Pillar Point Harbor Out N Back

The Low Down

Combine beach-combing with hiking along California's famous coastline with this Out N Back hike along the Pillar Point Harbor. Dog owners can rejoice because off-leash beach play and hiking is allowed in the area nearest the water.

You can create a much longer hike by combining the Out N Back walk with a hike along the Pillar Point Bluff. Dogs shouldn't be off-leash on the bluff, but you can hike with dogs on Pillar Point Bluff. There's no real loop to the Pillar Point Bluff walk.

Grasses at sunset, Half Moon Bay

Getting There & Parking

From the north, take Highway 1 to just north of Half Moon Bay. Take a right at Capistrano Road, which is just past the airport. Follow Capistrano until you reach either Princeton Avenue or Harvard Avenue. You can follow either one to the deadend near California Canoe & Kayak and park there. Alternatively, you'll see the park's parking lot on a higher bluff from the dead-end and can follow the road to the right to reach it. If, along Highway 1, you've hit the junction of Highway 1 and Highway 92, you've gone too far.

From the south, take Highway 1 through Half Moon Bay and past the junction of Highway 92. Take a left at Capistrano Road, which is just before the airport. Follow the same directions as above.

Route Finding

• There are several ways
  

  

  View from top of Pillar Point Harbor Hike

to piece together a great hike, with gorgeous views, on the Pillar Point Harbor Out N Back trail.

• If you'd like your dog to be off leash (and would like to get sand in your shoes), head toward the Pillar Point Harbor, past the marshlands, from the parking area. You can walk along the beach near the harbor, allowing your canine friend to romp with other pooches. For a longer walk, head toward the breakers and turn right to walk along the Pacific Ocean. The whole loop takes about 30 minutes.

• If you'd like a longer walk, cross the road from the parking lot and take one of the small paths uphill to the south. Once on top of the hill, you'll find a trail that runs along the cliffside. You can follow this trail for about 3-5 miles, but it's an out n back trail. There's no true loop. The trail is wide enough in most places for a jogging stroller and is quite flat after the brief climb up to the trail.

Trail Resources

Helpful Hints

There is only enough parking for about 20 cars in the official lot near the trailhead, and then you can look for parking in the neighborhood near the harbor.

There's no water actually along the trail in Pillar Point, though near the docks, there are plenty of restaurants. These are not that close to the trail so your best bet is to bring water.

Activities allowed

Hiking, Off-leash dog area, kayaking, birding, fishing

External Links

Official Pillar Point Harbor / San Mateo Harbor District site