Biking the California Coastal Trail at Half Moon Bay

Looking for more to enjoy near the California Coastal Trail?
Stay overnight at Francis Beach Campground, and check out the tide pools at the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve.

DIFFICULTY

Easy/Moderate — The California Coastal Trail between the Mateo Coast State Beaches parking lot at Poplar Beach and Sam’s Chowder House in El Granda is level and paved, although the pavement is starting to show its age. South of Poplar Beach, the trail is unpaved, rutted, and bumpy, but still mostly flat.

CURRENT INFO

Find general information about riding the California Coastal Trail on the Visit Half Moon Bay website. More information and trail maps are available on AllTrails and TrailLink.

GOOD TO KNOW

• Parking at most public beach lots costs $10 per day. Bring cash if you plan to park at one of the Half Moon Bay State Beach lots. The Poplar Beach parking lot south of Francis Beach has new automated kiosks that accept credit cards.
• Free public restrooms are located at the various public beach parking lots. There is also a restroom on Magellan Avenue in Miramar, which offers a convenient drinking fountain as well.
• Bike repair stations are also located near the trail. There is one by the parking lot at Poplar Beach, and another by the Magellan Avenue restroom. There are probably more, but these are the two I noticed.
• Need a bike? Rent one! A few options include Straight Wheel Cycling and Bike Works in the town of Half Moon Bay.
• The California Coastal Trail at Half Moon Bay passes by several small towns. Grocery stores, restaurants, and other services are easily accessible.
• Pets on leash are allowed on the California Coastal Trail. They are not allowed on state beaches, however.
• The California Coastal Trail is open to pedestrians as well as bikers. Don’t let lack of access to a bike stop you — the trail is a fabulous place for an oceanside walk.
• Bring sunscreen, shade hats, and sunglasses. There is little shade along the Coastal Trail, and even on a cloudy day there is a risk of sunburn.
• Bring water and snacks. You can access water at a few points along the trail.
• Always follow Leave No Trace principles.

HIGHLIGHTS

With seemingly endless ocean views, riding along the California Coastal Trail in Half Moon Bay is pure joy. During our visit in spring, abundant wildflowers added to the allure. The trail heads briefly inland in a few spots, taking riders through a tunnel of greenery accompanied by the trills of songbirds. Elsewhere, cliffs rise above the ocean for an awesome view. Numerous trailhead options make it easy to tailor your trip as you like.

THE KIDS’ TAKE

Biking the California Coastal Trail at Half Moon Bay is great fun for kids of all ages. Little ones can ride in a bike trailer, speed along on a balance bike, or try out their training wheels. Older kids with biking experience will enjoy the pedaling down a flat, car-free trail with frequent beach access. If you need a break, you’re never far from a good spot to stop. Easy access to multiple public restrooms is also a boon when biking with kids.

Before heading out, be sure your kids know the rules of the road. Keep right, pass only on the left, let pedestrians know before you pass, and pull off the side of the trail when stopping whenever possible. The California Coastal Trail wasn’t crowded when we rode it, but I imagine it can be much busier in the summer. Following basic safety rules helps ensure everyone stays safe and has fun.

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

We biked the California Coastal Trail while camping at Francis Beach Campground in Half Moon Bay. Easy access between the campground and the trail enabled us to get out and bike multiple times throughout our stay. With the Coastal Trail on one side and the beach on the other, Francis Beach Campground is ideal for a family trip.

Since the California Coastal Trail passes a number of small towns, you’re never far from a grocery store or restaurant. On our bike ride, we stopped at Sam’s Chowder House near the northern end of the trail for a delicious seafood lunch with a view. On another day, we enjoyed lunch at Dad’s Luncheonette in Half Moon Bay. It’s a fun, quirky choice, but has limited hours and is located a mile from the trail.

Those looking to explore more of the coast should take a short drive north to the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. Low tide exposes a wealth of tide pools, and there’s a high chance you’ll spot some seals lounging on the rocks offshore.

For more excitement, San Francisco is only an hour’s drive from Half Moon Bay, and offers a wealth of places to explore. We spent two days in the city during our stay at Francis Beach Campground, and visited the Exploratorium, Alcatraz, Coit Tower, and took a ride on the famous cable cars. Of course, there’s far more to see and do in San Francisco, and you could spend a lifetime exploring this incredible city.

On our first full day in Half Moon Bay, I couldn’t wait to get out on the California Coastal Trail. The kids were possibly even more eager, and had already ventured a short distance north of the campground, where they discovered a path to their own secret beach.

I rode north along the paved trail and met up with the younger two kids. They encouraged me to follow them down a short, unmarked path to their (perhaps not-so-secret after all) beach. It was a beautiful spot, but soon I was interrupted by a beep on my phone. “Where are you?” the text read. It seems that during our brief detour, the rest of our group had already passed us by.

The kids and I quickly hopped back on our bikes and headed onto the trail. To stay on the California Coastal Trail, stick with the paved path. At one point, a dirt trail led straight ahead while the paved path turned sharply to the left. While you can take the dirt route, this uneven shortcut led to one minor tumble, and the pavement proved to be the safer option.

Ee finally met up with the others near the entrance to Dunes Beach. Together at last, we continued our ride north, leaving Half Moon Bay State Beach behind. Weatherworn beach houses sprang up alongside the trail on our right, while ocean waves lapped at the shore to our left. The trail hugged the shoreline, offering fantastic views despite the cloudy skies.

The waterfront trail ended abruptly with an arrow on a large yellow sign pointing right. Our friend, Paul, confirmed we needed to follow the road at this point. We headed inland on Magellan Street, and soon came to a public restroom. This conveniently located facility also marked a return to the trail. After a short rest break to take advantage of the drinking fountains (and to admire the helpful bike repair station), we were back on our bikes (with Paul on his Onewheel), whizzing happily past a grassy field with more ocean views ahead.

By now, we were near our final destination: Sam’s Chowder House. Known for it’s (what else?) chowder and lobster rolls, as well as a tempting array of other seafood dishes, it was a luxurious place to stop in the middle of a bike ride. Fortunately, Sam’s is pretty casual, so we didn’t feel out of place.

After a leisurely meal on the deck, we headed back onto the California Coastal Trail for our return trip to Francis Beach Campground. The tide had come in and covered the small beach near Sam’s, where previously a handful of surfers plied the waves. As we headed south, I admired views of the Pacific from a new perspective.

There were a few more detours on the way back. Notably, the kids found an excellent climbing tree. It was also great fun to bike across tree-covered trail bridges as we neared Francis Beach Campground. Our ride was nearly done for the day, but I knew I’d soon be back.

Sure enough, only a few days later I was back on the California Coastal Trail. This time, I was on my own, enjoying my newfound freedom under sunny skies. I biked north again toward Miramar, then turned to head south, stopping at a few beaches on the return trip.

This time, my ride didn’t end as I passed the campground. I continued south across wide open bluffs, soaking in the sunshine. There was little wind, and the riding was easy. Soon, however, path changed and I found myself bumping along a dirt trail after the pavement ended. Thankfully, the relatively dry weather that week meant the trail mostly mud-free. Note that I said mostly; there were still a few slippery spots to avoid.

After passing through a small thicket of trees, I was back on the open bluffs. The cliffs were higher here, and the view was glorious. The trail was rutted and worn, but nothing that most road bikes couldn’t handle with a little finesse.

I stopped to admire the view overlooking the cliffs, careful not to stray too close to the edge. Sea foam clung to the sandy shore after each receding wave. Given how close we were to town, I was struck by how wild and remote it felt to stand stop alone these wind worn cliffs.

By now, it was nearing lunch time, so I turned to head back toward Francis Beach Campground. Of course, I couldn’t resist stopping for a few more photos along the way. I pulled into our campsite, happy and refreshed, and just a little bit saddle sore. That’s probably a sign I should bike more often, wouldn’t you agree?

Should you ever find yourself in Half Moon Bay, I highly recommend a trip down the California Coastal Trail. Slow down, take stops, and leave your agenda behind. This is coastal California biking at its best.