This is less of a park and more of hiking/waking trails but there are a few picnic benches in the…read moreparking lot that overlook the ocean. There's a decent amount of parking in the lot, much better space than nearby Thornton Beach and parking along the street coming in. I like this hike because it's not too long or not too short. The ocean is always in the background and it's a nice ocean walk without having to get sand in your shoes from the beach. I think there is a technical way to get down to the beach, but you have to climb down numerous rocks, and it didn't seem the safest. The southernmost end where you are at the actual Mussel Rock seemed a bit easier and there was a cool looking beach cave, but this would only be possible to get there in low tide. The walk is a little over 2 miles. If I wanted to go for a walk along a beach or go on a serious hike there are better places in Pacifica for that but I like it here to just get out for a walk and see the ocean.

Wow - finding places like this really inspire me to find new trails and hikes in the Bay Area…read more The views along the coastal bluffs were just so breathtaking . The trails are family friendly - mild incline, wide and safe. That being said , we had a blast climbing down the rocky cliff to go down to the small beach . I'm not an expert on tides and sea life - but when we went there were just shelves and shelves of mussels that people were picking into buckets . We also saw tons of juicy sea anemones . Another stranger showed us all the crabs he had fished out ! Super fun spot for a lovely beautiful easy (but possibly chilly) walk or adventure on the mini beach ! Dog friendly !

Always a good time fishing and crabbing here! Be sure to check out the California Department of…read moreFish and Wildlife website for their free fishing days-- you can even fish off the pier without a license on those days!

It's nice to come here in a weekend for a walk. There's plenty for parking near the Stripe…read morebuilding and it's free. The trail is pretty nice a your are by the water,but watch out for the birds! They attack! And watch what you step on. The bird droppings are large! . I do suggest to walk in pairs if you can as there are some parts of the trail that's rather quiet. There's also picnic areas but bring your own tents, and tables and chairs. Feel free to bike along this trail and don't worry about the restrooms. It seems like they added new restrooms around the parking lot.

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.

Rockaway Beach is located in Pacifica. It is home to historic oceanfront restaurants such as…read moreNick's Rockaway Restaurant. We were visiting the area for the day (9/24/2026) and had a great meal at Nick's while enjoying the view of Rockaway Beach. We happened to be there at a great time for Whale watching. Some of the locals mentioned to us that there were also dolphins that we could see if we stayed long enough. It was a gorgeous sunny day when we were here. I loved listening to the waves crash into the rocky shore. The views were amazing.

I didn't ride a bus to Rockaway Beach but the sun was out. Ok... the Ramones weren't singing about…read morethis Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, CA. But I am. The beach is off Highway1. The beach parking and access is on Old County Road. It's free beach access and parking. The lot can fill up quick on the weekends. More public street parking is in the shopping district, but look out and be aware of the spots only for certain businesses or have time limits. the signs noting time lim There's a walking trail that connects the beaches, it's between the lot and beach. A rocky outcropping is between the two sandy beach sides. Don't go walking on those rocks. Pacifica beaches are notorious for its powerful sneaker waves. No I don't mean a reference to a shoe but actual powerful ocean waves that are strong enough to knock you off your feet and pull you into the ocean. Be cautious and never turn your back to the ocean. The beach has no life guards. To get to the north part of the beach, don't you dare walk on the outcropping for a shortcut. Use the beach trail that meanders through the shopping and restaurant area trying get you to the other side of the beach. The bluff on the north beach side has a bunch of walking trails. If you're not familiar with the area, I recommend sticking to the marked trails. And don't get too close to the edge of the cliff. It's not worth the elusive perfect selfie.

There are a few entrances, but I think the most popular one is on Sneath Lane. This trail is paved…read moreand pretty steady and not too difficult for about a mile but then gets a bit steeper for the next mile to the top. On the way up you can see views of the San Andreas Reservoir Lake. After the rain you can hear the water flowing and see some little streams and wild mushrooms. To the ridge is a little under 2 miles. I like the fact there is a small bathroom which I find quite rare on trails like this. To the left is the San Francisco Discovery Site which has a plaque with some information. Apparently, this was the place the Spanish settlers first saw the San Francisco Bay. To the right the trail goes along the ridge to the remains of the old Nike missile site. The views are stellar, and one can see for miles on end, Marin, the city, Pacifica Mount Diablo, etc. I love watching all the planes coming in and out from nearby SFO. From Sneath the hike is about 5 miles and 2 hrs. I've also gone the Mori Trail route which is nice because it's not paved but this trail is steeper. It's worth checking out the funky Shelldance Orchid Gardens which is located at the trailhead but they are only open on the weekends.

This is a nice enough spot to go for a hike. It was easy to find my way to the Sneath Lane Trail…read moreParking using google maps, a small lot within a residential neighborhood, that fits about 10-15 vehicles. It was foggy, cold, and incredibly windy during my visit last week, and of course, there's an incline as the trail wraps around the mountain. But it wasn't too bad, the actual climb up didn't feel as difficult as it looked from a distance, starting with the sneath lane trail then connecting to other trails higher up. In fact, there are many options for different trails to take. The Baquiano Trail had a dirt pathway while the Notch Trail toward the Nike Missile Control Site was paved. Near the SF Bay Discovery Site, there's a small restroom building (it was pretty clean for a park facility, on a Thursday afternoon). The gorgeous foliage lining the various paths was captivating, along with lovely views of the hills, lake (san andreas reservoir), and sunlit scenery in the distance. Too foggy to enjoy the views the higher you get though, just a giant cloud of fog everywhere. I barely made it three miles out before turning back. It was just far too windy and foggy to wanna be out there very long (I'm sure hot days would be even worse with zero shade to be found). Plus my legs definitely had a workout from the uphill trek. Luckily the jog back down was a breeze. And I did slow down to appreciate the vegetation and vast array of plant species, once again, before leaving.

This is one of my favorite places to go with my dogs. We always have a great time here, and the…read morescenery is absolutely beautiful. it really makes the whole experience special. My dogs love running around, and it's a great way for all of us to enjoy some outdoor time together. One thing to be aware of is the parking situation. It's located to the left of the highway, and you have to carefully cross the road to get down to the beach area. It can feel like a bit of a danger zone, but so far, it's worked out. Most cars are good about stopping and letting you pass, but you definitely have to stay alert and be cautious. The upside is that parking is free, which is a nice bonus. It's usually easy to find a spot on weekdays, but weekends can get pretty busy, so go early if you can. There's also a short hiking trail just above the parking lot, and it offers gorgeous views that make it worth checking out. Between the beach, the views, and the fun for the dogs or kids, this place is a real gem.

I love the stairs to get down (although you could take the sandy way down too) and all the "secret"…read moreareas you can uncover on the far side of the beach near the bunker, like the mini waterfall. Tons of little coves and rocky areas to set up picnic stuff or leave items while hanging out. The whole beach and large space near the entrance are available for reservation. A get together there would be so fun!! Huge parking lot -- you can start hiking a few different trails from it, and they do look beautiful based on the photos from other Yelpers. Never busy on weekdays btw. I sadly saw so much trash strewn about around the beach entrance and under the stairs in the form of beer cans, chip bags, and even a Target bag. You know where you parked your car? Yeah, there are actually trash cans, big ones, right there in that parking lot.. like 500ft from where you threw your trash away. Don't be an inconsiderate asshole. I love eating and drinking at the beach, responsibly, but pack up what you bring in. Classless people.

This has got to be one of my favorites trials/ hikes in Pacifica so far! The weather was beautiful…read morewhen we went and a majority of the trails are quite wide so it doesn't feel crowded. The trails vary in difficulty and steepness, but the views are beautiful all around. Parking is very limited and there was a bit of traffic due to the one lane road, but it was worth it. After your hike you can talk a walk or picnic on the beach and drive down to one of the nearby restaurants.

Mori Point is absolutely amazing on a clear warm day...which is not that common in Pacifica. Hence…read morethe missing star... Not to mention the arduous task of dealing with parking when one does stumble upon that perfect day. I would still bring a light jacket if you think you will still be here around sunset. The coastal breeze brings a nice chill in the evening no matter how warm the day is. The hiking trail is not hard at all, perhaps a bit challenging for some older folks or someone very out of shape. "Located on a promontory just south of the city of Pacifica, the 110 acres of Mori Point are one of the newest additions to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. High up above the cold waves, the site boasts sweeping views from Point Reyes all the way to Pedro Point. It protrudes several hundred feet out into the Pacific and is plainly visible from any high point in the City of Pacifica." - https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/moripoint.htm I feel like a cheat; cut and paste...lol. Then again, I didn't know all this information about Mori Point. I didn't pay attention and actually thouth it was called Maori point and was somehow related to the Maori folks from the land of the long white cloud (aka New Zealand). "Restoration activities have helped the area recover from invasive species infestation and centuries of use by humans. In the 1700s, the Spanish mined a nearby limestone quarry to supply whitewash for San Francisco's Presidio buildings. An Italian immigrant, Stefano Mori, purchased 19 acres of farmland here in 1888. Mori built a guesthouse/restaurant, the Mori Point Inn, which developed a notorious reputation during the Prohibition days and was operated by the family until the 1940s. Mori Point was a site of gravel and sand extraction during World War II; quarrying and later off-road vehicle use left the landscape scarred. In 2000, with the help of the Pacifica Land Trust, the Coastal Conservancy, and concerned community members, Mori Point was purchased by the Trust for Public Land and added to the Golden Gate National Parks." - https://www.parksconservancy.org/parks/mori-point History "For nearly a century, Mori Point served as a haven for settlers, travelers, boot-leggers and diners. Today, after a generation of development battles, this spectacular place serves as a haven for walkers and wildlife and is a link to national parklands on Sweeney Ridge and Milagra Ridge along the San Mateo coast." - https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/moripoint.htm " * The terrain here is varied; walks around Mori Point range from a level and easy 0.5-mile stroll to a steep and challenging 1.5-mile hike. * Beautiful wildflower blooms are at their peak in the springtime, with the most flowers usually present in April and May. * Parking is available on Mori Point Road or Bradford Way. * Walk to the tip of the promontory for stunning views; it's quite windy on the bluffs so dress accordingly. * Stroll down to Laguna Salada and listen for the croaking of the red-legged frog. * Walk barefoot on the black sands of Sharp Park Beach. * During WWII, workers used a pulley system of long cables attached to cement anchors to pull buckets of sand ashore. Several of these crumbling blocks remain on the western hillside." ~ "Tips and Highlights" - https://www.parksconservancy.org/parks/mori-point Wish I had read this before. Some good tips and helpful information

Don't go here! Here are some of the reasons the crowds should stay away from Esplanade Beach…read more The entrance to the beach is in a quiet neighborhood that isn't too busy. There's a walkway along the cliffs overlooking the beach, but the entrance itself is super close no matter where you park. There are doggy bags and a trash can at the top. They even added two new gardens and benches. Talk about overdoing it, Esplanade. Now you're just showing off. The switchbacks getting down have eroded over the years and the dirt path has gotten packed down and steeper, but there's ropes alongside to hold onto. Play it safe much? The stretch of beach is long for your doggies to run off leash with enough space away from others. Owners are so responsible and call their dogs back if they run to you. Pfft who wants that? At the top are sunsets so amazing you'll waste away your whole day out there! You might even miss work or your dinner plans, watching the whales that are often seen here. Not to mention, if you take pictures, your beautiful pics might just blow up your life in popularity. Too many likes and followers! So yeah, you won't want to come here. Try an already crowded beach instead. Thank you.

Lots of street parking along the road/beach. However, some areas are under construction and there…read moreare many overnight campers parked everywhere. High cliffs and break-taking views. The trail atop the cliffs only goes so far and will weave through a small community. The "ramp" down the the beach is quite steep and uneven. The air smelled of decaying seaweed. Parts of the cliffside have fallen down the hill and thus so, some areas are fenced off.