Tunitas Creek Beach(Tunitas Beach)

Located near the southern end of the city of Half Moon Bay, Tunitas Creek Beach is a large two-mile-long beach situated along California State Route 1/ Pacific Coast Highway. The beach has light brown sand and is located below steep sandstone bluffs. Tunitas Creek meets the Pacific Ocean on the beach and sometimes forms a lagoon here. Tunitas Creek Beach sees fewer visits than other beaches in Half Moon Bay due to its off-track location. Recently, the Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors discussed the beach in their efforts to enhance public park accessibility in the region. The Peninsula Open Space Trust is also involved in efforts to preserve the natural beauty of areas like Tunitas Creek Beach, which spans 58 acres.

Tunitas Creek Beach does not have lifeguards or other amenities, so plan your visit accordingly.

Tunitas Creek Beach offers many activities including tide pooling, wildlife watching, surfing, kayaking, canoeing, boating, swimming, surf-skimming, sailboarding, paddle boarding, fishing, and sunbathing. If you are planning to go into the water in Tunitas Creek Beach, we recommend being careful as the water here is known to have unpredictable rip currents. You can also take your canoe, kayak, or boat and explore the oceanfront sandstone cliff-walls present to the north of the beach. You can also fish on the beach - popular catches here include salto, croaker, and surfperches. However, it is advisable to follow the local regulations while fishing. There are interesting tide pools near the water in Tunitas Creek Beach which feature interesting animals including crabs, sea anemones, and sea urchins. The water near the beach is also home to dolphins, seals, sea-lions, and migrating whales (between December to April). The rare western snowy plover, which is listed as endangered in the 1973 federal Endangered Species Act, also nests on Tunitas Creek Beach. If Tunitas Creek has recently flowed into the water near the beach, it is advisable to forego swimming due to possible water contamination. The County Park authorities are planning improvements to make Tunitas Creek Beach more accessible and enjoyable for all visitors.

The beach is difficult to access - it’s located near the intersection of Tunitas Creek Road and Cabrillo Highway South (which is a part of California State Highway 1). There is a steep and partially eroded access trail for Tunitas Creek Beach with a free parking lot towards the south of this intersection – and there is a support role during the final section of the access trail. However, be careful while using the support rope as it might be worn out. During the rainy season, the access trail to the beach can be slippery.

There are many attractions near Tunitas Creek Beach. Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve is set within the towering California Redwoods forests and offers hiking, biking, and equestrian trails for exploring this pristine stretch of natural vegetation. Lemos Farm is a ranch-themed amusement park featuring exciting attractions for children including toy train rides, a petting zoo, toy car rides, and pony rides. If you like to shop, the downtown area of the city of Half Moon Bay has some exciting designer and branded stores, galleries, restaurants, and frequent live music performances – and it also hosts a farmer’s market every Saturday from May through December that features fresh produce, gourmet dishes, and interesting handicrafts. For a unique experience, you might catch a live performance by Chris Isaak, who occasionally performs at local venues near the beach.

If you're looking for a restaurantnt, there are many great nearby restaurants. Navio is an upscale restaurant offering a memorable oceanfront fine dining experience and serves excellent steaks and seafood dishes. A family-friendly restaurant is Monsoon Himalayan Cuisine which offers outstanding Nepalese and Indian dishes including chicken and vegetarian curries, biryani, kulchas, and alu bodi tama served along with refreshing chai tea and mango lassi drink. As another option, the modestly priced Taqueria La Morida offers delicious tacos, burritos, and quesadillas.

If you are looking for a hotel near Tunitas Creek Beach, there are many great nearby options. The 5-Star The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay offers numerous amenities including three restaurants, a spa, two golf courses, a lawn with firepits, a fitness center, a tennis court, a pool, and a hot tub. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Beach House - Half Moon Bay which offers many amenities including complimentary continental breakfast and weekend wine tasting sessions, a fitness center, a pool, a hot tub, and a spa. Another affordable hotel is the modestly priced 1-Star Americas Best Value Inn & Suites Half Moon Bay which is located conveniently close to some of the major attractions in San Diego County and offers complimentary breakfast.