Pillar Point Bluff
Moss Beach, San Mateo County, CA
- Size
- 226 acres Source
- Managed by
- San Mateo County Parks
About Pillar Point Bluff
A 220-acre bluff top with a section of the California Coastal Trail and views of Half Moon Bay and Pillar Point Harbor. Source
Pillar Point Bluff offers hikers, joggers, bicyclists, and dog-walkers a chance to take in the breathtaking sights and sounds of the Pacific Ocean. The 220-acre bluff top includes a section of the California Coastal Trail and offers views of Half Moon Bay and Pillar Point Harbor, agricultural lands and the world famous Mavericks surf break.
Facilities
- Restrooms
Facility details: OpenStreetMap
Sunrise & sunset
Pillar Point Bluff hours follow the sun (Coastal Trail 24 hours; bluff trail sunrise to sunset). Mid-month times for this location:
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7:23 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. |
| Feb | 7:00 a.m. | 5:47 p.m. |
| Mar | 7:22 a.m. | 7:16 p.m. |
| Apr | 6:36 a.m. | 7:44 p.m. |
| May | 6:01 a.m. | 8:10 p.m. |
| Jun | 5:48 a.m. | 8:32 p.m. |
| Jul | 6:00 a.m. | 8:31 p.m. |
| Aug | 6:25 a.m. | 8:04 p.m. |
| Sep | 6:50 a.m. | 7:19 p.m. |
| Oct | 7:16 a.m. | 6:34 p.m. |
| Nov | 6:49 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. |
| Dec | 7:17 a.m. | 4:53 p.m. |
Calculated from the park's coordinates (NOAA solar equations), Pacific time.
Pillar Point Bluff at a glance
- PParking · 4: Pillar Point Bluff Trail (POST), Marsh Parking Lot, West Point Parking Lot
- WCRestrooms · 2
- Named trails · 4
Outline: CPAD. Points and trail lines: OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.
Trails
| Trail | Mapped length | Elevation | Surface & uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jean Lauer Trail | 1.1 mi | 151 ft up & down100–187 ft | UnpavedBikesHorses |
| Ross' Cove Trail | 1.1 mi | 165 ft up & down20–186 ft | Unpaved |
| Pillar Point Bluff Trail | 0.8 mi | 204 ft up & down33–176 ft | UnpavedBikesHorses |
| Frenchman's Reef Trail | 0.3 mi | 47 ft up & down111–172 ft | UnpavedBikesHorses |
Trail names and mapped lengths come from OpenStreetMap; lengths count only the part inside the park boundary. Up-and-down totals (climbing plus descent, one way) and elevation ranges are estimates from USGS 3DEP elevation (about 15 m grid) sampled along the mapped line. Use the official guide map for the route and current closures.
Getting to Pillar Point Bluff by bus
- Airport Street & Harvard Avenue · 710 ft from the park
- Airport Street & La Granada Lane · 830 ft from the park
Bus stops within about a quarter mile of Pillar Point Bluff, mapped in OpenStreetMap. Check the transit agency for schedules.
Rules & reservations
Official park page- Dogs
Dogs must stay on leash (6 feet or less near others), no more than 3 per person, and out of playgrounds (county dog rules). Source
- Fees
The official park page does not list an entry or parking fee. Check with San Mateo County Parks before you go. Source
The Airport St. parking lot opens daily at 8 a.m. and closes at various hours by season.
Map & directions
Airport St Moss Beach, CA 94038
Nearby parks
Straight-line distanceContinue exploring
San Mateo County parksSources & verification
Last verified: Oct 15, 2026- California Protected Areas Database (CPAD) 2026aname, county, agency, access, acres
- Dogs at San Mateo County Parksdogs
- San Mateo County Parks park pageofficial_url, address, description
- Park hours pagehours, hours_note
- OpenStreetMap facilities and trailsfacilities.restrooms, trails
- U.S. Census Bureau place boundariescity
- Official park page (checked for dog and fee information)unstated.fees
- OpenStreetMap: parking, restrooms, water, trailheads, trail lines, and bus stopsvisit
- Terrain Tiles elevation (USGS 3DEP), sampled every 20 m along OpenStreetMap trail linestrails.elevation
- Official park page (introduction excerpt)intro