Half Moon Bay Coastside Trail
Half Moon Bay Coastside Trail
4.5
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Easy and scenic hiking trail along the Pacific coast that measures six miles round trip.
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4.5
300 reviews
Excellent
206
Very good
75
Average
16
Poor
2
Terrible
1
Angie O
South San Francisco, CA31 contributions
Jun 2021
We use this trail on road bikes so we can only travel 5.5 miles of it before the road turns into gravel. This 11-mile roundtrip trail beginning at Pillar point offers a great scenic ride on a twisting paved trail that is great for both bikers and walker/joggers alike. The trail passes through various beach parks that provide resting spots as well as restrooms. There is currently a clearly marked detour around a specific bridge repair and riders must take great care when sharing the path with other users. Riders face the challenge when riding against the wind, but it's otherwise an easy level ride.
Written 7 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tony T
San Jose, CA55 contributions
Sept 2021
We got the mountain bikes from our hotel to ride along the coast. This trail runs thru the hotel so a lots of people are using it. At one point on the trail, the golfers are using it to go from one hole to another. I think it's unsaved if people are not careful and alert of those carts.
Written 19 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mini
Fremont, CA212,261 contributions
Aug 2020
We were in Half Moon Bay on a wonderful warm sunny August day. We enjoyed taking a walk. Views of the Pacific Ocean were awesome. Many were there playing in the water, taking a walk, surfing, and more.
Written 18 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A1Nomadic
California81 contributions
Sept 2020
Did an early morning brisk walk along the coastline during the long weekend. It was quiet and awesome. Did trail walking for a while and switched to sand walking close to the water. Walked all the way to Pillar point harbor. Will do it again
Written 10 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
swm4life
San Rafael, CA87 contributions
Dec 2021
My husband and I rode our bikes on the trail from the Beach House Hotel to the Ritz Carlton. Its a flat trail shared with other bikers and walkers. The trail is flat and you pass several beautiful beaches. I will be back!!!
Written 6 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eileen S
Half Moon Bay, CA6 contributions
Sept 2014 • Couples
I wrote a previous review titled "One of Half Moon Bay's Best Kept Secrets!" which is still true, but with explanations. The long bridge that looks so beautiful in the photos is rusted out and collapsed and unsafe at one end. It will be closed until a new bridge can be planned and funded, which unfortunately will take a long time. In the meantime, one can still enjoy the trail by planning ahead and walking a part of the trail north or south of the bridge, which roughly bisects the trail. That still gives you about three or four miles to hike in each direction. If cycling, you can still bike the entire trail by taking the long non-scenic detour inland to the Highway 1 trail between Kelly and Kehoe Avenues to bypass the bridge. Be advised: reviewers who describe the trail as boring clearly have not hiked very much of it, or don't care about viewing wildlife. Along its entire length there is quite a bit of variety. Normally I would choose the southern half as containing my favorite segments, mostly because of the birds and wildflowers. Although not diehard birdwatchers, we carry binoculars to stop and watch the white-tailed (black-shouldered?) kites flying and hovering in pursuit of their next meal of voles or gophers, or the northern harriers dipping and swooping low over the ground, or strings of pelicans cruising the coastline at eye-level along the blufftop. Extremely rarely, you might even see a bobcat or coyote. If you have difficulty walking on unpaved, irregular trails, be advised that the segment from the western end of Poplar St. to the western end of Redondo Beach Rd. is mostly unpaved. The hilliest portion is the southern-most stretch, from Redondo Beach Rd. through the golf course and the grounds of the Ritz Carlton Hotel, and especially south of the Ritz Carlton through the golf course to the southern end of the trail. But the northern half of the trail . . . two days ago we and our greyhounds were hiking the Miramar to Surfer's Beach (just south of the harbor) part of the trail and were treated to the most amazing sight. Thousands of seabirds (gulls, terns, pelicans) were gathered en masse, fishing just offshore due to what must have been huge schools of anchovies or sardines. We are used to seeing pelicans diving for fish in the bay here, or northwest of here in the harbor. But now many of the pelicans were simply floating on the water, dipping their beaks in the water to catch fish among the myriad gulls. But the real treat was to watch a large humpback whale, out beyond the surf break, not only spouting and giving us glimpses of his back as he dove, but coming up head first and showing his head briefly before diving again. We chose a bad day to leave the binoculars and cameras at home! We saw sea lions in the surf as well, and expected to see the dolphins that sometimes show up when there is a seabird feeding frenzy going on, but perhaps they were staying clear of their big cetacean cousin. If you come out to the trail and see two tall humans being walked by four different-colored leashed greyhounds, be sure to say hi!
Written 16 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eileen S
Half Moon Bay, CA6 contributions
May 2012
I'm always surprised to run into people who love to visit Half Moon Bay but who have never heard of the Coastside Trail. It runs from a little south of the Ritz Carlton south of town north to Pillar Point Harbor a few miles north of town. From there, you can wend your way through Princeton-by-the-Sea and pick up the trail that takes you around the marsh to Pillar Point, and the beach north of the point that faces Maverick's, the famous big-wave surf spot a mile offshore. When the tide is very low there is great tidepooling here; when the tide is very high there are powerful waves and almost no beach. Most of the trail is paved, but there is a long unpaved (e.g. dirt, rough in some places) section between south of the western end of Poplar Street to the west end of Redondo Beach Road. From there, the trail is paved again and passes through the golf course and around the coast side of the Ritz Carlton Hotel until the trail ends at a farmer's field at the southern edge of the Half Moon Bay Golf Links. The coastside trail is open to pedestrians, bicyclists, and leashed dogs. No motorized vehicles. For the southern unpaved portion, mountain bikes are fine but I wouldn't take a road bike there, nor a pedestrian who requires smooth, level surfaces. In spring and early summer you will see a variety of wildflowers and birds along various parts of the trail. There is beautiful, changing coastal scenery along most sections. We live in Half Moon Bay, and walk our three greyhounds on one part of the trail or other several times every week. Say "hi" if you see us!
Written 8 May 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elizabeth C
Hong Kong, null, Hong Kong16 contributions
Sept 2018 • Couples
Highly recommend this for people who want a very easy hike along an ocean trail. You can navigate your maps to Ritz Carlton- Half Moon Bay. At the entrance, tell the staff that you are here to see the Coastside Trail. The staff gave me a detailed map (see attached), along with the access code of FREE parking. (Only 25 public parking spaces per day between sunrise and sunset) Signage pointing to coastside trail is very clear. They even have two public restrooms at the spot! The Ritz-Carlton is a very beautiful colonial style building, non hotel guests can walk outside the parameters and take pictures with the garden and lounges outside, it’s such a nice photo spot :)
Written 6 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SonomaNut
Sonoma, CA1,116 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
Wonderful walk on paved section in any weather.
Little known free parking at Ritz in it's parking structure. Look for coastal access signs and don't go up hill to front entrance valet parking.
After parking walk up hill on left side of hotel.
Walk south on paved section through golf course for outstanding coast views. Goes about 1 1/2 miles to end.
Going north heads through the hotel grounds away from the ocean and paving stops in about 1 mile in parking area. Trail follows ocean coast for another 5-6 miles. Not as nice coast views in this direction but no complaints.
Try some wine tasting with the view at Ritz before heading back to your car.
Little known free parking at Ritz in it's parking structure. Look for coastal access signs and don't go up hill to front entrance valet parking.
After parking walk up hill on left side of hotel.
Walk south on paved section through golf course for outstanding coast views. Goes about 1 1/2 miles to end.
Going north heads through the hotel grounds away from the ocean and paving stops in about 1 mile in parking area. Trail follows ocean coast for another 5-6 miles. Not as nice coast views in this direction but no complaints.
Try some wine tasting with the view at Ritz before heading back to your car.
Written 18 October 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
travel_rambler
Half Moon Bay6 contributions
May 2014 • Couples
Sadly, an unthinking State Parks employee drove a tractor over the John Hernandez Bridge, leading to a small section of the bridge collapsing. As a result, our (almost) daily bike rides have been reduced from 8 miles to 4. Since Cal State Parks has no money allocated for repairs, it seems like it will be many months before the bridge is fixed.
Written 15 May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is there free parking available at the coastside trail?
Written 15 August 2020
Are golf carts allowed? Have several elderly that can't walk far
Written 19 March 2019
I saw bicycles on the trail and I didn't see any signs prohibiting golf or other electric carts. I wouldn't think they would be prohibited but the best thing to do is contact California Parks and ask them about the Half Moon State Beach and trail regulations. The cement trail is certainly wide enough to accommodate them.
Written 8 April 2019
Yes! Dogs are allowed on the trail, on the beach, everywhere we went!
Written 24 July 2017
Can you ride bikes on this trail? or is it only for walking?
Written 1 September 2016
Yes you can ride bikes,skate,run,jog ect. I'm not sure the exact distance maybe it's 3 or 4 miles not sure. We rode it from the campground at Francis State beach/Half Moon Bay to the Marina and beyond. Have fun, enjoy the ride and wonderful ocean view, in August we even saw a whale.
Written 2 September 2016
Do you need to pay to access to this trail?
Written 24 July 2016
There is no need pay. You can just find a place to park and hike. We chose to park at Francis Beach and walk to the Ritz Carlton. There was a small fee to park at the beach.
Written 25 July 2016
simon m
Fairbanks, Alaska
Can I access this trail from westin hotel?
Heard there is a trail system behind hotel.looking to use some of the 7 hour layover at sfo airport and go explore sone of sanfran on running trails.
Written 2 December 2015
You have great ideas already....sorry our trail is on the other side. Safe travels:)
Written 4 December 2015
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