Poplar Beach has become my reliable weekday sanctuary. I've lost count of how many times I've made the trip here, and it never disappoints. The weekday timing is key - easy parking, virtually no crowds, and on those perfect sunny days, it's absolute gold. I've turned it into my outdoor office of sorts, catching up on phone calls and meetings while walking the coastal trail. There's something about taking a strategy call with ocean views that just hits different. The versatility is what keeps me coming back. Feel like getting closer to the action? Walk down to the beach and let the waves do their thing. Prefer to stay dry? The cliff-top walking trail offers killer views without the sand in your shoes. When you need to clear your head or just want a change of scenery from the workspace - then hit 92 on the week day and head out here - bonus there is no traffic on a week day!! read more

Poplar Beach - Beaches Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

This is a beautiful beach that is tucked away off the main highway. There's a paved path to walk along if you don't want to get sand in your shoes. There's a lot of parking, but it's not free. I don't mind paying for parking, however only one of the two kiosks weee working and they don't accept cash. read more

See all

Beautiful, clean beach in Half Moon Bay! Dogs are allowed on leash and our pups loved our quick visit. It was super peaceful on a recent Saturday when we stopped by. As others have mentioned, the dedicated parking lot costs $10 (whether you stay for a few mins or all day). But if that money goes toward keeping this beach so clean, I'm ok with it. Park in the lot (or nearby in the neighborhoods) and then walk down the long flight of steps to the beach, and ENJOY! read more

You could go to any beach in Half Moon Bay and be impressed by the views, yet this beach in particular can best show you the exact reason as to why this lovely place is called Half Moon Bay. This beach also has a lot of other great things going for it. There's a nicely paved and easy to walk path on top of the cliff and along the beach that's very kid and dog friendly. The beach is clean and wide, making it possibly one of the best spots around for a beach day with sun bathing and sandle castle building activities. All is easily accessible. There are several picnic tables around. That said, if you're looking to go into the water and especially if you have little ones, be extra careful. The warnings signs posted around here are not being extra cautious. The tides around here are tricky and can easily become dangerous. Always make sure you keep your eyes on the water and don't turn your back to it. So why not 5 stars? Well, they have a great parking lot adjacent to this beach that charges you $10. If you spend the whole day there, what a steal! If you're just parking there to have a 30-min walk however, that walk has now become quite expensive. There should be an option to pay per hour. read more

See all

Really nice place to walk or just hang out. The walking trail is well-maintained and great for a relaxing stroll. There's a decent amount of parking, which is always a plus. The beach is pretty and peaceful, perfect spot to unwind and enjoy the view. read more

This beach is probably my favorite in Half Moon Bay. There is a designated parking area, which is convenient. Unfortunately, it is also a little sketchy. Half Moon Bay asks you to pay $10 to park here and whether you spend 10 minutes or all day long, you will pay the same price. We were lucky enough to come at a time when someone else was leaving and they were also frustrated by this, so they kindly offered us their spot. You see, you get no ticket or confirmation, other than a digital notification that the spot is "paid" until 12 am, so it is impossible for any parking attendant to know who paid for the space, only that it was paid for. Basically, they sell the same spots over and over throughout the day. There really should be a better way to manage parking. That being said, the parking area provides garbage bins and porta-potties, so those who are willing to pay to park will have what they need. This beach also has convenient access a short walk from the parking area with a set of steps leading down to the beach. It offers benches up top as well as a spot to lock your bicycles. This beach is also dog friendly and allows dogs to be off leash. There was also an ice cream truck that came by the last time we were here. The beach itself is large enough to get away from crowds if you are willing to walk a bit and yet small enough to sit close to the waves without getting out of breath if you are an old lady like me. If you are willing and able to pay the parking fee, it is definitely worth the stop. If not, there are lots of other beaches nearby where you can find street parking and walk over for free. read more

See all

This is a nice beach in half moon bay and the only beach I've been to in the Bay Area so I really have nothing to compare it to. I like that they have a little walking trail above the beach and the beach itself is large and full of soft sand. I didn't see anyone swimming and the water looked rough, so it seems like more of a place to hang out in the sand. The parking is $10 which seemed a little steep to me. read more

See all

Great beach for doggies!!! It was pretty clean when I went and there seems to be a nice trail to walk if sand isn't your thing. There is a parking lot however it is paid parking---there are also tons of neighborhood parking near by. read more

See all

If you have a fur baby, this is the beach for you. It is not too crowded and it's very relaxing. This has been our go to beach in half moon bay ever since our friends with a fur baby brought us here years ago. Make sure you stay a few hours so the money you pay for parking is worth it. You can also park in the residential area if you don't want to pay parking but it is quite a walk going to the beach. There is a paved trail and it has a beautiful view of the ocean. It's a great place with a great view to unwind with your fur baby. read more

Beautiful and relaxing! Watch your children here!! Warnings everywhere! See images for information read more

See all

The Poplar Beach Parking lot is my favorite stop for a nice "bluff" walk above the ocean. It's located about 1/2 a mile south of Half Moon Bay State Park. I personally like this stop better for hikes because Half Moon Bay State Park is really crowded. There is no beach access from this parking lot because it is located on the bluffs above the ocean but it's honestly a breathtaking place to walk. You can easily walk north or south for amazing views of the ocean, seasonal vegetation, local birds and peaceful sounds of the ocean. Spring is really magical because the bluff is covered in pink and yellow flowers. If you want to get to Poplar Beach below the parking area, you need to take a 1/2 mile walk from Half Moon Bay State Park to get there. If this is your intention, I'd park Half Moon Bay State Park for convenience. read more

Beautiful quiet beach! My family and I went hiking at Wavecrest so we were able to find parking here ($10 whole day). After hiking, we went back to the beach and it was just perfect just to relax and eat a small lunch! We went on a Monday morning so parking was easy and there weren't a lot of people in the afternoon. Beach is clean, allows dogs, and we even saw a bunch of people riding their horses! Definitely a spot to chill and relax with a friend, partner or family. read more

Poplar Beach - Beaches Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

See all

This is a dog-friendly beach with a scenic walking trail above that follows the coast. My dogs absolutely love the beach, so it is always fun to walk them and observe their joy! The one annoying thing is the machine that takes your $10 payment for parking. It was not very user-friendly, and when we finally got to the end of the transaction, we got no confirmation whatsoever. read more

Poplar Beach - Lacey - Beaches Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

See all

So came here instead of going to my regular beach thinking this might be a nice difference. Instead a horrible nightmare. This is but a beach for surfers and people having picnics. Their are plenty of signs that says no dogs allowed on the beach due to San Mateo renting that section out to the local horse ranch who uses this part of the beach for their tours, but still see dogs. This is the 1st beach I had been to that didn't have a single shell on a 10 min walk across. read more

See all

The beach is lovely, but I actually enjoyed the walking path along the cliff even more. When I visited in September, the cliff birds were nesting there and it was amazing to watch them soar above us! read more

You may now avoid the parking machine line by paying by APP! The app is called FLOWBIRD, just check your parking stall number and pay via app. $10 for the day. Over the course of the pandemic I have noticed this beach has exploded in popularity on certain days. But dont worry, once you leave the overcrowded parking lot you'll likely find plenty of space to social distance. Poplar is a nice and well loved beach in HMB. it's conveniently close to the intersection of hwy 92 and hwy 1. People love to bike, walk, scooter,etc along the coastal trail which is just past the parking lot. There are a couple benches along the trail to rest and look out at the ocean. To go down to the beach, theres a big hill which it seems the city has recently taken some effort to spruce up into gentle steps rather than just a gravel incline. Still, this beach isnt very friendly to bringing tons of gear with you I'm giving Poplar 3 out of 5 cuz while it's a beautiful beach , the parking lot is crowded and mildy stressful in recent visits, 10 dollar fee, and steep incline to beach which not all people may manage easily. read more

Poplar Beach - Beaches Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

It's a beautiful beach love it there! We go there a lot. It's always clean. Enjoy the location easy to get to.

I like that it is dog friendly, close to many shopping/dining areas, centric and plenty of paid and street parking. read more

Poplar Beach - Beaches Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

My new GO TO Beach.. it has paved hiking path plus access to the beach!! I live my ME Time here today read more

See all

Such a cool little beach! My friend and I visited this place on a random weekend last month, and even off season, it is very busy. The parking is a little expensive considering there isn't a lot around this beach, but the views and beach access aren't all that bad. There's a nice trail you can take along the coast and walk with your family. It's paved, but parallel to it is a dirt trail where you can walk as well. I noticed a lot of dog poop, so be careful where you walk. Overall good experience but it's not my favorite spot. This is the first time I've been to Poplar beach because it's always so busy in spring/summer. Usually there is no parking right at the sunrise, but it was nice to check it out. read more

August 29, Saturay 10:30AM. Parking - $1/hour. Portable potties are available. Gorgeous beach with giant bird of prey flying around. Don't worry, they're really pretty, and it was fun watching them hunt for fish. There is also a ranch with horses available for horseback riding. The walk from parking lot to beach is a short incline. There's also a really nice flat, scenic walking trail that follows along the coastline if you decide not to take the beach route. Only downside is the beach is on leash. I really wanted my dog to run wild and free. It worked out anyway to not have my dog run around because he kept trying to eat all of the horse poop. read more

See all

What a beautiful beach this is! We went to celebrate our friends birthday. The drive is a little bit windy and there is an area where it gets congested. The beach is easy to find once you arrive. Parking for full day was $10. Don't be surprised if the parking lot is full during weekends. However, you will find a lot of street parking available so don't worry if you cannot find a spot in the parking lot just park in the near by residential area. In order to get to the beach, there is a stair case that you walk down. We had a hard time carrying our yeti cooler, so switch off on carrying big items or make two trips. We went on a weekend and it's packed like a full house with tons of people. If you don't like being in places where people don't wear masks then, I suggest not coming here. The beach has porta potties available near the parking lot and they are open! 5 stars because the beach itself is beautiful. As seen in the picture, there wasn't that many people in the spot. If you want a less crowded space, I suggest keep walking to the left once you go down the stair case. Stay safe everyone read more

Poplar Beach - Beaches Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

I've gone twice now - once in the summer and once in February. The beach was nearly empty on a Saturday afternoon in February. I was hoping our dog could get to interact with other dogs, but it was nice to have the beach mostly to ourselves! One thing to note: there are horses on this beach. 2 groups of horseback riding tours came while we were there. Unfortunately, they left some horse poop behind YUCK! We just moved to another spot! There's a paid parking lot but also a good amount of neighborhood parking nearby. There's no trash can on the beach, but there is one at the parking lot. Overall, this is a great spot for dogs, dog lovers, and beach goers! read more

Poplar Beach - My dog loving the beach! - Beaches Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Great for dogs. Has parking lot. Has portable potty. Maintained steps from parking lot to the beach. Long long long long stretches of beaches. Clean. read more

See all

this is another great beach that lines the coastline of half moon bay. this one is about a mile south of the main beach (half moon bay/francis beach), and definitely less crowded and quieter. there is a dedicated, paid, parking lot right by the beach, as well as several porta-potties (which are usually well stocked with toilet paper and toilet seat covers, but no hand sanitizer/washing stations, so be prepared!) you need to walk down the steps to the beach, there are no hand rails so heed caution. the beach is otherwise fairly clean, and a great place to just watch the waves, lay out in the sun, or even go for a swim, with a wet suit of course! read more

Just what our mental health needed. There are plenty of beaches in the area to choose from, but we're very satisfied with this one. It was perfect for running with a dog or kite-flying with kids. Lots of space to walk or sit, clean, well-maintained by the city's local agency, and simple parking/potty area. There's a lot of stairs, though! read more

Poplar Beach - Unbothered. - Beaches Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

See all

Beautiful ca beach i love to use this beach and the ones around it for fishing. Plenty of jumbo perch and crabs if ur lucky u might even catch a striper. BEWARE although for some it's common sense please make sure to check wave power. These beaches have huge cliffs/sand dunes that'll block ur exit. You may think it's safe but one rogue wave (VERY COMMON) on a high power wave day can wash you out and you'll never be seen again. I had to learn the hard way to respect and check the wave power. The beauty of these beaches is the power that you see in the size of the ocean NEVER underestimate it for one sec! read more

Poplar Beach - FISH - Beaches Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Easy to get to and there was parking when we got there on a Thursday. Sat at the top bench to overlook the beach with our senior pup.

There's a small parking lot where you would need to pay by parking spot. They don't provide you with a receipt. This is a cute on leash dog beach. It was our first time at one. A lot of the people there was very friendly, not everyone had dogs with them. I was surprised at how clean it was for being a dog beach. We would definitely come back! There's also a nice walking bath to enjoy the beach view. read more

See all

My girlfriend and I, along with our dog, had a wonderful time here. Despite the overcast skies and the chilly wind when we arrived, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the beach was nearly deserted. This allowed our dog to run freely. read more

A dog and horse friendly beach! My significant other and I went on a Sunday and the beach had few visitors. It was nice the place wasn't crowded. The beach was quite clean. It's very steep on the way up and down, so it may prove difficult for some. We weren't able to find other entrances that were less steep. The sand is fairly soft, which made walking barefoot quite nice. There are also some easy trails to walk around in! read more

Poplar Beach - Beaches Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

See all

Went right at opening around 8 am & it was perfect--no traffic, found parking right away, no line to pay for a spot, & the beach wasn't crowded. At Poplar Beach, I could pay with a card & take a set of stairs to get to the sand & water (but when I went to another Half Moon Bay beach, there were some inconveniences: I had to pay with cash, it was an awkward descent, couldn't put my blanket down without the tide coming up). Here, I loved seeing the horses riding back & forth along the shore. The water & waves were beautiful. There was a bit of garbage around, which was a bummer. And there were many many dogs wandering around unleashed, which I wasn't too bothered by, but I did witness a bit of barking back and forth. read more

See all

Came on a Saturday. Good spot that has a nice spread of sand at the beach, plenty of room to post up with friends and family and have space. Parking is $10 for half the day (payments are increments of half day) and parking is typically fairly full but rotating frequently. Easy to get to. read more

Poplar Beach - Beaches Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

See all

It's easy to miss the turn out . Although there is a sign about 300 ft from Poplar St, if you are coming from south, the street doesn't seem like it will take you down to the beach but it does. From hwy 1, take Poplar St and it'll be a dirt road through the residential area , but you'll see the sign and there's a parking lot to your left. Parking is metered. Not free. There's a trail going to the south and to the north towards Francis Beach. We took the trail to the south , we saw a beautiful juvenile harrier hawk perched on a sign just off the coastal trail, saw some people riding the horses on the beach, walked on a cute little bridge and surprisingly saw some California poppies even though it's in middle of December. Cliffs are sheer drop. Extremely dangerous to get too close to the edge of the cliff and the sign warns you to stay on the trail. I'd keep an eye on small children. It's such a beautiful place. Worth a stop. Definitely. read more

See all

"Babies don't need a vacation, but I still see them at the beach... it pisses me off! I'll go over to a little baby and say 'What are you doing here? You haven't worked a day in your life!"--Steven Wright Located approximately a half-mile south of the popular Half Moon Bay State Beach, Poplar Beach (PB) has been my secret "go-to" spot in the HMB/Pacifica area for a few years. PB doesn't have much going for it (other than the obvious) but what it does have is what I crave in my outdoor adventures: seclusion. I've been putting off writing this review because I didn't feel like giving away my spot--in fact, I was tempted to write a 1-star review to drive people away! Unfortunately, I'm too honest for my own good. PB is a city-run beach, and is a little bit off the beaten track, which explains why it's not as popular as some of the other area beaches. My first time visiting I thought my GPS was leading me astray, as you have to drive through quite a bit of residential streets before you arrive. Here's a guide to help you get the most out of your time at the beach: Usage- Fishing, Horseback Riding and Dogs (on a leash) are all allowed. Parking- There's a decent-sized lot at the end of Poplar St that fits ±70 cars, and has designated spots for cars with horse trailers. Parking is $2/hr ($10/day) for normal vehicles (-20') and $3/hr ($15/day) for plus-sized vehicles (+20') and horse trailers. You don't need to worry about bringing cash, as the machines take CC, and don't forget to note your parking spot number as you'll need that in order to complete the transaction. Access- Once you park you'll have to make your way down a pretty steep cut-out in the side of the bluff to access PB. As if that weren't harrowing enough, you'll most likely have to dodge huge piles of horse poop as you make your way down. I'd recommend wearing sneakers (for sneaking!) to help you navigate down, and then you can ditch them once you hit the sand. Features: -Access to the HMB Coastal Trail (aka CA Coastal Trail) -You can access Wavecrest Open Space Preserve (http://www.yelp.com/biz/wavecrest-open-space-half-moon-bay?hrid=KWuySO7OWfW6xLgsQ_IsRA&ref=yelp-android) from the south end of the parking lot -Port-o-potties located in the parking lot -Privacy! Especially if you come on a weekday, and in the winter. Weekends during the summer--not so much, but it's still better than 95% of the other beaches located along the PCH. Scenery- Sand, Surf, and lots of shorebirds. You know, the usual... The one unique feature here at PB is the sandy bluffs that make up the eastern border of the beach. It's fascinating to look at all the different layers of the soil horizons of the bluffs and imagine all the years and things that it took to create them. The only reason I'm giving PB a 4-star instead of a 5-star review is because of the horse poop issue, but other than that it's still my current favorite beach along the PCH. Check it out one day. It's perfect for a peaceful family picnic, or just hanging with your lonesome. Just do me a favor, and don't tell anybody, okay? read more

See all

A self-serve beach. Great for the self-reliant. Poplar Beach is just a 0.8 mile walk south of the main Half Moon Bay State Beach along the Coastal Trail. Poplar Beach has no picnic tables, fewer people, and the same great waves that the main beach has. You can argue that the scenery is actually better here due to the cliffs in the background: there's about 50 feet of coastline between the cliffs and the water, if you like that sort of thing. Free neighborhood parking can be found 0.3 miles away. A moderately-sized lot provides parking for $2 each hour, up to $10 for the whole day; credit cards only. Only outhouses are available here; bathrooms with running water can be found at the main beach to the north. To get down to this beach from the road/parking lot, you'll need to descend a semi-steep, uneven path. You probably won't be able to bring a wheelchair down, not even if you have one of those cool all-terrain ones. This beach is a great home base for parking and walking to Redondo Beach, my favorite beach in HMB which is even less accessible due to steep cliffs. read more

Poplar Beach - View to the north - Beaches Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

See all

Let's focus on the main thing here, My pit was able to be off leash! She loved it here. So did I. First we walked along the trail above the beach then we headed on down to that luxurious sand, serene water and fabulous view. This was my first time letting her off leash but after walking around with her and playing in the water, it was time to let go of MY fear and let her be a dog. She met other dogs and everyone had a great time. We are going back...Hella more times. This place is the bomb. I love dog friendly places read more

Gorgeous views!! Wonderful place to escape from it all, even for a couple hours. Next time I'm bringing my running shoes. There's the perfect paved path for running, strolling or biking along the coast with the sound of ocean waves crashing in the background. Just a short 40 minute drive from the East Bay. That drive isn't bad either! There are Organic Grocers, Florists and Antique shops along the way. Keep our beaches clean all, there are doggy poopie bags for your feline friends and lots of garbage cans. Free parking with port-a-potty's too. read more

See all

Please read before coming: -Only way up and own is through a steep ROCKY hill; it is doable but a challenge for sure! Shoes with traction is highly recommended -$8 for 5 hour parking; it does take card!! -Parking lot isn't too big so get there early or pray to the parking god's -No showers -Bathroom=Porta Potty -Big piles of horse poo..BEWARE! Aside from the few obstacles we encountered this beach itself is pretty nice and a great place for families! There is a trail that seems to be very popular with bikers and runners that looks like it extends throughout Half Moon State Beach (which has a fee). read more

Nice dog-friendly beach. Not as crowded as others, or maybe it was just today was COLD! Park in the lot at the end of the street, then carefully make your way down the slope toward the beach. Fun times. read more

See all