One of the only free beaches in Half Moon Bay but you have to walk a nicely maintained path for about a mile to actually get to the beach. Map directory points you to park at a baseball field. Walking towards the coast, you'll see multiple paths: left, center, and right. We opted for the center/diagonal path as that was the fastest one to the beach. We love the amount of grasses swaying gently, the wildflowers, and wildlife that covered the open space preserve. Next time, we will try the right path to see the tree walkway. read more

Our first stop in Half Moon Bay. You can see the baseball diamonds from the highway and there was plenty of parking since the fields were not being used. The trailhead is easy to see but there is minimal access information. So if you turn right and take the gravel path it loops around to the beach. For the Cypress Tree Tunnel take the dirt path on the right which takes you past the baseball diamonds. When the dirt path comes to a fork take the left path towards the trees. When you get to the trees you are at the start of the Cypress Tunnel. The path forks here again this time veer to the right. When you come out of the tunnel go left and this will take you along the coastline with many paths that will branch off to the beach. Eventually the path loops around and takes you back to the starting point at the baseball diamonds. A very nice flat fresh air dog friendly hike. read more

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I saw someone mention this trail online, and it looked fantastic. We parked at the end of Wavecrest Drive, where it becomes a gravel road next to a baseball field. A hiker directed us to take the trail to the right. After a quarter mile or so, the trail breaks off to the left and also continues straight. Take that left curve and you will soon be in the tree tunnel area. It's a gorgeous place to walk! When you emerge from the trees, there is an overlook to the beach. We took a right turn on the perpendicular trail towards the paid parking lot, where there are stairs down to the beach. It's a wonderful place for a hike and very dog-friendly! read more

Wavecrest Open Space - Tree Tunnel Trail - Beaches Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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For Mother's Day, I wanted to hike the Secret Tunnel and picnic on the beach. While the hike itself was lovely, there was no signage which is why I'm dropping a star. From the parking lot at the end of Wavecrest Rd., there's a myriad of paths and no signage. From the beginning, I should have read Kelly M's review where she describes her good fortune of a hiker directing her where to go in order to see the Secret Tunnel. Because I hadn't read the review, I was asking a bunch of hikers where to find this Secret Tunnel, but they were as befuddled as I was and were asking me if I knew where the beach access is located. Now that I have experience, here's the path you should take. To hike through Secret Tunnel, go right toward the trees from the parking lot, which has the cleanest port-o-potties next to the baseball field. At the curve you'll be in the trees and can kind of see the arch of trees. Take this path and take photos. Continue along this path to the beach, then turn right again until you get to the paid parking lot. In the lot, there are more port-o-potties, but dreadfully not very clean and lack toilet paper. Along the walkway, there are stairs that lead to the beach where you will find experienced beach goers and plenty of well behaved dogs and many wash-up sail jellyfish which I mistook for mussel shells. For the route back to the parking lot, either go back the same way you came or walk along coastal path and turn left before the gorge. read more

Wavecrest Open Space - Picnic on the bluff - Beaches Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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Great spot to walk about and explore. We stayed at a hotel nearby and walked this area. The cliffside views of the ocean are beautiful. read more

This is my new favorite spot in Halfmoon Bay. It is a hidden gem which has a magical forest on the way to the beach. I love how not crowded it is! I've been here both a weekend and a weekday and haven't seen it crowded yet. It is a flat trail so it's good for kids and dogs as well. It is also a super gorgeous trail in my opinion. If you want to take your kids for a hike that connect to a beach to relax, this is it! Absolutely stunning! Highly recommend. read more

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A hidden gem! I'm a little surprised that this area is so hidden, with so few reviews but it's nice that it's not overly crowded :3 Like most people have said, you just need to drive down to the end of Wavecrest Ave and there is a free parking area next to a baseball field. There's limited signs so you'll need to explore. We followed the directions from one of the Yelp reviews and decided to pick the right most path - it leads you through a foresty area that looks like a mini version of Cypress Tunnel (at Point Reyes). If you continue down that path, you'll shortly reach an open area that overlooks the beach, which means you'll get awesome views of the sea as well! There were people walking, running, biking, hanging out with their dogs, taking pictures etc. so it's honestly great for everyone! Will be wearing better shoes next time to explore more! read more

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last review for 2022! make it count! this is one of my most favourite places in half moon bay! there are beaches, trails, and some hidden little places where you can just immerse yourself into nature! my favourite way to arrive is on foot, usually, running or walking, and i love taking my time here, just to enjoy the scenery, feel the wind against my face and inhale the salty scents of the ocean. the trails are actually a bit textured so it's important for me to really be careful with my footing lest i turn my ankle! even though the terrain is fairly flat, it just feels like i'm running a trail due to the varied texture. not as many people venture past poplar beach which means wavecrest is quieter, more serene, which i like. if you keep going south past this area, you'll reach redondo beach and eventually the ritz-carlton hotel. highly recommend making a stop here on your journey to half moon bay! read more

This is a small open space reserve with trails that take you through a beautiful tree tunnel and along the bluffs overlooking the ocean. I like to take my kids there as there are lots of opportunities for exploring, climbing fallen trees and riding bikes over dirt hills. If you follow the path north approx 1.2 miles you can reach the Poplar beach access. Parking at the end of Wavecrest road is free. Dogs are welcome on leash. There is a dog park not too far from the parking area. read more

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A million stars for this secret yet open gem close to Half Moon Bay! We went to inspect the area and then immediately regretted not bringing our bikes. This is an amazing Open Space Preserve (remember not entry fee, no parking fee, also no restrooms). Very dog friendly, this preserve has it all: perfect place for a bike ride, for a soft hike, to access the beautiful beach, to have a picnic, to take your dogs out for some fresh air, to take pictures of the wild yellow and pink flowers. It is truly wonderful and the vistas are the image of the pure California dreaming. We parked a the parking of the little league baseball field (remember to go to the very end so you don't catch any balls that can potentially damage your car). We had not problem finding parking. Then you will see the yellow wild flowers and several paths. We took the one to the right and there were a few signs here and there. The ecosystems kind of change: from flowery flats, to surprise forest with very interesting trees where (as per the fresh minted paint) some paintball guerrillas just happened. And then, after the darkness of those tress building a branches bridge and after passing a cool tree house/cabana/hidden spot...you will see the light at the end of the tunnel: more wild flowers, more trails, the breathtaking views to the beach where some ultimate swimmers dare to penetrate the cold waters. read more

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5 stars for the stunning ocean views and because this is a hidden gem, giving you some space and privacy unlike other popular Half Moon Bay trails. When you arrive you'll wonder if you're in the right spot because there aren't any signs. And no, the trails aren't marked and signage throughout is lacking. But this is probably what makes it a hidden gem and keeps the trails clean. And it's dog-friendly! This 206-acre is a beautiful walk along the coast. A 1.5-mile section of the California Coastal Trail runs through this preserve, but there are quite a few other unmarked trails traversing it. Finding this open space is a bit tricky, as there isn't much signage and it begins at an unmarked trail at the end of the parking lot for the baseball field. There's a faded sign about 50 feet in, but you won't see another one for a couple miles. You'll have to use your sense of direction to explore this park since it lacks signage, but it's worth it because you'll feel like you have the place to yourself. We only encountered a couple other people in the distance during our visit, and we were there for a couple of hours on a Saturday afternoon. The trail along the bluffs yields sweeping ocean views as far up the coast as you can see. There is also an interesting grove of trees in the middle of the park, with an unmarked trail running through the center. This grove reminded me of a smaller version of the Cypress Tree Tunnel in Point Reyes. I do recommend keeping your dog on-leash, as the coastal trail runs right along the bluffs, and it's a steep drop down to the beach below. There are also large cracks in the ground near the bluffs, as if the earth just opened up, and your dog could hurt a leg if it falls through. ​ To reach the park, drive down to the end of Wavecrest are and Park in the parking lot next to the baseball field. You will see a trail at the end of the parking lot in the center. read more

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Wavecrest Open Space (WOS) is a 206-acre plot of land situated at the south end of HMB, that was purchased by the Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) in 2008. It's one of the last undeveloped properties in the area, and is a critical area for wintering raptors on the San Mateo Coast. The open grasslands and roosting sites are crucial for the survival of many raptor species in the area, including Kestrels, Harrier Hawks, Red-Tailed Hawks, Kites, and Barn Owls. Since this is a relatively new acquisition for POST the long-range uses for the area are still being determined. They did, however, sell off a 50-acre parcel in 2011 to the Coastside Land Trust, to which they created "The Bird Trail." The Bird Trail is a 1/3-mile long, and runs along the north end of WOS; there's some informative signs around talking about the area, and you can also find lots of volunteers there eradicating the area of non-native plants. Access- Entering WOS is free, and there are two main points of access: Blufftop Coastal Park (North) and Wavecrest Ave (South). Parking- The parking on Wavecrest Ave is free, but Blufftop charges $2/hr, or $10 for all day. Personally, I always go to Blufftop because I've always combined my visits to WOS with some beach time. Trails: Another important aspect of WOS is that the California Coastal Trail runs right through it, which will one day run along almost the entire Cali coast. The trail inside WOS is ±1.5-miles long, and continues to run to the north and south of the property in case you want to extend your journey. Usage- Hiking, Mountain Biking, Horseback Riding and Dogs (on a leash) are all allowed. Trails Conditions- The trails are mostly compressed granite and dirt, with a small section near Blufftop being asphalt. The dirt trails are in pretty bad shape with some serious wheel ruts, and giant holes when it gets a little too close to the cliff's edge. Difficulty- It's a really flat and easy trail that folks of all ages can enjoy--as long as you steer clear of those holes... The trails are all fully-exposed, which normally is no bueno, but--seeing as how this is HMB, and sunshine is at a premium--it's no issue here. Restrooms- There are some port-o-potties in the Blufftop parking lot, but nothing at the south end. Scenery- The east edge of the park is mostly inaccessible, as it's mostly coastal prairies that are needed for the wildlife. There is a nice smattering of wildflowers and native grasses throughout, but most of the area is still being rehabilitated. The west side of the park is the true crown jewel, as you meander along the coastal bluffs with amazing views of the Pacific Ocean, the beaches below and the entire HMB coastline. If the weather is clear enough you can even see Mavericks and the Pillar Point Air Force Station. Despite WOS being a work in progress, it's still a pretty nice place to visit. You can definitely see the potential here, and I'm sure one day it will be on everyone's list of "must see" places. It still gets a thumbs up from yours truly because views like this always deserve a 4-star minimum. Happy Hikes! read more

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Lovely place for a walk or bike! Through the tunnel of trees its amazing and then at the end, we arrived at the Ocean Bluffs! So pretty! Def coming back here again! The walk is super easy and only about 1 mile each way. read more

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I love this hidden gem! You park by the lot that is baseball field. No bathrooms seen. However, you walk about .5 or .75 miles and you will see a hilly to flat bluff of coastal dirt path which heads toward out to the ocean. It really reminded me of Point Reyes. It wasn't crowded. The weather was warm. It was a bit steep to get down to the beach. We explored some mini low tide spots. It's walking distance to the Ritz too. read more

So beautiful! Take Redondo down all the way until it ends. You get to water and it's breathtaking! Extra bonus horses across from the view read more

Wavecrest Open Space - Beaches Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

This was a great place to walk great views of the ocean .wonderful breezes and great exercise with my dogs. I recommend it for families and groups of friends ! read more

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I took a stroll with my husband here, and the views were breathtaking. The sounds of crashing waves and birds flying overhead were so relaxing. Parking was also very easy and free. Highly recommend if you're in the area! read more