Montara State Beach - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting
Beaches
About Montara State Beach
Montara State Beach is a wide mile-long beach just north of Montara along the San Mateo County Coast. It is a popular spot for sunbathing, strolling, nature study, surfing, and more. It is one of the cleanest beaches in the state and there are bike, hiking, and horseback trails. The Devil's Slide is at the north end of the beach and the trail starts from a beach parking lot. A lighthouse operated as a hostel is part of the state park.

Attractions Near Montara State Beach
McNee Ranch State Park
0.8km from Montara State Beach
McNee Ranch State Park is a beautiful, scenic, and surprising park. Comprised almost entirely of wide, multi-use fire roads. The highest point in the 690-acre ranch rises to 1,898 feet above sea level. An unpaved fire road, the North Peak Access Road, accessible from the Pedro Mountain Road, provides access to the summit by hikers.
Point Montara Lighthouse
1.22km from Montara State Beach
The Point Montara Light is a lighthouse in Montara, California, United States, on the southern approach to the San Francisco Bay, California approximately 25 miles south of San Francisco.The lighthouse is not open to the public, and is the site of a youth hostel sponsored by Hostelling International USA.
Gray Whale Cove State Beach
1.97km from Montara State Beach
Gray Whale Cove State Beach is a California State Park between Pacifica, California, and Montara, California, by Highway 1 and approximately 18 miles south of San Francisco. It features a sheltered cove surrounded by abrupt cliffs, with trails connecting to nearby Montara Mountain and McNee Ranch State Park. Like underwater parks, these marine protected areas help conserve ocean wildlife and marine ecosystems.
J V Fitzgerald Marine Reserve
2.58km from Montara State Beach
Fitzgerald Marine Reserve is a marine reserve in California on the Pacific Ocean. The reserve is a 32-acre holding which extends from Montara light station at the north to Pillar Point on the south. The reserve consists of a three-mile stretch of beach.
Devil's Slide
3.67km from Montara State Beach
This is a coastal promontory in California. The terrain is characterized by steep, eroded slopes with natural gradients ranging between 30 and 50%. There are small coastal valleys throughout along the major drainages within the Montara Mountain watershed.
Pedro Point Headlands
4.48km from Montara State Beach
Pedro Point Headlands offers a spectacular 255-acre landscape, three miles of trails and stunning views. At the same time, the Headlands suffered from persistent erosion, caused by past off-highway vehicle use. Sediment from the headlands runs into San Pedro Creek, harming fish, frogs and other wildlife.
Discover More Attractions in San Mateo County, Home of Montara State Beach
San Mateo County
76 attractions
just south of San Francisco and home to the world-renowned Mavericks surfing competition. The county seat is Redwood City. he county's built-up areas are mostly suburban with some areas being very urban, and are home to several corporate campuses.