Poplar Beach

Poplar Beach in Half Moon Bay is perfect for dog owners—just a few minutes’ walk from the parking lot, and you’ll have nearly the whole beach to yourselves thanks to limited entry points. After letting our pup run free, we stroll over to the Ritz-Carlton and return via the Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail. It’s peaceful, dog-friendly, and rarely crowded once you’re off the main path.

It's so pretty and full of flowers. Having a good size parking space was a plus. We didn't swim. Walked along the sidewalk and sat on a bench among the flowers. So peaceful and pretty.

A beautiful beach with ample space and beautiful, tall crashing waves. I don't know if it's common on this beach or if it's a seasonal thing, but there was a really strong dried fish smell coming from some debris that was all over the beach, but it's the ocean so that sort of thing isn't a huge deal. Would happily come back next time we visit the area.

I visited to the half moon beach several times. Poplar beach must be the best place. It has nice walk trail. The wild flowers make this place more attractive.

Stunning beach downstairs with amazing ocean views and a beautiful trail upstairs. It’s the perfect spot for a weekend picnic or biking—ideal for a full day out. I absolutely love coming here for some peace and quiet.

Easy beach to access. It had nice steps leading down to the beach. A group was setting up for a wedding down at the bottom and a group of teens were getting the cops called on them at the top. It was a beautiful little stop

Parking is probably the worst thing about the beach. Dogs allowed on leash. When we were there, there were two sheriffs on patrol. I'd probably say this is the best beach I've encountered on this stretch on Highway 1.

Gorgeous gorgeous beach! There are multiple access points and parking available, although the beach is not dog friendly the trail right next to it is. There is almost always space to set up, and even though the water is absolutely freezing , it is so fun! Beware the weather becuase it is often very cold and gets overcast like in the photos I added. There are also a lot of birds and seagulls that don’t get scared away very easily so protect your food!

This beach is probably my favorite in Half Moon Bay. There is a designated parking area, which is convenient. Unfortunately, it is also a little sketchy. Half Moon Bay asks you to pay $10 to park here and whether you spend 10 minutes or all day long, you will pay the same price. We were lucky enough to come at a time when someone else was leaving and they were also frustrated by this, so they kindly offered us their spot. You see, you get no ticket or confirmation, other than a digital notification that the spot is "paid" until 12 am, so it is impossible for any parking attendant to know who paid for the space, only that it was paid for. Basically, they sell the same spots over and over throughout the day. There really should be a better way to manage parking. That being said, the parking area provides garbage bins and porta-potties, so those who are willing to pay to park will have what they need. This beach also has convenient access a short walk from the parking area with a set of steps leading down to the beach. It offers benches up top as well as a spot to lock your bicycles. This beach is also dog friendly and allows dogs to be off leash. There was also an ice cream truck that came by the last time we were here. The beach itself is large enough to get away from crowds if you are willing to walk a bit and yet small enough to sit close to the waves without getting out of breath if you are an old lady like me. If you are willing and able to pay the parking fee, it is definitely worth the stop. If not, there are lots of other beaches nearby where you can find street parking and walk over for free.

Beautiful and relaxing! Watch your children here!! Warnings everywhere! See images for information

Beautiful ca beach i love to use this beach and the ones around it for fishing. Plenty of jumbo perch and crabs if ur lucky u might even catch a striper. BEWARE although for some it's common sense please make sure to check wave power. These beaches have huge cliffs/sand dunes that'll block ur exit. You may think it's safe but one rogue wave (VERY COMMON) on a high power wave day can wash you out and you'll never be seen again. I had to learn the hard way to respect and check the wave power. The beauty of these beaches is the power that you see in the size of the ocean NEVER underestimate it for one sec!

this is another great beach that lines the coastline of half moon bay. this one is about a mile south of the main beach (half moon bay/francis beach), and definitely less crowded and quieter. there is a dedicated, paid, parking lot right by the beach, as well as several porta-potties (which are usually well stocked with toilet paper and toilet seat covers, but no hand sanitizer/washing stations, so be prepared!) you need to walk down the steps to the beach, there are no hand rails so heed caution. the beach is otherwise fairly clean, and a great place to just watch the waves, lay out in the sun, or even go for a swim, with a wet suit of course!

I've gone twice now - once in the summer and once in February. The beach was nearly empty on a Saturday afternoon in February. I was hoping our dog could get to interact with other dogs, but it was nice to have the beach mostly to ourselves! One thing to note: there are horses on this beach. 2 groups of horseback riding tours came while we were there. Unfortunately, they left some horse poop behind YUCK! We just moved to another spot! There's a paid parking lot but also a good amount of neighborhood parking nearby. There's no trash can on the beach, but there is one at the parking lot. Overall, this is a great spot for dogs, dog lovers, and beach goers!

My new GO TO Beach.. it has paved hiking path plus access to the beach!! I live my ME Time here today

I like that it is dog friendly, close to many shopping/dining areas, centric and plenty of paid and street parking.

The Poplar Beach Parking lot is my favorite stop for a nice "bluff" walk above the ocean. It's located about 1/2 a mile south of Half Moon Bay State Park. I personally like this stop better for hikes because Half Moon Bay State Park is really crowded. There is no beach access from this parking lot because it is located on the bluffs above the ocean but it's honestly a breathtaking place to walk. You can easily walk north or south for amazing views of the ocean, seasonal vegetation, local birds and peaceful sounds of the ocean. Spring is really magical because the bluff is covered in pink and yellow flowers. If you want to get to Poplar Beach below the parking area, you need to take a 1/2 mile walk from Half Moon Bay State Park to get there. If this is your intention, I'd park Half Moon Bay State Park for convenience.

My girlfriend and I, along with our dog, had a wonderful time here. Despite the overcast skies and the chilly wind when we arrived, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the beach was nearly deserted. This allowed our dog to run freely.

You may now avoid the parking machine line by paying by APP! The app is called FLOWBIRD, just check your parking stall number and pay via app. $10 for the day. Over the course of the pandemic I have noticed this beach has exploded in popularity on certain days. But dont worry, once you leave the overcrowded parking lot you'll likely find plenty of space to social distance. Poplar is a nice and well loved beach in HMB. it's conveniently close to the intersection of hwy 92 and hwy 1. People love to bike, walk, scooter,etc along the coastal trail which is just past the parking lot. There are a couple benches along the trail to rest and look out at the ocean. To go down to the beach, theres a big hill which it seems the city has recently taken some effort to spruce up into gentle steps rather than just a gravel incline. Still, this beach isnt very friendly to bringing tons of gear with you I'm giving Poplar 3 out of 5 cuz while it's a beautiful beach , the parking lot is crowded and mildy stressful in recent visits, 10 dollar fee, and steep incline to beach which not all people may manage easily.

Easy to get to and there was parking when we got there on a Thursday. Sat at the top bench to overlook the beach with our senior pup.

Beautiful quiet beach! My family and I went hiking at Wavecrest so we were able to find parking here ($10 whole day). After hiking, we went back to the beach and it was just perfect just to relax and eat a small lunch! We went on a Monday morning so parking was easy and there weren't a lot of people in the afternoon. Beach is clean, allows dogs, and we even saw a bunch of people riding their horses! Definitely a spot to chill and relax with a friend, partner or family.

This is a dog-friendly beach with a scenic walking trail above that follows the coast. My dogs absolutely love the beach, so it is always fun to walk them and observe their joy! The one annoying thing is the machine that takes your $10 payment for parking. It was not very user-friendly, and when we finally got to the end of the transaction, we got no confirmation whatsoever.

What a beautiful beach this is! We went to celebrate our friends birthday. The drive is a little bit windy and there is an area where it gets congested. The beach is easy to find once you arrive. Parking for full day was $10. Don't be surprised if the parking lot is full during weekends. However, you will find a lot of street parking available so don't worry if you cannot find a spot in the parking lot just park in the near by residential area. In order to get to the beach, there is a stair case that you walk down. We had a hard time carrying our yeti cooler, so switch off on carrying big items or make two trips. We went on a weekend and it's packed like a full house with tons of people. If you don't like being in places where people don't wear masks then, I suggest not coming here. The beach has porta potties available near the parking lot and they are open! 5 stars because the beach itself is beautiful. As seen in the picture, there wasn't that many people in the spot. If you want a less crowded space, I suggest keep walking to the left once you go down the stair case. Stay safe everyone

So came here instead of going to my regular beach thinking this might be a nice difference. Instead a horrible nightmare. This is but a beach for surfers and people having picnics. Their are plenty of signs that says no dogs allowed on the beach due to San Mateo renting that section out to the local horse ranch who uses this part of the beach for their tours, but still see dogs. This is the 1st beach I had been to that didn't have a single shell on a 10 min walk across.

Went right at opening around 8 am & it was perfect--no traffic, found parking right away, no line to pay for a spot, & the beach wasn't crowded. At Poplar Beach, I could pay with a card & take a set of stairs to get to the sand & water (but when I went to another Half Moon Bay beach, there were some inconveniences: I had to pay with cash, it was an awkward descent, couldn't put my blanket down without the tide coming up). Here, I loved seeing the horses riding back & forth along the shore. The water & waves were beautiful. There was a bit of garbage around, which was a bummer. And there were many many dogs wandering around unleashed, which I wasn't too bothered by, but I did witness a bit of barking back and forth.

August 29, Saturay 10:30AM. Parking - $1/hour. Portable potties are available. Gorgeous beach with giant bird of prey flying around. Don't worry, they're really pretty, and it was fun watching them hunt for fish. There is also a ranch with horses available for horseback riding. The walk from parking lot to beach is a short incline. There's also a really nice flat, scenic walking trail that follows along the coastline if you decide not to take the beach route. Only downside is the beach is on leash. I really wanted my dog to run wild and free. It worked out anyway to not have my dog run around because he kept trying to eat all of the horse poop.

Just what our mental health needed. There are plenty of beaches in the area to choose from, but we're very satisfied with this one. It was perfect for running with a dog or kite-flying with kids. Lots of space to walk or sit, clean, well-maintained by the city's local agency, and simple parking/potty area. There's a lot of stairs, though!

Came on a Saturday. Good spot that has a nice spread of sand at the beach, plenty of room to post up with friends and family and have space. Parking is $10 for half the day (payments are increments of half day) and parking is typically fairly full but rotating frequently. Easy to get to.

Great for dogs. Has parking lot. Has portable potty. Maintained steps from parking lot to the beach. Long long long long stretches of beaches. Clean.

Such a cool little beach! My friend and I visited this place on a random weekend last month, and even off season, it is very busy. The parking is a little expensive considering there isn't a lot around this beach, but the views and beach access aren't all that bad. There's a nice trail you can take along the coast and walk with your family. It's paved, but parallel to it is a dirt trail where you can walk as well. I noticed a lot of dog poop, so be careful where you walk. Overall good experience but it's not my favorite spot. This is the first time I've been to Poplar beach because it's always so busy in spring/summer. Usually there is no parking right at the sunrise, but it was nice to check it out.

There's a small parking lot where you would need to pay by parking spot. They don't provide you with a receipt. This is a cute on leash dog beach. It was our first time at one. A lot of the people there was very friendly, not everyone had dogs with them. I was surprised at how clean it was for being a dog beach. We would definitely come back! There's also a nice walking bath to enjoy the beach view.

A dog and horse friendly beach! My significant other and I went on a Sunday and the beach had few visitors. It was nice the place wasn't crowded. The beach was quite clean. It's very steep on the way up and down, so it may prove difficult for some. We weren't able to find other entrances that were less steep. The sand is fairly soft, which made walking barefoot quite nice. There are also some easy trails to walk around in!

It's easy to miss the turn out . Although there is a sign about 300 ft from Poplar St, if you are coming from south, the street doesn't seem like it will take you down to the beach but it does. From hwy 1, take Poplar St and it'll be a dirt road through the residential area , but you'll see the sign and there's a parking lot to your left. Parking is metered. Not free. There's a trail going to the south and to the north towards Francis Beach. We took the trail to the south , we saw a beautiful juvenile harrier hawk perched on a sign just off the coastal trail, saw some people riding the horses on the beach, walked on a cute little bridge and surprisingly saw some California poppies even though it's in middle of December. Cliffs are sheer drop. Extremely dangerous to get too close to the edge of the cliff and the sign warns you to stay on the trail. I'd keep an eye on small children. It's such a beautiful place. Worth a stop. Definitely.

Large beach with day parking available for 10.00. They have camping also. Great beach to put your day tent up at!

"Babies don't need a vacation, but I still see them at the beach... it pisses me off! I'll go over to a little baby and say 'What are you doing here? You haven't worked a day in your life!"--Steven Wright Located approximately a half-mile south of the popular Half Moon Bay State Beach, Poplar Beach (PB) has been my secret "go-to" spot in the HMB/Pacifica area for a few years. PB doesn't have much going for it (other than the obvious) but what it does have is what I crave in my outdoor adventures: seclusion. I've been putting off writing this review because I didn't feel like giving away my spot--in fact, I was tempted to write a 1-star review to drive people away! Unfortunately, I'm too honest for my own good. PB is a city-run beach, and is a little bit off the beaten track, which explains why it's not as popular as some of the other area beaches. My first time visiting I thought my GPS was leading me astray, as you have to drive through quite a bit of residential streets before you arrive. Here's a guide to help you get the most out of your time at the beach: Usage- Fishing, Horseback Riding and Dogs (on a leash) are all allowed. Parking- There's a decent-sized lot at the end of Poplar St that fits ±70 cars, and has designated spots for cars with horse trailers. Parking is $2/hr ($10/day) for normal vehicles (-20') and $3/hr ($15/day) for plus-sized vehicles (+20') and horse trailers. You don't need to worry about bringing cash, as the machines take CC, and don't forget to note your parking spot number as you'll need that in order to complete the transaction. Access- Once you park you'll have to make your way down a pretty steep cut-out in the side of the bluff to access PB. As if that weren't harrowing enough, you'll most likely have to dodge huge piles of horse poop as you make your way down. I'd recommend wearing sneakers (for sneaking!) to help you navigate down, and then you can ditch them once you hit the sand. Features: -Access to the HMB Coastal Trail (aka CA Coastal Trail) -You can access Wavecrest Open Space Preserve (http://www.yelp.com/biz/wavecrest-open-space-half-moon-bay?hrid=KWuySO7OWfW6xLgsQ_IsRA&ref=yelp-android) from the south end of the parking lot -Port-o-potties located in the parking lot -Privacy! Especially if you come on a weekday, and in the winter. Weekends during the summer--not so much, but it's still better than 95% of the other beaches located along the PCH. Scenery- Sand, Surf, and lots of shorebirds. You know, the usual... The one unique feature here at PB is the sandy bluffs that make up the eastern border of the beach. It's fascinating to look at all the different layers of the soil horizons of the bluffs and imagine all the years and things that it took to create them. The only reason I'm giving PB a 4-star instead of a 5-star review is because of the horse poop issue, but other than that it's still my current favorite beach along the PCH. Check it out one day. It's perfect for a peaceful family picnic, or just hanging with your lonesome. Just do me a favor, and don't tell anybody, okay?

Dog friendly beach, just gotta keep them on a leash. Path from the parking to the ocean side is a small walk away and there's a elevated pathway down to the sand. Not wheelchair accessible tho.

Really nice beach with adequate parking. I went out with some friends and had a picnic and we got to see a bunch of horses and dogs. Everyone kept their space and overall we had a great time.

Please read before coming: -Only way up and own is through a steep ROCKY hill; it is doable but a challenge for sure! Shoes with traction is highly recommended -$8 for 5 hour parking; it does take card!! -Parking lot isn't too big so get there early or pray to the parking god's -No showers -Bathroom=Porta Potty -Big piles of horse poo..BEWARE! Aside from the few obstacles we encountered this beach itself is pretty nice and a great place for families! There is a trail that seems to be very popular with bikers and runners that looks like it extends throughout Half Moon State Beach (which has a fee).

Nice dog-friendly beach. Not as crowded as others, or maybe it was just today was COLD! Park in the lot at the end of the street, then carefully make your way down the slope toward the beach. Fun times.

Now there are guys distinguishing the bonfires and after the sunset they make sure everyone to leave

Let's focus on the main thing here, My pit was able to be off leash! She loved it here. So did I. First we walked along the trail above the beach then we headed on down to that luxurious sand, serene water and fabulous view. This was my first time letting her off leash but after walking around with her and playing in the water, it was time to let go of MY fear and let her be a dog. She met other dogs and everyone had a great time. We are going back...Hella more times. This place is the bomb. I love dog friendly places

A self-serve beach. Great for the self-reliant. Poplar Beach is just a 0.8 mile walk south of the main Half Moon Bay State Beach along the Coastal Trail. Poplar Beach has no picnic tables, fewer people, and the same great waves that the main beach has. You can argue that the scenery is actually better here due to the cliffs in the background: there's about 50 feet of coastline between the cliffs and the water, if you like that sort of thing. Free neighborhood parking can be found 0.3 miles away. A moderately-sized lot provides parking for $2 each hour, up to $10 for the whole day; credit cards only. Only outhouses are available here; bathrooms with running water can be found at the main beach to the north. To get down to this beach from the road/parking lot, you'll need to descend a semi-steep, uneven path. You probably won't be able to bring a wheelchair down, not even if you have one of those cool all-terrain ones. This beach is a great home base for parking and walking to Redondo Beach, my favorite beach in HMB which is even less accessible due to steep cliffs.

Like many other bay area people we decided to head to the coast to beat the heat today. Traffic was light in the morning and when we arrived at Poplar beach there were still a few spots left. It is a paid lot and there was a long line to use the single fee machine. There is a row of porte-potties which were absolutely disgusting and out of toilet paper. It's a nice wide beach with plenty of room to spread out, but unfortunately many people were not observing social distancing nor wearing masks. It is a dog friendly beach and we saw many pups enjoying the water. When we left in the early afternoon the parking lot was packed with tons of people waiting for spots, so go early to secure one!

A beautiful beach to take the family, enjoy a walk, or simply sit and take in God's marvelous creation!!

Ooops! What used to be my favorite beach in the Bay Area has become a landfill: this morning I made my way to the beach through dog and horse poo, two dead seagulls, and one deer that decided his last place on Earth should be right here - on the beach. Not to mention litter and bottles. City of Half Moon Bay - clean up this mess, please.

I read bad reviews of this beach because of the poop, so calling it Pooplar beach is not that inaccurate. So just avoid that little matter and concentrate in the beauty and the freedom. You can take your dog, your grandma and the piano to this beach if you want. People seem to have real fun, improvising pic-nics, BBQs and screaming loud while swimming. No, is not a posh beach and is somewhat dirty, but somehow I liked it a lot. Maybe those nice cypress tress, the trail on top, the overlook and the fact that is so easy to park on the streets and no need to pay for parking. You can easily avoid the $2/hour parking. We did and we did not have to walk too much.

Freakin love this beach and so does my dog, Hendry! I was headed toward St. Francis Beach one-day but I realized theey don't allow dogs so I went to Poplar Beach instead. I recommend parking in the residential area and walking over because you have to pay at the parking lot and it can be a mad house. My dog loves the beach (he gets excited when he can run in the sand) and it's very safe to have your dog run around. The waves aren't too big/ crazy usually, which is a plus since my dog isn't the greatest swimmer.

One of my favorite places to take my puppy! Not crowded at all, plenty of room to just lay down a towel and relax in the sun. You'll also find other dogs running around and they are usually very friendly. There's also a trail next to the beach to go for a nice jog or walk your dog

This beach is great. Dogs and horses allowed. Nice large beach area for a large number of people. They recently started charging for parking. There's a machine where you have to get a ticket for however long you want to stay. There are outhouses up top with the parking. You have to climb down a little bit of a hill to get to the beach. Not the easiest to deal with at the end of a long day at the beach. I know I get winded. You can build a fire here. We've had some good times.

Went here during memorial day weekend and had fun here. Plenty of room and not too crowded. We didn't have trouble parking here (given that it was a holiday). Parking was pricey spent like $10 bucks in parking for like 5 hours there. Careful walking down the slope down to the beach. We had a friend who slipped and fell. As I mentioned above the beach didn't have that many people so we were able to play soccer and throw some footballs around without running into people. They have porta potty located in the parking lot for your "business" - just hold your breath lol.

I come to Poplar Beach a lot so My Dogs can Enjoy & Run Freely Off Leash. But today I had to YELL at my Dog to watch out for the HORSES POO On the top of the trail & on the ocean. We dog owners do pick up our dogs Poo, so they need to do it Also... HORSE POO STINKS And are so much BIGGER than Dogs too. We had to walk a ways to find a spot to sit on the Sand near the Ocean. Hope the City fixes the problem soon. There is not much Beach that our dogs can Enjoy. And we do LOVE POPLAR BEACH

I'm not sure why this beach has a low rating. I love it here! We take our dog here as often as we can (he loves the sand)!! We're trying to get him to jump in the water lol, but ever since his last episode, hes a little afraid! I would say this place is more dog friendly, then it is is kids friendly, so if you or your kids arent fans of dogs, then you should probably search for another. Beautiful beach, especially for our son dog!

Easy parking and access. Great dog area...plenty of room to run. Access to the beach not bad. Stairs would be helpful.

Sitting atop the cliff, the scenery is picturesque.. The winds blow in opposite directions, creating little white waves amidst the blue-green water as far as the eye can see, appropriately depicting the state of things.. Four seagulls in a diamond-like formation glide above us, so elegantly, effortlessly, as the bristle-like plants below sway gracefully left and right. The cool breeze beats refreshingly against our faces, cooling our heads and washing a quiet calm over our inner selves. Driving home, the shades of green and the shapes all around you show a dignified sense of individuality and strength of character, with no two trees sharing the same structure, direction, and limbs... The organic growth of nature all around us is untamable once permitted to just be. In this experience, peace of mind is attainable... if only for a moment. This is where I come to unwind.

As others have noted, there are horses that occasionally poop on the trail down to the beach. But I say don't let that stop you from easy access to a remarkable section of the California coastline. And I promise there's no discernible poop once you get down to the beach (quite frankly I find the horse poop not nearly as offensive as the human poop in the porta-potty). If you're not feeling like heading down to the beach, you can head South from the parking lot on a nice hike along the palisades toward the Ritz where I hear the poop smells great. The parking lot a poplar beach is free so if you're ever looking for a place to park near 92, this is a good bet. It does get a bit crowded during the day on weekends.

Gorgeous beach! I absolutely love this dog friendly gem! It seems this secret beach is no longer a secret, so I figured I would share with the Yelpers. This beach is off the main highway, tucked behind a neighborhood. There is a parking lot, that is now charging for hourly parking. Dont think you can sneak through the cracks, they patrol this lot every few hours, so pay up before getting caught. There is a great paved trail that follows the coast line atop the cliffs, or you can hit the sand, however this site is not handicap accessable, there is a large slope to go down to the sand. Many beaches in this area do not allow dogs, so most people here have a dog, which is lots of fun for dog lovers. t can be very windy here, so bring warm clothes, along with your beach gear. And get ready for a good time!!! I

Great place to hang with friends and family! Watch out for poop from the horses. We brought our pit bull on Fourth of July here hang out and play with our dog. Lots of people and friendly. We made friends with other dog owners and played with our dogs with them. Bathrooms are a pain. When you have to go you better go. They are located up top on s hill you have to hike up. It doesn't have much parking so don't pack heavy. Pack light.

My bf's dog loves this beach. And as a result, so do we. I am not sure if you are supposed to keep your dog on leash, but we just let the dog run and play fetch, as we see other dog owners do the same thing. There is a horse track, which you want to avoid since it smells. But it's not a big deal. Weekends in summer gets crowded, but you can still find parkings. If not, there are plenty on the streets, you just need to walk a little bit.

I like Poplar since it does not get too busy and is fairly well hidden, you have to drive through a nice residential neighborhood to get here. The approach to the beach is a little steep and a little tricky to navigate especially if you are lugging a water cooler, tent, chairs and a bag of food like I was. But once you get there, this is heaven. You sit in your chair and observe the waves of the great Pacific and it puts everything into perspective. A great reminder that there is more to life than the hustle and bustle of the bay area.