Half Moon Bay Beach Hop

Hike Half Moon Bay Coastside Trail

What's better than a beach paradise on a sunny spring day? Five of them! And they're yours to connect along Half Moon Bay's Coastside Trail—a bluff-top asphalt path with beach access points every half-mile. Start your 5-mile (round-trip) journey at Venice Beach and head north, passing patches of orange California poppies at Dunes and Roosevelt Beaches.  Just over 1.5 miles of seaside sauntering later, you'll hit Miramar Beach and Restaurant, overlooking the ocean. Originally built as a Prohibition speakeasy, today it's a great place for a patio lunch; their signature seafood chowder is a favorite. (The patio is also a brilliant spot at sunset.) Afterwards, keep going past luxe beach properties and funky art studios and past Surfer's Beach to your final destination: Pillar Point Harbor, a boat-lined seaside setting where you can peruse Princeton Seafood Co.'s fresh fish market, pick up a giant sea turtle kite at the upscale shopping center, or indulge your sweet tooth at Half Moon Bay Salt Water Taffy Co., where over 60 delectably odd flavors include buttered rum, beer, sangria, mint mojito, or piña colada. Energy for the hike back!

Although the Coastside Trail begins northbound from Francis Beach campground, a collapsed bridge about 1 mile makes for an unpleasant detour, so start this hike at Venice Beach, making it a 5-mile round-tripper instead of 7 miles. The Venice Beach trailhead is located at the end of Venice Blvd. off Hwy. 1 and day parking is available for $10. The trails are dog-friendly, but no dogs allowed on beaches. The patio at Miramar Beach and Restaurant is dog-friendly! 

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Gentle Giants

    Some people visit national parks to marvel at the iconic sights, while others come seeking solitude in nature. With visitation on the rise, it can be hard to find both. But in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, this pair of trails offers both....

    View
  2. Screaming Good Garden

    Combine a classic scary movie backdrop and life-size elephant garden sculptures in beautiful downtown Sonoma.

    View
  3. A Hike to the Past

    This 5.2-mile redwoods hike through El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space combines a relaxing stroll with unique geologic formations and historical artifacts.

    View
  4. Golden Mile

    Dubbed the Golden Mile, this car-free stretch of road in Golden Gate Park features rotating art installations of murals, sculptures, and abundant bright yellow Adirondack chairs for kicking back to relax. See Naga, the recent new addition here, an impressive sea serpent art installation at Golden Gate Park's Rainbow

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Chase Fall Colors & Family Fun in Reno Tahoe

    Ready to Reno? We’re so with you! Reno Tahoe is the ultimate urban basecamp for gathering family and friends for all kinds of fall fun and festivities.

    View
  2. Welcome to the Ice Age

    Only in LA can you stumble upon a lake of bubbling black goo right in the middle of the city—complete with a life-size family of mammoths frozen in time. Take a whiff and you’ll catch the unmistakable scent of asphalt: Yep, you’ve made it to the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum.

    View
  3. Griffith's Golden

    With over 4,200 acres and hundreds of trails, Griffith Park is the gold standard. Opt for the lesser-hiked northwestern end of the park and visit the 2.25-mile Skyline and Oak Canyon loop from Travel Town.

    View
  4. Mulholland's Most Majestic

    Take a leisurely drive along Mulholland Drive to discover beautiful urban scenery and unexpected wild beauty, right in the middle of the city. 

    View