Ross Cove Beach(Pillar Point Bluff)

Located in the town of El Granada, Ross Cove Beach is one mile in length and is a part of the James V. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve in the city of Half Moon Bay. Ross Cove Beach is situated on the north side of a well-known fishing and boating spot named Pillar Point below the Pillar Point Bluff Park that features many trails. Also known as Ross Cove, Ross Cove Beach offers restrooms and many fun activities including surfing, hiking, whale watching, and beachcombing. Getting to Ross Cove Beach requires a little bit of work – after you get off of Highway 1, drive down to 300 West Point Avenue to reach the paid Pillar Point Marsh parking lot. There is a bluff west of the parking area and you can climb down the bluff using any of these two trails – one is in front of the Air Force Military Facility’s gate and the other is on the west side of a gated radio tower.

If you are looking for attractions near Ross Cove Beach, you can drive 40 minutes to the Floating Taj Mahal or The Taj Mahal Houseboat which was built by Bill Harlan and features marble floors, a wine cellar, a top-level solarium for meditation, and a sauna. The Marin Headlands Art Institute is an arts organization that hosts an internationally recognized artist-in-residence program and offers tours and exhibitions. Named after naturalist John Muir, Muir Woods National Monument is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and is home to 240 acres of redwood forests. Another great attraction near Ross Cove Beach is Mooncow Bay, a historical landmark that is a fantastic place to click Instagram-worthy pictures and picnic or camp.

If you are looking for attractions near Ross Cove Beach, you can drive 40 minutes to the Floating Taj Mahal or The Taj Mahal Houseboat which was built by Bill Harlan and features marble floors, a wine cellar, a top-level solarium for meditation, and a sauna. The Marin Headlands Art Institute is an arts organization that hosts an internationally recognized artist-in-residence program and offers tours and exhibitions. Named after naturalist John Muir, Muir Woods National Monument is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and is home to 240 acres of redwood forests. Another great attraction near Ross Cove Beach is Mooncow Bay, a historical landmark that is a fantastic place to click Instagram-worthy pictures and picnic or camp.

If you get hungry, there are many restaurants within a 10-minute walk of Ross Cove Beach. The seafood restaurant Barbara’s Fishtrap offers oysters, shrimps, groupers, surf ‘n’ turf, fish tacos, and margaritas. If you like Spanish cuisine, Seville Tapas serves tortillas, Jamon, fideua, churros, and gazpacho in an outdoor patio setting. Another good restaurant near Ross Cove Beach is Mezza Luna Restaurant which features classic Italian items including brodetto, gelato, polenta, pizza, pasta, homemade pesto sauce, scallops, and risotto – and has a nice bar.

If you are looking for a hotel near Ross Cove Beach, you can drive five minutes to the 4-Star Oceano Hotel & Spa Half Moon Bay Harbor which has many amenities including a lounge, spa, sauna, restaurant, fitness center, and hiking and horseback riding tours. The Oceanfront Hotel is an upscale 3-Star hotel featuring a golf course and windsurfing tours. If you are looking for an affordable hotel near Ross Cove Beach, The Miramar Inn & Suites is a 2-Star hotel that offers boating, canoeing, hiking, horseback riding, and windsurfing tours.