Pillar Point Marsh Beach

Pillar Point Marsh Wetlands is a protected area for the salt marsh habitat on Pillar Point Harbor. There is a sandy beach here at the mouth of the creek that drains from the wetlands. The water is calm here as it’s on the harbor shore. Pillar Point is just past the unincorporated town of Princeton-By-The-Sea, which is a Half Moon Bay, CA address. Romeo Pier, a photogenic old wooden pier, used to stick out into the harbor near the marsh beach but was torn down in 2018..

To get to the Marsh Wetlands, follow signs to Princeton from Highway 1 in El Granada. You can either park in town near the intersection of Princeton Avenue and West Point Avenue and walk right onto the beach or you can park in the marsh day-use parking lot at the end of W Point Ave and take the trail down to the beach.

From the marsh parking lot the trail leads to the harbor and the marsh is on your left. If you go right you can walk a trail above the shore to Pillar Point Beach a.k.a. “Maverick’s,” a nickname that comes from the big wave surfing spot offshore from the point. Kayak rentals are available in Princeton if you want to explore the harbor from the water.

Address

W Point Ave
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

Owner

County

Pet Details

Dogs allowed on trail on leash, no dogs in wetlands

Fees

No fee for parking

Activities

Hiking, Birdwatching, Kayaking, Stand-Up Paddleboarding

Amenities

Toilets, Trails, Wetlands

Links

Water Quality
Surfing Info & Web Cams
Water Temps
Tide Chart