Poplar Beach-Wavecrest Walk
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: Poplar Beach, Poplar Street, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Starting Point: Poplar Beach Parking Lot, Poplar Street (western end where it meets the ocean), Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Info links:
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser. (We do our best to update links but web addresses are sometimes changed without notice.)
Poplar Beach info link (Visit Half Moon Bay):
https://www.visithalfmoonbay.org/discover/poplar-beach
Wavecrest Trail info link (Peninsular Open Space Trust):
https://opensfhistory.org/news/2020/11/22/the-triumph-of-light-a-closer-look/
Wavecrest Open Space info link (Coastside Land Trust):
https://www.coastsidelandtrust.org/our-blog/2020/8/2/wavecrest-open-space-trail
Also recommended:
Wavecrest Open Space info link (Hikes Dogs Love):
http://www.hikesdogslove.com/wavecrest-open-space.html
Distance:
From the Poplar Beach parking lot to the southern end of the Wavecrest Open Space as the crow flies is about 1 mile, but with twists and turns in the Coastal Trail, we made an out-and-back walk of approximately 2.5 miles. The Bird Trail within Wavecrest is an easy 0.3 miles with informational signs. Walkers can add distance by taking crisscross trails within Wavecrest Open Space, which covers 206 acres. Visitors can also enjoy a walk on Poplar Beach.
Considerations:
• The parking lot requires a fee, paid by machine. Looks like fees do not apply to disability placard spots.
• There are portable toilets at the Poplar Beach parking lot.
• There are stairs leading down to Poplar Beach. The bluff trails are mostly flat.
• Heed safety signs, especially about trailside cliff erosion.
• Never turn your back on the ocean, and be aware of tides and high surf alerts.
• Dress in layers to match sudden weather changes.
The trail:
Half Moon Bay has numerous popular beaches dotted along several miles of Route 1. Poplar Beach is toward the southern end. The combination of good beach weather and leisure time means that traffic on Route 1 and parking along this stretch can be tightly packed on weekends and holidays. We saw families braving a chilly breeze as they carried beach gear down the stairs to Poplar Beach, but we were still able to find a parking spot on an early spring Sunday.
The Poplar Beach parking lot has a vending machine for parking permits. There were three port-a-potties on the lot during our visit. Portable toilets are at least better than no public toilet facilities.
We took a short jaunt from the parking lot to see what the Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail looked like facing north. The round white globe of the Pillar Point Air Force Station near Mavericks Beach stands out to the northwest. The trail going north is paved and quite flat.
Our goal was to check out Poplar Beach and the open space area to the south. We took the stairs down to the beach, which offered a wide beach walking area which looked like it went on for miles in either direction. We were mindful of what looked like a rising tide, which could significantly narrow the beach walking space compared to our visit time. There were plenty of beach visitors with tents and picnic gear despite a strong, chilly wind.
We climbed back up the beach stairs to the Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail that hugs the bluffs. Heading south from the parking lot, there is a gorgeous open ocean view to the west, and rolling hills in the distance looking east.
The charming wooden fence and smooth, flat pathway make this more of a pleasant stroll than a hike. The path curves past open fields, and then a line of windblown trees and a split in the land indicates the approach to the Wavecrest Open Space area.
We crossed the small Seymour Bridge footbridge that connects to the Wavecrest Trail, which includes a 0.3 mile section called the Wavecrest Bird Trail, marked by informational signs along the way.
The path is smooth and easy, with great views of the ocean sometimes made more interesting by sculptural tree formations along the bluff edge. There were numerous viewing spots jutting out along the edge. Always respect the unstable nature of cliff edges, and keep a safe distance from the edges. Ready-to-fall-through erosion spots were visible on our visit.
We chose to do an easy out-and-back walk that probably added up to 2.5 miles, and also put in a half mile walk on Poplar Beach, for a mostly flat 3 mile walk in beautiful scenery. Even with plenty of cars in the parking lot, the beach and bluff trails did not feel crowded.
(Poplar Beach-Wavecrest Walk Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Nature’s Artful Distraction”Insights post.)
Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries.
If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop page! Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, Twitter at @HikingAutism, Instagram at lisalouis777, and Bluesky @hikingautism.bsky.social
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: Poplar Beach, Poplar Street, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Starting Point: Poplar Beach Parking Lot, Poplar Street (western end where it meets the ocean), Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Info links:
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser. (We do our best to update links but web addresses are sometimes changed without notice.)
Poplar Beach info link (Visit Half Moon Bay):
https://www.visithalfmoonbay.org/discover/poplar-beach
Wavecrest Trail info link (Peninsular Open Space Trust):
https://opensfhistory.org/news/2020/11/22/the-triumph-of-light-a-closer-look/
Wavecrest Open Space info link (Coastside Land Trust):
https://www.coastsidelandtrust.org/our-blog/2020/8/2/wavecrest-open-space-trail
Also recommended:
Wavecrest Open Space info link (Hikes Dogs Love):
http://www.hikesdogslove.com/wavecrest-open-space.html
Distance:
From the Poplar Beach parking lot to the southern end of the Wavecrest Open Space as the crow flies is about 1 mile, but with twists and turns in the Coastal Trail, we made an out-and-back walk of approximately 2.5 miles. The Bird Trail within Wavecrest is an easy 0.3 miles with informational signs. Walkers can add distance by taking crisscross trails within Wavecrest Open Space, which covers 206 acres. Visitors can also enjoy a walk on Poplar Beach.
Considerations:
• The parking lot requires a fee, paid by machine. Looks like fees do not apply to disability placard spots.
• There are portable toilets at the Poplar Beach parking lot.
• There are stairs leading down to Poplar Beach. The bluff trails are mostly flat.
• Heed safety signs, especially about trailside cliff erosion.
• Never turn your back on the ocean, and be aware of tides and high surf alerts.
• Dress in layers to match sudden weather changes.
The trail:
Half Moon Bay has numerous popular beaches dotted along several miles of Route 1. Poplar Beach is toward the southern end. The combination of good beach weather and leisure time means that traffic on Route 1 and parking along this stretch can be tightly packed on weekends and holidays. We saw families braving a chilly breeze as they carried beach gear down the stairs to Poplar Beach, but we were still able to find a parking spot on an early spring Sunday.
The Poplar Beach parking lot has a vending machine for parking permits. There were three port-a-potties on the lot during our visit. Portable toilets are at least better than no public toilet facilities.
We took a short jaunt from the parking lot to see what the Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail looked like facing north. The round white globe of the Pillar Point Air Force Station near Mavericks Beach stands out to the northwest. The trail going north is paved and quite flat.
Our goal was to check out Poplar Beach and the open space area to the south. We took the stairs down to the beach, which offered a wide beach walking area which looked like it went on for miles in either direction. We were mindful of what looked like a rising tide, which could significantly narrow the beach walking space compared to our visit time. There were plenty of beach visitors with tents and picnic gear despite a strong, chilly wind.
We climbed back up the beach stairs to the Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail that hugs the bluffs. Heading south from the parking lot, there is a gorgeous open ocean view to the west, and rolling hills in the distance looking east.
The charming wooden fence and smooth, flat pathway make this more of a pleasant stroll than a hike. The path curves past open fields, and then a line of windblown trees and a split in the land indicates the approach to the Wavecrest Open Space area.
We crossed the small Seymour Bridge footbridge that connects to the Wavecrest Trail, which includes a 0.3 mile section called the Wavecrest Bird Trail, marked by informational signs along the way.
The path is smooth and easy, with great views of the ocean sometimes made more interesting by sculptural tree formations along the bluff edge. There were numerous viewing spots jutting out along the edge. Always respect the unstable nature of cliff edges, and keep a safe distance from the edges. Ready-to-fall-through erosion spots were visible on our visit.
We chose to do an easy out-and-back walk that probably added up to 2.5 miles, and also put in a half mile walk on Poplar Beach, for a mostly flat 3 mile walk in beautiful scenery. Even with plenty of cars in the parking lot, the beach and bluff trails did not feel crowded.
(Poplar Beach-Wavecrest Walk Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Nature’s Artful Distraction”Insights post.)
Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries.
If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop page! Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, Twitter at @HikingAutism, Instagram at lisalouis777, and Bluesky @hikingautism.bsky.social
