Half Moon Bay State Beach - Elmar Beach

Located in the city of Half Moon Bay, Half Moon Bay State Beach - Elmar Beach is a part of a state park known as Half Moon State Beach. The beach is located between Francis Beach and Venice Beach, which are also a part of Half Moon Bay State Beach. Half Moon Bay State Beach - Elmar Beach is narrow and has light brown sand and cold waters. The Pilarcitos Creek meets the ocean near the beach and also sometimes forms a lagoon here. The beach does not have lifeguards or other amenities, so plan your trip accordingly. 

Half Moon State Beach - Elmar Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, kayaking, canoeing, boating, skim boarding, bodysurfing, sail boarding, surfing, kitesurfing, paddleboarding, swimming, fishing, and wildlife watching. If you are planning to swim or engage in watersports in the water near Half Moon Bay State Beach - Elmar Beach, we recommend wearing a wetsuit and being careful as the water here is extremely cold and is known for rip tides. The water near the beach is home to a variety of animals including dolphins, seals, sea lions, migrating whales (between December to April), and a variety of aquatic birds including gulls, sanderlings, and brown pelicans. Another popular bird watching spot on the beach is the lagoon formed by Pilarcitos Creek. You can also fish in Half Moon Bay State Beach - Elmar Beach - from late spring through summer, significant numbers of fish including surf smelt, striped bass, and halibut are found in the water near the beach. Half Moon Bay State Beach - Elmar Beach offers a quieter beach experience as this beach sees fewer visitors than other beaches present in the state park. Half Moon Bay State Beach, the state park within which Half Moon State Beach - Elmar Beach is situated, also offers many activities. The Coastside Trail is a hiking and biking trail located along the state park’s eastern boundary which can be used to explore the state park’s vibrant coastal landscape and access other beaches including Roosevelt Beach and Francis Beach. Another trail present in the state park also offers horse riding. Half Moon Bay State Beach’s Visitor Center also features exhibits offering interesting information about the biodiversity and the history of the state park. The visitor center is open Thursday through Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm during summers.

Getting to Half Moon State Beach - Elmar Beach is a little difficult as the access points to the beach are located on the western ends of Kelly Avenue and Venice Boulevard, which are easily accessible from California State Highway 1 / Pacific Coast Highway. From either of these access points you have to walk around half-a-mile along the state park shoreline to reach Half Moon Bay State Beach – Elmar Beach. If you are walking to the beach from the north via the end of Venice Boulevard, you have to cross the Pilarcitos Creek Lagoon through a boardwalk present near the beach. There are paid parking lots available near both these locations.

Half Moon State Beach - Elmar Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, kayaking, canoeing, boating, skim boarding, bodysurfing, sail boarding, surfing, kitesurfing, paddleboarding, swimming, fishing, and wildlife watching. If you are planning to swim or engage in watersports in the water near Half Moon Bay State Beach - Elmar Beach, we recommend wearing a wetsuit and being careful as the water here is extremely cold and is known for rip tides. The water near the beach is home to a variety of animals including dolphins, seals, sea lions, migrating whales (between December to April), and a variety of aquatic birds including gulls, sanderlings, and brown pelicans. Another popular bird watching spot on the beach is the lagoon formed by Pilarcitos Creek. You can also fish in Half Moon Bay State Beach - Elmar Beach - from late spring through summer, significant numbers of fish including surf smelt, striped bass, and halibut are found in the water near the beach. Half Moon Bay State Beach - Elmar Beach offers a quieter beach experience as this beach sees fewer visitors than other beaches present in the state park. Half Moon Bay State Beach, the state park within which Half Moon State Beach - Elmar Beach is situated, also offers many activities. The Coastside Trail is a hiking and biking trail located along the state park’s eastern boundary which can be used to explore the state park’s vibrant coastal landscape and access other beaches including Roosevelt Beach and Francis Beach. Another trail present in the state park also offers horse riding. Half Moon Bay State Beach’s Visitor Center also features exhibits offering interesting information about the biodiversity and the history of the state park. The visitor center is open Thursday through Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm during summers.

If you get hungry, there are many great nearby restaurants. Navio is an upscale restaurant that offers a memorable oceanfront fine dining experience and serves excellent steaks and seafood dishes. India Beach is an Indian restaurant that offers excellent Indian dishes including chana masala, chicken biryani, and naan. Another good restaurant is the modestly priced restaurant is Jersey Joe’s Coastside which has been praised in a variety of publications including the Half Moon Bay Review and offers excellent burgers, sandwiches, hoagies, and cheesesteaks which are served in generous portions.

If you are looking for a hotel to stay near Half Moon State Beach - Elmar Beach, there are many great nearby options. The 5-Star Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay offers many amenities including three restaurants, a spa, two golf courses, a lawn with fire pits, a fitness center, tennis court, a pool, and a spa. As another upscale option, the 4-Star Oceano Hotel & Spa Half Moon Bay Harbor offers many amenities including a restaurant, a spa, and a fitness center. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Half Moon Bay Lodge which offers many amenities including complimentary breakfast, a pool, a hot tub, and an outdoor patio with a fireplace. If you like camping, another good and modestly priced option is the Half Moon Bay State Beach Campground– it’s situated on the southern part of the state park and offers accommodation for RVs and tents. Although there are no water hook-ups, the campground offers a variety of amenities including electric hook-ups (on some sites), showers, and restrooms.