made down. But it was easier getting back up to our car using actual stairs! read more

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This is a lovely stretch of beach that is scenic, clean and not too crowded. The sand is soft and the view of the surrounding cliff and hills are beautiful. We came here during shelter-in-place, and I'm glad a colleague had told me about it since it was way less crowded than the half moon bay and pacifica beaches that we drove by. It was super easy to keep at least 6 feet away from people. There is a small parking lot next to a restaurant that leads to the steps down to the beach, but that fills up pretty quickly in the morning so most of the parking is along Highway 1. All the parking is free There are no bathrooms or stations to rinse off, no trash cans Dog friendly! read more

Super dangerous, locals will run you over and break into your car. Back when the restaurant was around this young boy wrote (in toothpaste) "Learn how to park *sshole" on my car because I parked in the middle of the entrance because it was a very crowded day. Don't come here they don't want our money read more

We stopped at Half Moon Bag State Beach first, but its water/wave breaks were very brown, plus we weren't sure where the way down was, so we decided to drive further to give Montara State Beach a try. No regrets. We came on a Thursday in August around noon, and were able to nab a parking spot in the small free parking lot where the Montara State Beach sign was. It was a short walk down to the beach. A little slippery, so just take your time. Or jump down if you're adventurous. The sand and water were pretty clean. We enjoyed the picnic lunch we had packed, and had a nice stroll on the beach. Depending where the sun is, you can have some shade from the sand walls, whatever they're called. It wasn't crowded, so social distancing was easy. Pretty much everyone who came down were wearing masks, but took them off once they settled in their spots. The downside is we didn't see any bathrooms or trash cans (maybe correlated with free parking?). The parking lot was full by the time we left an hour or so later, so come earlier if you can for better chance of parking. After we left, we saw an area with white and purple flowers growing pretty close by. It was cool to see. There was a dirt shoulder that some people had parked at, so we stopped for pictures also. read more

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Best beach between Pacifica and Half Moon Bay ! Stunning views and dog friendly! Just please be considerate and take your garbage and dog's poop , etc with you! Don't trash this beautiful place ! read more

I came to this beach on a Monday and there were only a handful of people relaxing at the beach. I really liked this beach because it was clean and easily accessible from the parking area. There were two areas for parking and it was easy for me to find parking since it was a Monday. The waves came up pretty high and it got my beach gear wet. I would recommend placing your beach gear further back so this does not happen to you. There were a couple of portable bathrooms if and when nature calls. The bathrooms were not as clean but I don't recall ever seeing a clean portable bathroom. I would definitely come back here on my next day trip or if I would just like to relax on the beach. #lifesabeach read more

Montara State Beach - Nice and Clean! - Parks Near Me - Montara, California

We were having dinner at La Costanera and arrived a little early. Decided to check out Montara State Beach as it was right there. We arrived on Friday, August 11th around 7pm. They're weren't many people around. Just a few hanging out on the beach and a couple people checking it out like we were doing. We didn't go all the way down, but I love beaches, so it was fun just enjoying the view. It was a rather chilly evening, but still clear enough to see the water and enjoying the sun while it was setting. The beach was clean and felt kind of like a secluded beach as it wasn't very busy. It does seem like a smaller beach. Glad we were able to enjoy the atmosphere before having dinner. It is a beautiful place too enjoy the sunset. read more

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This is all around one of the best beaches near the San Francisco Bay Area. It's a geological wonderland. There's tons of sand. Parking and pedestrian access are relatively easy. If you're into California geology, this is a must-see beach. Open the geological map app and find the contact point between the Pleistocene marine terrace and the Miocene granite of the Montara Block. If you're just into a nice day at the beach, this is the beach for you. There are several divots in the cliff side for a nice bbq or picnic. read more

Beautiful beach! May be my new go to on a hot day when I don't want to venture down to Santa Cruz. I visited on one of the hottest weekends in the Bay Area so it was uncharacteristically warm and gorgeous here today. I'm usually not up for getting in the freezing pacific, but when it's almost 100 degrees, the water is simply refreshing. Parking is difficult. Although we arrived early, we still had to park on the road. But there was plenty of on street parking available. It can be a little scary to cross the road. It's definitely doable, just be careful. There are two ways down. We found out the hard way that the way down to the beach, closest to the parking lot and port-o-pots (more on those later) is steep and rocky. There are other stairs closer to the restaurant. It also appears that people park in the restaurant parking lot before it opens (at 5), but I didn't see anything specifically allowing it. The port-o-pots were disgusting. Disgusting. I am gagging just remembering. So I won't say anymore. Just go before you get here. Any gas station restroom would be a million times better. I promise. read more

Montara State Beach - Parks Near Me - Montara, California

Love this beach! My husband and I have been coming here every weekend to get away from the 100 degree weather. I love that it's not so crowded like other beaches, it's very clean, there are life guards on duty, dogs are allowed, parking hasn't been an issue, and a fabulous spot for a beach wedding. Overall it's a great family friendly beach. Be warned...The only con is the portable bathrooms are horrendous. read more

Montara State Beach - Parks Near Me - Montara, California

I've been coming here for about 20 years and visited this place MANY times for the past 20 years. Ever since I was in college. It's a great place with good parking and the cliffs and bluffs are beautiful. One tip is that you should definitely park at the parking lot located next to the restaurant. The reason: portable bathrooms. Park at the other lot and you're going to have to trek across the sand for about 10 or so more minutes to use the bathroom. So do yourself a favor and just park next to the restaurant. I'm not sure if the restaurant is even up and running right now so you can potentially park in their parking lot too! Anyways, for all the years ive been coming today was the first time I was accosted by a white male in his mid to early 50s. Came up to me and my friends and started cussing at us to put out our fire. He also kept asking us "Where are you from? Where are you from?" When someone asks you that question that many times, it begins to sound racist. Thankfully the situation de-escalated but its disheartening to have someone accost you and then swear at you, especially since my young kids were there...sigh its unfortunate. If he really is from the local neighborhoods just want to let everyone know you should just be careful when visiting... :( read more