Pescadero Point Beach

Located approximately five miles north of the Pigeon Point Light Station, Pescadero Point Beach is a beach with light brown sand, many small pebbles, and many nearby large rocks.  This beach is located below oceanfront bluffs and it is located adjacent to a rocky coastal area named Pescadero Point.  Pescadero Point Beach is not to be confused with another separate nearby state beach named Pescadero State Beach.  In addition, this beach should also not be confused with another coastal area named Pescadero Point - this coastal area is located in the community of Pebble Beach near the city of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Pescadero Point Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, so please plan accordingly.  Dogs on leash are allowed in Pescadero Point Beach.

Pescadero Point Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, fishing, tidepooling, wildlife watching, and hiking.  Pescadero Point Beach is unsafe for water activities because the water here is known to have unpredictable waves and dangerous rip currents, along with considerably low temperature.  Depending on the time of the year, you can see many kinds of animals in the water near Pescadero Point Beach including migrating gray whales (during spring and late autumn), seals, and sea lions.  Please note that seals, sea lions, dolphins, and whales are protected under a law named the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and harming them can result in a civil penalty of up to $11,000 and possible imprisonment.

If you like birdwatching, you can see many kinds of birds near Pescadero Point Beach including black oystercatchers, surf scoters, western meadowlark, cormorants, geese, and pelicans.  If you like tidepooling, you can explore the interesting tidepools that are located around Pescadero Point Beach at low tide.  If you are planning to fish near Pescadero Point Beach, please follow the local fishing regulations that can be found on the website of California Department of Fish and Wildlife.  During low tide, you can also explore the coastline near the northern end of Pescadero Point Beach that has interesting rock formations and an unnamed cove.

Getting to Pescadero Point Beach is easy - there is a small free parking lot for Pescadero Point Beach near 12371 Cabrillo Highway/Pacific Coast Highway.  Once you park at this parking lot, you need to walk along a narrow path near the beach that leads to a few stairs. These stairs will lead you to Pescadero Point Beach.

There are many attractions near Pescadero Point Beach.  Pigeon Point Lighthouse (also known as the Pigeon Point Light Station) is one of the tallest lighthouses in the West Coast region of the United States - this lighthouse was built in the 19th century and is a part of the United States’National Register of Historic Places.  While the lighthouse itself is currently closed to the public, visitors can explore the area around it - the area around this lighthouse is a part of the Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park.  This state park offers an interesting insight into the rich cultural and natural history of Northern California and it has many interesting exhibits on maritime navigation - in addition, this state park also offers amazing Instagram-worthy views of the Northern California shoreline and the Pacific Ocean. 

Butano State Park is a state park that has a vibrant landscape with many habitats including oak woodland, redwood forests, wetland, and riparian habitats - the state park also offers many fun activities including camping, hiking, picnicking, and wildlife watching.  You can also see many kinds of animals while visiting this park including salamanders, warblers, coyotes, bobcats, and chickadees.  Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve has many habitats including a brackish water marsh, riparian woodlands, and a tidal estuary - this preserve also has a trail named the Sequoia Audubon Trail that offers a unique way to explore this preserve and this preserve is also an amazing site for seeing birds.  More than 200 species of birds live here including cormorants, herons, and egrets, along with a variety of other endangered animals including San Francisco garter snake, California red-legged frog, and steelhead trout - rangers working with theCalifornia Department of Parks and Recreationalso frequently organize guided tours in this preserve. 

If you are looking for another attraction near Pescadero Point Beach, Cowell-Purisima Coastal Trailis an approximately three-and-a-half miles long trail that offers a fun way to explore the blufftop shoreline of the city of Half Moon Bay and San Mateo County - this trail passes through coastal scrub habitat and local farmlands and you can see many kinds of animals while hiking here including seals, migrating whales (often seen between late autumn and early winter and in spring), owls, kites, sparrows, finches, and towhees.  In addition, this trail also offers amazing views of the San Mateo County shoreline and the Pacific Ocean and it also passes near the remnants of a town namedPurissimathat earlier used to exist near Half Moon Bay. 

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Pescadero Point Beach.  Parkside Grille is a 50-minute drive away and it offers many amazing dishes including Greek-style lamb chops, seafood, salads, steaks, pizzas, pastas, risotto, steaks, burgers, and chicken dishes.  Duarte’s Tavern offers outstanding American cuisine with touches of Portuguese culinary influence.  The restaurant is also known for serving amazing seafood - this restaurant has also been awarded America's Classic Restaurant award by the James Beard Foundation.  Loma Mar Store & Kitchenoffers delicious dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner including pastas, soups, eggs, burgers, sandwiches, tacos, and salads.  This restaurant also hosts many fun events including meet-up sessions and live music events.  If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Pescadero Point Beach,Off Stage is a food truck that offers a periodically-changing menu consisting of many delicious dishes including soups, sandwiches, tacos, and noodles.

If you are looking for a hotel near Pescadero Point Beach, there are many great nearby options.  The 5-Star Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay is a 20-minute drive away and offers many amenities including three restaurants, a spa, two golf courses, a lawn with firepits, fitness center, tennis court, a pool, and a spa.  Another upscale option is the 4-Star Oceano Hotel & Spa Half Moon Bay Harbor that is a 25-minute drive away and offers many amenities including a restaurant, a bar, a spa, and a fitness center.  A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Costanoa Lodge that offers many amenities including a spa, multiple restaurants, a hot tub, and a seasonal kids’ camp - the hotel also has a tent campground that has many amenities including showers, a courtyard with a firepit, restrooms, and public sitting areas.  A more affordable hotel is Nantucket Whale Inn that is a 22-minute drive away and offers many amenities including complimentary breakfast, a garden with a patio and a firepit, complimentary wine-and-cheese tasting sessions, and a lounge.  If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Pescadero Point Beach, the 2-Star Pescadero Creek Inn offers a garden with sitting areas.