Martin's Beach

Half Moon Bay, California

4.5/5

based on 4 reviews

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Added by Alysha Painter

Martin's Beach is a beautiful, rarely crowded beach that has amazing sunsets and unique rock formations. There are a number of cute farm/beach houses nearby.

Martin's Beach is a beach about 7 miles south of Half Moon Bay. It features a large, very cool looking rock formation right off the coast. This beach is accessible via Martin's Beach Road, which is a small turn off on your right when southbound on Highway 1, though sometimes the road is only open to locals. If the gate is closed there is a dirt lot right next to the turnoff where you can park and walk down from there (.5 mile walk).

The beach is ideal for picnics, hanging out, romantic evenings, and watching the sun set behind the large rock formation.

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Martin's Beach Reviews

Ross Gentry

Scout

Martin's Beach

08/20/17

We stopped at this beach after backpacking in Butano State Park. There's a ton of great state beaches to camp along this same highway, but this rock formation is cool. There is a gate closing it in, but there's been some legal battles surrounding the area recently and the state has ruled it's open to the public, so hop on over!

4.0

Explorer

Josh Currie

Explorer

Martin's Beach

03/04/16

You caught it on a beautiful day! Great shots

4.0

Nicola Carlotto

Beginner

Martin's Beach

03/01/16

I grew up on this beach with the old owners' grandchildren. I had some of the best times of my life here. One of my favorite places ever :)

5.0

Sakti Aishwarya Arunachalam

Wanderer

Martin's Beach

02/21/16

This beach is closed to public now, but it's well worth jumping some gates if you want to! ;)

5.0

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Hike the Cowell-Purisma Trail

This is a popular trail that has beach access to Cowell Ranch Beach. Along the trail, there is a steep staircase that goes down to the beach. The trail also features fields, a bridge, and beautiful views of California's rugged coastline. This trail is paved in some parts, and can also be biked or jogged.

Cowell-Purisima Coastal Trail

This trail begins at the Cowell State Beach parking lot and is only open on the weekends. From the lot, take the short Cowell Ranch Access trail to a scenic overlook. There are steps down to the secluded pocket beach just above the main trail. The trail playfully meanders along the cliffside with views of the ocean on your right and the Santa Cruz Mountains on your left. You will cross three be...

Cowell Ranch Beach

Hike half a mile to this beautiful, secluded beach. There are high cliffs with a steep staircase down to the beach. The beach has wonderful rock formations on one side. It is a great place to watch the sunset or bring a picnic. A great place for a beach day if you are looking for something less crowded.

Southern Beaches at San Gregorio State Beach

Not a trail per se, but approximately 3 miles (down and back) of beautiful beach to walk down. Lots of interesting caves, wild animals, and rock formations to discover. This is a popular location for sea kayakers. San Gregorio State Beach was originally founded to protect the estuary at the back of the beach. Historically, the estuary was a Coho Salmon habitat. The entire beach is a part of the...

Methuselah and El Corte De Madera Creek Loop

This loop hike will provide people with the opportunity to experience the tranquility of the lower canyons of the preserve, which tend to be more isolated than the heavier-trafficked trails that are closer to the main highway. Be warned that this hike is fairly strenuous because of the large amount of elevation change. Starting from the Methuselah trail gate, head downhill, passing through a ...

Whittemore Gulch via Purisima Creek Road

This beautiful mountain bike ride can be started at the Purisima Creek Road Trailhead or on Skyline Boulevard. There are many trails in the Purisisma Creek Redwoods, but Whittemore Gulch is by far the most beautiful and fun single track to descend on. Starting Options:Start at Purisima Creek Road. You'll start on the Purisima Creek Trail for a very short distance, turning left onto Whittemore ...

Martin's Beach

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Martin's Beach Reviews

Leave No Trace

Nearby

Hike the Cowell-Purisma Trail

Cowell-Purisima Coastal Trail

Cowell Ranch Beach

Southern Beaches at San Gregorio State Beach

Methuselah and El Corte De Madera Creek Loop

Whittemore Gulch via Purisima Creek Road

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