California State Beaches - San Mateo County

California State Beaches - San Mateo

Another California State Beach - Half Moon Bay Beach

Did you get your California State Beaches annual pass? I did, and it set me back 125 bucks! At $6 for day pass you need to use it at least 21 times in a year to make it worth it. It also has the added convenience of being able to drive right through the entrance with just a wave to the park ranger. Gone are the days when you could just ask to "check out the waves" and them come back and pay. Now you need to pay and then go back for a return if the waves suck. Just one more thing to slow you down when your trying to squeeze in an hour of surfing before racing of work, pick up kids at preschool, or go shopping.

These maps show all the California State parks on the coast. Some require the pass, some don't, and others require a pass but never seem to have a ranger present or rarely check....but your still rising a fine without it.

Thornton - Who cares, not surfed....go to Ocean Beach

Pacifica - Pass not required

Gray Whale Cove - Pass not required

Montara - Pass not required

Point Montara Fog Signal and Light Station - Doesn't matter, just a bunch of rocks and sharks.

Half Moon Bay - That depends, there are actually many beaches here. The Jetty at the North end does not require a pass. South from there are Dunes Beach, Venice Beach, and Half Moon Bay State Beach (Kelly Ave), and they all require a pass.

San Gregorio - Pass required

Pomponio - Pass required

Pescadaro - Pass required

Bean Hollow - Pass required

Pigeon Point Light Station - Who cares, see Point Montara Fog Signal and Light Station

Ana Nuevo - Pass required.

California State Beaches - San Mateo

Also of interest here is the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, just south of Point Montara Fog Signal and Light Station. It is not a California State Beach, but one of the few county beaches around. I highly recommend this place on a low tide sunny day. If the swell is small that is even better. Great place to take that kids and look at starfish and other tide pool creatures.

Pan of Dunes Beach, part of Half Moon Bay State Beach