For years, Tunitas Creek Beach was a striking spot on the San Mateo coast that sat on private land. Today it is Don Horsley Park at Tunitas Creek Beach, run by San Mateo County Parks.
The park
The 58-acre park sits at the mouth of Tunitas Creek, about halfway between Half Moon Bay and Pescadero, at 20775 Cabrillo Highway South. The county says its rugged bluffs are a sanctuary for shorebirds and a good place for wildlife watching, hiking and beach exploring.
How it became public
According to Wikipedia, a trust belonging to musician Chris Isaak owned the property from 1998 to 2017. The Peninsula Open Space Trust then bought it and transferred it to San Mateo County in 2020. The county approved a park project in 2023 that added trails, parking and restrooms. County news posts on the park page track the work, including landslides that delayed the opening and the opening announcement.
A long history
Tunitas means "little prickly pears" in Spanish. Wikipedia says the Portola expedition camped at Tunitas Creek on Nov. 17, 1769, on its return trip south. The beach is enclosed by 100-foot cliffs. North of the creek mouth stood "Gordon's Chute," a ramp built in 1872 to slide farm goods down to ships. A storm destroyed it in 1885, but eyebolts remain in the cliff.
The 6.6-mile creek starts on Kings Mountain, and steelhead trout have been found in it.
Before you go
The county's page includes safety advisories for the beach and bluffs, a reminder to bring drinking water, and a warning about high tides and possible flooding this fall and winter. Check the page for current hours and regulations before heading out.