Beaches to the North of Pescadero

Beaches to the South

Pomponio Beach is a wonderful inlet beach best visited when the tide is low, as it is then possible to walk north to San Gregorio Beach, about 1.5 miles north. However, beware of the changing tides and high surf if you plan to take the hike.

Pomponio Beach is located two miles north of Pescadero Beach.

Further north of Pomponio Beach is San Gregorio Beach, generally one of the heavier used San Mateo Coast beaches on warm summer days. But even on the busiest of days you will usually find an available picnic table.

There is an historical marker at the beach noting that Captain Gaspar de Portola and his Spanish explorers camped in the valley just east of the beach for three days in October, 1769. The diaries of Miguel Constanso, Portola's navigator, indicate that scurvy and other digestive ailments, common to seafaring men, was the reason for the stay.

The tale by Tom Wolfe of experimenting with LSD in the mid-sixties, "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test", chronicles the antics of Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters, with music by the Grateful Dead, at Kesey's home on Route 84 in La Honda, a few miles inland from the beach.

It is about three-tenths of a mile above San Gregorio beach and is identified by a green gate on the west side of Highway One.

Heading north 2.2 miles is Tunitas Creek Beach, one of the most picturesque on the coast, and also most challenging to get to. Site of an Ohlone Indian village and the infamous "Gordon's Chute". Constructed by Alexander Gordon, this was a 45-degree chute used for loading produce and lumber on waiting ships. It was destroyed by storm in 1885.

Park in the large dirt lot north of the bridge and take the trail in the middle of the parking lot down to the beach.

Martin's Beach is the next you will find on the journey north. Look for the large sign on the left. This is also a private beach that charges $5.00 per car to park at the bottom. Martin's Beach is a small beach community with homes located amazingly close to the water, it has the feel of a quaint east cost resort.

The final beach to the north before Half Moon Bay is Cowell State Beach. Located 3.2 miles north of Tunitas Creek beach, it is a recent gift from a local farmer to the State Park system. Look for the green wood sign as you come in to Half Moon Bay.

Once in Half Moon Bay you will find access to the 11 mile beach from Kelly Ave., Kehoe Ave., Venice Beach , and all along Highway One through Half Moon Bay, Miramar ( Surfer's Beach is great to watch surfers), Princeton By The Sea (great restaurants-check out Barbara's Fish Trap or the micro-brews of the Half Moon Bay Distillery), El Granada, Moss Beach and Montara.

Montara State Beach is a fabulous beach with large waves and high bluffs and good hiking is available across Highway 1 at McNee State Park.

The final beach you will pass going north before Devil's Slide will be Gray Whale Cove

Once past Devil's Slide the final beaches San Mateo County Linda Mar and Rockaway Beaches in Pacifica.

This is also a very popular surfing spot, especially when the wind is blowing from the south.

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