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.