Dafa Z.

Sorry one star review because there's no way to access the beach?? If I'm wrong then someone please correct me but I have to write a one star review for safety reason. If you get out of your car in the parking lot to enjoy the beach views and do not pay attention, you might just fall off the cliff and who knows what could happen. I saw several footprints but no human beings on the beach so I'm not sure how people could get down there.

Ashley H.

We usually go to the more popular beaches when in HMB but recently discovered this one. It wasn't the easiest to get to but 100% worth it. Not crowded at all. You can have your dogs here and there's lots of fun beach treasures. Our new favorite spot in the area.

Aileen V.

This is absolutely a hidden gem!!! We happen to get here at the right time to just hang out long enough to watch the sunset. The parking lot got pretty full as it got closer to the sun setting. But not too full. We didn't go down to the beach... it was a kinda steep muddy way down. But we were able to take some drone shots of the beach. There's a trail you can walk down without having to go on the beach, do some bird watching or just hang out. Definitely will come back!!!

decent view but extremely hard to get down so we didn't even try. there's no formal pathway down so be warned! there are plenty of other places that are better and more accessible.

Anson W.

The best places are usually off the beaten path. At this semi-secluded beach, you'll find large white frothy waves, tall cliffs, and the attractive grounds of the Ritz Carlton as a backdrop. Watch forever as the waves roll a hundred feet gently towards the shore. Look closely and you might also see large rocks adorned with mussels, and intriguing squiggly lines in the sand left by the receding water. The lack of crowds at Redondo is due to the distance from the main Half Moon Bay State Beach, and due to not being directly accessible from the road. There's a dirt parking lot at the end of Redondo Beach Road, but you can't walk directly down to the beach due to the cliffs. Instead, you can take the dirt trail north towards the Wavecrest Open Space and find a gentler (but still somewhat steep) path down to the beach. Or start at Poplar Beach and trek a mile south. All beaches in Half Moon Bay are lovely, but in my opinion, Redondo is the most beautiful. Ssh, don't tell too many people. Just find your way over and enjoy.

Janet D.

Yowza! Windy windy windy! So close to the beach and yet so far! Walk to the end and scramble down and you will get to the beach for sure. There's two locations to get down to the beach. Both of them you will get dirty. So no nice shoes, clothes or gloves unless you intend to get mud all over them. You can walk forever here and you should! The grass is green the ocean is within your reach. You can even bring Fido here. The drive in to the beach is paved and about a short half mile. Parking area assigned as you get to the end.

Ivory B.

Love love love this beach. I can be here playing all day. Perfect for a hike, a mountain climb, a dog walk, or a run on the sand. The ways to get down to the beach is quite steep and rough. I won't recommend this to a beginner. Tip: Please don't look at your cell phone while walking along the bluff above the beach. There are lots of coastal erosion areas. Don't fall off into the deep holes. Very scary! Make sure you will have proper wear, hat, jacket, water, snacks, and sunscreen. Garbage in, garbage out. Please don't pollute the precious ocean beach.

Sue B.

Spectacular, dog friendly beach! You can walk along the beach from Redondo to Poplar Beach (approximately 2 miles each way). Redondo Beach is gorgeous from the cliffs, but the beach itself is even better. Nice sand and not super crowded. It's DEFINITELY NOT a beach to carry a cooler, umbrella or small children and their toys because it is much more difficult than most to access! We had a fun day and our dachshund loved the hike down to the beach, as well as the beach itself!

Nieves O.

Because half moon bay state beach, poplar beach and Venice beach were packed with people on a beautiful Saturday , we ended up at Redondo beach , a few miles away from the ritz Carlton hotel. Redondo beach was surprisingly beautiful! Located atop a Cliff , this public beach has no easy access to go down to the beach. It's even scary just to look down. But a lot of 'em folks do the challenge and enjoy the soft sand! It's the same stretch with the Ritz beach front, onlybthat they have stairs and this has none. A lot of people just stay at the cliff, have a picnic, eat at the back of their cars or trek. But the best part is breathing in the fresh air of the sea. Note: if your claustrophobic, this place is not for you. If you're an artist who'd love to paint from a height, this is a perfect location.

Darrell P.

'Moving from South Orange County to Vacaville, where dog parks & beaches in the local area are rather sparse, my search for go-to spots to take the HAPA Boy begins. (Plus - The Trixie, the newest canine addition to our "Pack.") First stop on my search: Redondo Beach (Halfmoon Bay) Thanks to Google Maps, finding the beach was less painful than anticipated... 'And what a beautiful view! Photo - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/redondo-beach-half-moon-bay?select=k1gBcMnb5AxevNe4MoYRgw#k1gBcMnb5AxevNe4MoYRgw 'Great, relatively secluded beach! If you want to get away from the crowds, noise & just want a place to relax, Redondo Beach is a good contender. The beach itself was relatively clean, lots of open space, and beachfront for the dogs & you to explore. HAPA had a great time, running, digging holes, and just plain ol' being himself. It was Trixie's first time to the beach... 'And she was a bit less than enthusiastic. (Trixie wanted nothing to do with the water.) However, by the end of our visit, Trixie was a bit more relaxed walking at the water's edge and was doing a bit of exploring of her own. EL & Trixie Girl - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/redondo-beach-half-moon-bay?select=k1gBcMnb5AxevNe4MoYRgw#dM5JWZGjv2XmrLbgN3jCig HAPA & Trixie played with a few dogs as people walked up & down the coast. One particular gentleman had a good-sized pack of five ankle biters.... 'Fun stuff! The dogs & their owners that we met were all pretty friendly, no bad behavior to report from either. (Well, there was this one time when there was just way too much butt-sniffing going on so I told the owner, "Do you mind?!... I already had my colon examined, thank you." Plus, I'm already seeing someone...) Photo - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/redondo-beach-half-moon-bay?select=k1gBcMnb5AxevNe4MoYRgw#tI2lTNuuRHe3tGStjx8Dqw HAPA & Trixie exploring the tide pools... Photo - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/redondo-beach-half-moon-bay?select=k1gBcMnb5AxevNe4MoYRgw#xv9kPRXupSjY_mhWJF5nvg 'Just south of Redondo Beach is the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. There's also a very cool looking structure as well. (It looks like the backdrop for the film, "Gladiator," if it was shot on a sandy beach.) Near the end of our visit, we started walking in that direction, wanting to get a closer look... 'And about 1/2 way down, "Forget it, I'm tired, " and we headed back to the car. However, I managed to take a picture of it despite how exhausted I was. Whew! Photo - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/redondo-beach-half-moon-bay?select=k1gBcMnb5AxevNe4MoYRgw#o7JqR6_oJncQT77ebTRlSQ As other have commented, the paths down to the beach can be a bit challenging. There's a direct path near the dirt parking lot but it's best it's recommended that you have both hands free to help maneuver the steep & rocky incline. If you walk south for a bit, there's a slightly less challenging path but still a bit harrowing... 'Especially if you've got a leash in on hand w/a very excited dog @ the end of it and a fully loaded backpack. 'Just be careful. (*DO NOT wear slippahs/"flip flops" until you get to the sand.) HAPA digging this beach... Photo - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/redondo-beach-half-moon-bay?select=Ff9mH_7gdMDW3qYxFm9igQ#lei9qQUg1bYWoYfGXzTwsA The only thing that I could say that could use quite a bit of improvement, the parking area in relation to the beach... 'And a better/safer way to get to it. However, that may be just the reason that this particular beach is so secluded & not overran with people. (Never mind what I said about the paths, everything's just fine the way it is!) Another yelp*er wrote that a third option is to, "Start at Poplar Beach and trek a mile south." A pop-up tent would be great to have here... 'Add a bit of shade for some sun protection, I'd never leave! (The challenge would be getting all that gear down to the sand...) Note of advice: 1. Wear tennis shoes to navigate the steep comb down to the beach 2. Pack a light jacket, it can get chilly. 3. Be careful where you walk. (Clouds of gnats; horse sh*t; dog sh*t) 4. Bring sunblock; fresh water; doggy poop bags 4. Have FUN! 'After we packed up the dogs & loaded up the car, we headed to Sam's Chowder House just a bit down the road... 'A great accidental find to end a day-trip! We were actually headed someplace else but as we drove by Sam's, the other place seemed too much like "work." (Sound of brakes screeching) "We're eating here!" Sam's Chowder House - http://www.yelp.com/biz/sams-chowder-house-half-moon-bay We were stuffed... 'But there's always room for dessert. 'And we stopped for ice cream... 'Not just any ol' ice cream, but THRIFTY'S ICE CREAM! (I didn't realize that Thrifty's Ice Cream was still around even after the chain's name disappeared.) 'Awesome!... Double Malt Crunch, pleas!! Rite Aid (w/Thrifty Ice Cream) - http://www.yelp.com/biz/rite-aid-half-moon-bay-2 - Big Aloha! Food: n/a Ambiance: 4 (Horse sh*t; dog sh*t) Service: 4 (Perilous paths; use caution) Value: 5+

Susan N.

Be ready for wind! Awesome short hike to glorious beaches. Beach is a vast length of white sand but could use a clean up. Bring a garbage bag and leave this beautiful place better than you found it. Nice free parking at the end of the road and several paths leading down to the shore.

Janet P.

Redondo is definitely not a beach you want to miss. I stumbled upon it as I was driving aimlessly through downtown Half Moon Bay, trying to spot the coast. I saw Redondo Beach Road on my GPS and figured it must lead to the ocean, so I just followed it. And it's unexpectedly gorgeous. I don't know what Redondo's like during other seasons, but it's perfect to visit during late September. There's ample parking on top of the wall of bluffs, which you have to maneuver down via steep narrow trails to get to the actual beach. The bluffs are surrounded by fields of wild grass and flowers, and provide a spectacular view of the ocean. Down at the beach, the sand is white and soft, and there's a beautiful tidepool that extends quite far. Also, near the shore is a cluster of boulders; watching the waves crash against them is really something. The Ritz Carlton at the south end of the beach was actually jarring to see, as I didn't realize it was there until I rounded a corner. It's ostentatious but doesn't completely ruin the view. Another thing to watch out for is the gnats -- there are a ton of them hovering around the tidepool and all the kelp that's washed ashore. But they're utterly harmless and move out of your way when you get close. Advice: bring sturdy, comfortable shoes to climb down the bluffs and a light jacket since it gets colder closer to evening. In addition to the steep trails and the tidepool's slippery rocks, the fact that the high bluffs have no fences whatsoever doesn't make it a safe place for young children or seniors. I'd say it's a damn shame few people ever bother to come here, but the quiet -- no sound but for the wind and the waves -- is a significant part of Redondo's beauty. For sure, I'll be coming back when I need to escape from the city.