Pillar Point Harbor Beach

Located within Pillar Point Harbor, Pillar Point Harbor Beach is a narrow beach with light brown sand. The beach is situated below the blufftop residential area of El Granada. Pillar Point Harbor Beach is protected by two jetties present around it, which ensure that the water here is calm and the beach is not constantly eroded. Pillar Point Harbor Beach does not have lifeguards. However, it does have restrooms and a boat launch. 

Pillar Point Harbor Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife watching, swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, boating, and jet skiing. While the water near this beach does not offer good surfing waves, its calm nature is ideal for children, amateur swimmers, and paddleboarders. However, if you are planning to go into the water near Pillar Point Harbor Beach, we recommend being careful as the water here is cold. In addition, we recommend reviewing the water quality near the beach as the water here is often dirty. If you like wildlife watching, the beach and the area around it are home to many kinds of animals including many kinds of seabirds, shorebirds, and harbor seals. If you like fishing, you can catch rockfish which are present in the water around the rock jetties near Pillar Point Harbor Beach. You can also kayak in the water near the beach and explore Pillar Point Harbor. However, we recommend being careful while kayaking here as the water can occasionally have mild currents and waves. If you don’t have a kayak or are a beginner kayaker, Half Moon Bay Kayak Company offers kayaks for rent, organizes memorable kayaking trips in Pillar Point Harbor and the surrounding San Mateo County shoreline, and also offers kayaking lessons. If you like boating, there is a boat launch area near the eastern part of the beach. In addition, you can also charter a private boat from Pillar Point Harbor for wildlife watching trips and fishing excursions along the Half Moon Bay shoreline. Depending on the time of the year, you can catch many kinds of fish in the water near Half Moon Bay including sole, halibut, and salmon. A portion of the California Coastal Trail (which is a multi-use trail) passes through the blufftop area above Pillar Point Harbor Beach, which offers incredible views of the San Mateo County shoreline.

Getting to Pillar Point Harbor Beach is easy - the access trail to the beach is located near 4000 Cabrillo Highway North / Pacific Coast Highway. There is a small free parking lot near the adjacent Pillar Point RV Park, from where you can easily walk to the beach.

There are many attractions near Pillar Point Harbor Beach. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve (also known as J.V Fitzgerald Marine Reserve) has an interesting coastal landscape that includes marshes and cypress and eucalyptus forests. The reserve is especially famous for having tidepools that have vibrant intertidal biodiversity - these tidepools are home to many animals and plants including sea urchins, mollusks, crabs, fishes, anemones, sea stars, and algae. The reserve also has a visitor center that has interesting and informative exhibits. If you like shopping, the downtown area of the city of Half Moon Bay has some exciting designer and branded stores, galleries, restaurants, and hosts frequent live music performances. The downtown area also hosts a farmer’s market every Saturday from May through December that offers some of the best fresh produce, gourmet dishes, and handicrafts in San Mateo County. If you are looking for another attraction near Pillar Point Harbor Beach, James Johnston House is a local historical landmark that was built in the 19th century by a prominent local businessman named James Johnston. This house is open to visitors on the third Saturday of each month between 11 am and 3 pm and is closed between October and December.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Pillar Point Harbor Beach. Navio is an upscale restaurant offering a memorable oceanfront fine dining experience and serves excellent steaks and seafood. It’s Italia is a restaurant that offers excellent Italian dishes including gnocchi, pastas, risottos, and soup and features a pleasant outdoor dining area. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Pillar Point Harbor Beach, the modestly priced Asian King’s Kitchen offers delicious Asian dishes including orange chicken, chow fun, and chow mein.

If you are looking for a hotel near Pillar Point Harbor 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 firepits, a fitness center, a 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 bar, a spa, and a fitness center. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Cypress Inn which offers numerous amenities including complimentary breakfast, evening wine sessions, and an in-house massage service. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Pillar Point Harbor Beach, the modestly priced 2-Star Quality Inn is located conveniently close to some of the major landmarks in Half Moon Bay and offers numerous amenities including a fitness center and complimentary breakfast.