Half Moon Bay State Beach is a single state park made up of four beaches: Francis Beach, Venice Beach, Dunes Beach, and Roosevelt Beach. It’s a favorite spot for sunbathing, picnics, surfing, fishing, and camping.
North of Venice Beach is Dunes Beach, reachable from Highway 1 via Young Avenue. Like Venice Beach, parking here is usually easier to come by and crowds are less likely. A number of short, sandy trails lead from the parking lot to the beach below. Restrooms are available in the parking area.
The paved California Coastal Trail (and the adjacent dirt trail for use by horses) runs behind the Dunes Beach parking lot and intersects Young Avenue by the entrance to the parking lot. Use caution when driving through, as the Trail can be quite busy on weekends with bicyclists, horseback riders, and walkers (often with their dogs).
What’s Nearby
Lodging: The Miramar Inn and Suites (.5 miles), Quality Inn (.5 miles), and Cypress Inn on Miramar Beach (.8 miles) are within walking distance of Dunes Beach.
