Don't go here! Here are some of the reasons the crowds should stay away from Esplanade Beach. The entrance to the beach is in a quiet neighborhood that isn't too busy. There's a walkway along the cliffs overlooking the beach, but the entrance itself is super close no matter where you park. There are doggy bags and a trash can at the top. They even added two new gardens and benches. Talk about overdoing it, Esplanade. Now you're just showing off. The switchbacks getting down have eroded over the years and the dirt path has gotten packed down and steeper, but there's ropes alongside to hold onto. Play it safe much? The stretch of beach is long for your doggies to run off leash with enough space away from others. Owners are so responsible and call their dogs back if they run to you. Pfft who wants that? At the top are sunsets so amazing you'll waste away your whole day out there! You might even miss work or your dinner plans, watching the whales that are often seen here. Not to mention, if you take pictures, your beautiful pics might just blow up your life in popularity. Too many likes and followers! So yeah, you won't want to come here. Try an already crowded beach instead. Thank you. read more

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Esplanade Beach is a great coastal spot, especially if you love dogs. It honestly feels like an unofficial dog park. Most dogs are off leash and roaming freely, so if dogs aren't your vibe -- or if your dog isn't comfortable around other off-leash dogs -- this probably isn't the beach for you. If you have food, expect a dog to come investigate. One downside is that some owners let their dogs poop on the beach and just cover it with sand, which isn't great. Outside of that, the beach itself is excellent. It's very large, stretches far down the coast, and usually has a good amount of space to spread out. There's often a decent swell, so be careful of sneaker waves. It's also a great spot for surf fishing -- perch, striped bass, and crab snaring are all popular here. There's lots of street parking, though it tends to fill up on really nice days. The view from the top of the beach entrance is beautiful and a great place to watch the sunset on a clear evening. Access is via a ramp with stairs at the bottom. The walk down is manageable, but the climb back up is steep and definitely a workout. read more

We've been here a few times, varying between weekdays to weekends and we've always found street parking! As it is Pacifica, the weather is quite moody, you'll get beautiful sunny days and foggy gray days. The unfortunate part is, Pacifica is often the latter! Yesterday, we lucked out! It was the first sunny day out of all the times we visited and the weather was nice and mild. We parked one block over, grabbed all our stuff and started the Trek down. It's about a quarter of a mile, and not back. I would recommend tennis shoes and no sandal to trek down, and you can slip and fall easily on the switchbacks! Other things to consider: - There is no toilet or trash can down by the beach - Bring poop bags down to the beach, there aren't any down there. Please pick up after your dog! It's nasty to have poop on the beach where kids also play. - You will encounter off leash dogs on the streets above, and on the switchbacks leading to tbe beach. If your dog feels iffy about meeting other dogs on leash, know there it gets tight! - You'll encounter some dogs that aren't friendly and on leash(that's okay, just try to give them space. Though a few times they caught us off guard when we were looking behind us). - Lastly, it's nice to bring a picnic blanket and just chill. Make sure you bring your jacket though, it gets chilly! Overall, really nice spot. Not accessible to wheelchair users or people with mobility issues due to the steep terrain and stairs at the end of the switchbacks. read more

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Esplanade Beach is a cute spot right off of Esplanade Ave. There isn't a parking lot and you will need to look for street parking -- and perhaps this works in our favor because it was not at all crowded on a regular sunny winter afternoon or sunset on the weekend. (I can't speak for the summer, peak season or mornings!) I saw people fishing, hanging out, playing fetch with their dogs, dogs strolling happily, people enjoying the sunset... When I need a change of pace and scenery, this is the perfect hangout after lunch or before dinner! There's a flat, unpaved area right before the 'entrance' down to the beach, where you can enjoy the view and sound of the waves from the street level. You can also stroll the paved path that goes about 1/6 of a mile or so parallel to the beach and the apartment complex. Otherwise the beach itself isn't accessible by all because of the steep descent/climb and about a dozen steps that you take directly by the beach. But if that is manageable and you enjoy dogs, I recommend a pit stop here! read more

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Dog Beach! Where dogs can frolic about! My daughter in law found this beach when she was looking for dog beaches. We come to Pacifica quite a bit but never this beach. Parking is limited as it is in a residential neighborhood. That path down is steep but the switchbacks make it pretty easy unless you packed too much then, well, go slow. Our dogs loved every minute! No leashes! Freedom! I didn't experience any grumpy dogs. All of them just happy to be there. Some of us swam. We built sandcastles and picnicked. There are no bathrooms, but there are large boulders;) Great day on the beach! read more

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Such a great place for dogs to frolic! As many have mentioned there is a switchback and stairs leading down to the beach so be mindful of that if you have mobility issues. It is not too bad if you take it slow. This is the first time I have been able to let my dogs off leash at a beach and wow, was it a sight to see! To see them run free and play without restriction is such a beautiful thing! The beach is long and not crowded at all, at least the Saturday I was there. There are deposits of sea creature bits scattered about so I had to keep an eye on my boy because he wanted to eat some of them. This was a wonderful experience for both me and my dogs. I can't wait to go again! read more

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Very dog friendly beach by SF! Came here on a whim since I was in the area but my dog loved it here! Very clean beach and not too crowded. Off leash dog beach is a plus. The only thing is the way down is a bit steep so I def had to walk slowly to not trip. read more

About 20-30 minutes from San Francisco and just minutes from Hwy 1 is this small hidden gem - quiet, picturesque, and idyllic... not a lot of people, but we saw quite a few surfers in the ocean when we came on a Saturday in early May. Nice and easy walk on a dirt path down to the beach and the view is tranquil and breathtaking. Makes you appreciate California and what this beautiful state can offer, beyond the cities and the congestions. No parking lot that we could see; road site parking only so on weekends it may be a little hard. read more

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This place is actually called Manor Beach, located off Esplanade Ave. It's a dog friendly beach, very pretty. There's doggie bag stations available. Not very accessible. There's a steep path down to the beach, if you're not super active you won't be able to walk back up the incline. There is a short accessible paved path along the top of the cliff where the doggie bag stations are available with a nice view. Free parking along the street next to the beach. Super safe area, you can park your car on the street and not worry about sketchy people. Cops patrol the area. Everyone's friendly and not a lot of traffic or people. The residents in the area are mainly apartments and Airbnbs. read more

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Such a cute dog park! Went on a Monday afternoon and it was empty. There's construction happening so it's a bit steep coming down so be careful! Parking isn't too bad, since we went on a weekday. I won't be surprised if it gets packed on the weekend since there's apartments close by and there's only side parking available. There's a lot of space for your dog to run around and enjoy. I brought a little blanket so we could sit on the sand and it was really nice. I expected it to be cold but it wasn't. Perfect weather! read more

Esplanade Beach - Foxy chilling at the beach! - Beaches Near Me - Pacifica, California

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Really nice beach! It was somewhat tricky going down but I find it easier when you shift your feet sideways or lean back while walking down the slopes. When you get down to the bottom it is a bit more crowded with people, so I suggest keep walking left or right if you want to be secluded in your own space. The beach is clean, since dog owners are responsible about picking up their dogs' doodoos. Overall, there is plenty of area for your dogs to enjoy and run about, while maintaining social distancing guidelines! Would come back again! read more

Esplanade Beach - Pensive thoughts at Esplanade, hah - Beaches Near Me - Pacifica, California

Pretty nice dog beach with huge area for dogs to run away and have fun on sand or in the water, but nowhere for them to escape out of (unless they can climb the stairs and the switchbacks without you noticing), so all in all, very secure dog beach. The dog owners here are considerate and pretty vigilante about watching their fur babies, probably even more so than most of the dog parks I've been to. Biggest con - there are no restrooms here (for humans). There isn't really anything here but the beach itself, so don't expect running water or a rinse off station. It would be nice to have these added to make the experience better, but alas, we'll take what we can get. Most people looked like they came prepared for their own comfort (brought their own chairs, towels, wipes, etc). There's no designated parking lot either, just street parking on the residential streets near the entrance of the beach. Views are pretty nice both from up top and on the beach. It's pretty windy and the sun comes and goes quickly. Be prepared with layers! All in all, great dog beach (not just dog-friendly, as in - your dog can be off leash), but not so much for humans. I'd come back with my dog for sure! read more

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Absolutely beautiful secluded beach!! There's a lot of construction going on at the entrance of the so I wasn't too sure if it was actually open or not. It literally looked like a construction site, there was caution tape everywhere & there were bulldozers all over the beach!! The ramp down to the hill is extremely steep so definitely bring comfortable shoes. Once you hit the bottom of the ramp be sure to turn left and walk another 200ft or so. This beach was absolutely breathtaking, it was so clean and the rocks were placed in a way where you could let your dog off leash and there'd be no way they could run away. Also, be sure to bring water as the climb up & down to the actual shore was really tiring and there's no fountain until you're all the way back up. read more

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August 22, Saturday ~10:30AM. I was reluctant to write a review for this place because it feels like I"m letting everyone in on a secret. Look for street and residential parking and take a short walk towards construction. The beach looks closed and hideous from the top because of the bulldozers and pile of dirt, but it's not. However, after a short 5 minute walk to the bottom, the tall piles of sand completely block the tractors so all you have is the view of the ocean. There is literally almost no one here. For the one hour I walked up and down the coast, there were probably about 10 people and 3 dogs. I'm sure it's because no one thought this place was open. The cliffs and the rock formations were gorgeous. The smell of the ocean was fresh and breezy. This is by far my favorite secret off-leash dog park. read more

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The area's only beach where you can legally let your dog run around off leash! Nice and uncrowded with a developed walking path to descend to the beach. The stretch of beach is relatively short, and there's a section where you may get to the other side of some rocks at the north end if the tide is low enough to safely make it over there. Parking can be challenging, as there is only street parking available where there are at least three different apartment complexes in the immediate area. During some peak times, there can be a bit more people there, but all you have to do is just walk for a few minutes up or down the beach to get to a less crowded area. Although this is a dog beach, sometimes there are people fishing there, so be cautious about your dog running toward them and getting caught in their fishing lines. read more

Esplanade is a dog friendly beach, and on our visit, displayed massive waves. I noticed loads of people fishing, so I'm going to assume it's a good place to try your hand at angling, though (while I'd love to learn!) know nothing about ocean fishing, and come to think of it, didn't spot anyone getting a catch, so who knows? Nearing the area, we noticed cars lining all the streets, so figured we better take what we can get, and squeezed into a spot along Palmetto. This turned out to be unnecessary as there was plenty of room along the streets at the entrance (no parking lot that I could see), though perhaps that was due to it being later in the day, and those were only recently vacated. The point is, check your options before committing to a somewhere further, especially because, once you even get to the entrance, you have to take a looooooong walk along a loooooooong steep ramp to actually reach the sand. Once there, you will find a rather flat and not as picturesque as some beach, but also wide expanses of land and plenty of room. We just reclined on a beach towel, ate our dinner, and enjoyed the sunset, so it was satisfactory for our purposes. My ideal is a rocky, coved, plant covered beach, but this was nice, too. read more

Esplanade is a nice, little beach that was great for dog walking and a great ocean breeze. On the days that it is not foggy in Pacifica, the view can be superb here. This area has a great panoramic view of the ocean. My favorite time to come here in the past was sunrise or sunset. The walkways up top are paved nicely. It is usually pretty chilly and windy at times, but this is Pacifica after all. Right now, it's still closed off because of that nasty sink hole that destroyed the pathways. Who knows when entry will open again. Luckily, there are other places to walk around in this area to get some fresh air. read more

Esplanade Beach - Beaches Near Me - Pacifica, California

One of my favorite beach to go in Pacifica. This beach is less crowded than next beach off Highway 1 and that's Pacifica State Beach. Is fairly easy to find a parking spot on the street. read more

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We took our dog to this beach today (to get out of this valley haze) and we had the best time!!! This is such a lovely beach to take your dog too. There is a recently repaired path down to the beach and plenty of room for the dogs to run and play. We met lots of great dog and dog owners. It was so nice to see friendly, attentive people watching and cleaning up after their animals. The weather was gorgeous and we found a nice spot to set out our blanket, relax and watch the waves roll in. Most importantly, our dog had a great time and now she is pooped! We can't wait to come back and will make this beach a regular stop in the summer! read more

Esplanade Beach - Great beach for dogs! - Beaches Near Me - Pacifica, California

I love this beach for the dogs!! It is kind of hard to get down there, but once you make, it is super fun. I always bring my dogs here because people are all in the same page of letting the dogs go with no restrictions. Of course, we clean up and use our common sense when it comes to taking care of the place! Anyways, bring your guys here. They will live it! read more

Beautiful beach with that gorgeous backdrop that would look excellent in photos (definitely a place to do a photo shoot for an engagement couple for example). My husband and I drove down here with 2 of our little dogs during our most recent visit to San Francisco (about 2 weeks ago). The weather was a little gloomy in the morning and windy but the sun did end up coming out to play and shine down on the 4 of us as we walked around the area. There is a dirt slope you can take down to the beach once you find parking on the street (or in the apartments where we parked that was marked as guest visitor parking). Make sure to bring baby wipes if you take your 4 legged little friends since there are no sidewalks/ cement roads on this secluded beach. We were pretty much the only ones on this beach on a Friday afternoon after 1 pm. We were fortunate to see a school of whales swimming away towards the sun, a very beautiful and unique experience now embedded in my memory. Overall, a nice beach to bring your little 4 legged buddies (or your human friends) and spend an hour or two for an afternoon. read more

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I've been here several times over the last few months and now I'm a local. This beach is beautiful and the fact that dogs are allowed is a huge plus. My doggy loves running on the beach and getting her exercise in. This beach is very clean and well maintained. There isn't any trash rolling around or dog waste, which means that people in this area are very responsible and care about the beach. Overall this place is a gem and I highly recommend Esplanade beach for those who like to bring their furry friends along and for those who don't have furry friends. It's great for everyone! read more

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So happy to have discovered this doggie beach! Fun for humans too! Lots of space and beautiful views. Nice trail down to beach being installed. Parking is easy on street. Considerate doggie owners. read more

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Seriously like doggy disney land - my dog has the best time here. It's off leash for dogs under voice control. The best!

We come here all the time with our dog. She loves it! Let me emphasize first: this is a dog beach, not really a human beach. We would never come here to hang without our dog. Pros: - Never crowded - Plenty of street parking - Convenient. 25 min from the city, 15-20 min from San Mateo, 45 min from Mountain View - Responsible dog owners - Fully enclosed. There is nowhere your dog can escape to - Breathtaking views. I love the ridges, the benches, etc - One time we saw 10 whales migrating here! Cons: - Kelp, wood, and ocean remains everywhere. - Gravel-like sand in some places - Closest bathroom is McDonald's - Often cold and windy Tip: Apple iPhone weather is often wrong. It often thinks it's 57-61 degrees and cloudy when it's really 65 degrees and sunny. So, there is more sunshine here than locals and weather maps let on read more

Esplanade Beach - Beaches Near Me - Pacifica, California

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PLEASE NOTE: Esplanade's overall rating here (as of early May 2013) is unfairly weighted low because of some negative reviews that were posted as much as 5 years ago where the sole criteria for the low rating was because there was "no access to the beach." That is no longer the case -- there is now a city-built, well-constructed, switchback trail for access -- so those reviews are no longer valid. This is an absolutely wonderful beach for dogs, and one of the few (if not the only) that is LEGAL OFF-LEASH in San Mateo County. For some reason, although having lived here for two years, I never even knew about this beach (I recently spoke with a dog owner who's lived here almost 20 years and didn't either). But the new trail has helped spread the word and now dog owners who have been used to taking their dog off-leash at Linda Mar / Pacifica State Beach, and haven't been given much trouble by law enforcement to date, will soon have to be looking elsewhere because, come July, there will be new park rangers giving out tickets for dogs off-leash there. So, while the south end of Pacifica will at least still have the new dog park at Sanchez Art Center, the north end has the legal off-leash Esplanade Beach. And you MAY find it to be the more perfect dog beach than Linda Mar. There is something special about the waves here, the magnificent cliffs, wonderful sand. It's one long, narrow, beautiful strip. The people and dogs I've met here are great. And, at sunset, all of this combined makes Esplanade Beach purely MAGICAL! Give it a try at least once -- and especially on a clear day at sunset! [Note: This part of Esplanade Beach is not the little strip that's across the street and down the hill from Chit Chat Cafe at Manor Drive -- as some maps & GPS' will tell you -- but the one below Land's End at the north end of Esplanade Drive.] read more

So much fun! What a beautiful spot for dogs and owners. Our dogs had an absolute blast. If you look up 'Lands End Apartments' that's where the entrance is. There was plenty of parking. Tips: -Bring your own water for the dogs. -The walkway down is the sand ramp you see in pictures - it's a hard walk down/up if you have to carry something heavy or have a disability -The tow looks strong; make sure you don't let your furry baby get caught in it if they are not water dogs. I was watching mine like a hawk. read more

Esplanade Beach - The beach - Beaches Near Me - Pacifica, California

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This would of been a great place to walk along the shore; however the day my boyfriend and I came here, there was a fence blocking the walkway down to the beach. Although I was disappointed, I was still able to enjoy the beautiful sunset. *photos are not photoshop. Actual footage of the beautiful sunset. read more

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After you get down to the beach, turn left with your pup. Again, then left, not right. The beach is a lot cleaner on the left (no dead animal and animal parts for your pup to bite on)! It's enclosed so you'll feel safe having your pup off leash after you get down the stairs. Plenty of street parking in the residential area. It's my puppy's heaven and happy place :) read more

Oh how life would be if I lived in one of the apartment complexes near this beach! It is absolutely gorgeous! I came here for a party/bonfire at one of the residents' homes. And they had a magnificent view of the ocean as their "backyard". The beach itself is literally a 5 minute walk down a zigzagged pathway. It is well-kept, clean, and dog-friendly. Although it seems like high tide might engulf the beach, I would say this is the perfect place to get away and watch the sunset. There are benches all along the pathway, so you don't even necessarily have to make it all the way down. read more

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I was surprised to find this beach accessible. Nice. Not a great beach but nice enough to watch the sunset. read more

Esplanade Beach - Looking north - Beaches Near Me - Pacifica, California

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Oh how I love off-leash dog beaches! The dogs are all very friendly and sweet, and know how to behave! They get to have a blast, and we get to enjoy the beautiful beach and let our furry kids run off their energy. It's quite a hike to get down to it, but there are switchbacks to keep it safe. I'm 8 months pregnant and I could handle it...but I'm not going to lie, it was rough! I'm looking forward to bringing our dog back once I'm in better physical shape again! read more

Took my dogs to this beach and can't wait to go back! This is 100% a DOG BEACH. I especially love the one way in/out. If you have dogs that run wild/won't listen it's great because they can go crazy and you don't have to worry about them going anywhere except the beach. read more

I have now visited this place twice in 2 week and I love it. My dog enjoys it very much. If you are looking for a calm place and not too busy this is the perfect place to go. I will continue to go here although I am about 40 minutes away that's not an obstacle for me. read more

As of 5/24/18, the path has been restored and the beach is accessible again! Looking forward to going for daily walks again and seeing all the dogs play. read more

Esplanade Beach - Beaches Near Me - Pacifica, California

So much fun! We've never taken our pup to the beach before so wasn't sure at all how he'd react. This beach is a long walk down a windy cliff path. This is great because your pooch would be hard pushed to make it all the way up there with out you noticing him, which makes this place safe from the road. The downside is, you have to trek up that hill in order to head home. The beach was pretty clean, looked like there was some oil on the older, dry sand. Not sure, I don't really know all that much about sand but it looked pretty black. However, down by the breakers it was great. At the bottom of the steps there is a little collection of shoes, where rookie owners like myself don't think things through and wear lace up shoes to the beach take off said shoes and socks. We headed past a nasty dead sea lion that smelled terrible but lucky for us, Winston (our dog) just ignored and made our way to a large group of small dogs, just our guy's size. So much fun to be able to let our dog run off leash and socialize in a nice setting. Makes a great change to the gravelly "dog parks" in the city. read more

The new switchbacks make for an easy trip to the beach. The dogs love it and you can't beat the location. read more

Esplanade Beach - Beaches Near Me - Pacifica, California

Moved into the area from outer Richmond district of SF, so I was looking for an alternative beach to Fort Funston that's closer take our two doggies. Thanks Yelp for allowing me to discover Esplanade Beach. This beach feels cozy and intimate because it's kind of closed off from rocks on both sides, especially during high tide. It's a short walk down a switchback path and there is plenty of parking. Came here on a cloudy afternoon but look forward to catching pretty sunsets here in the future! The pups loved running free and feeling sand between their paws. They met a few friendly doggy friends and had a great time. Bonus point that local favorite bakery Manzetti's is nearby. Excited to pick up some baked goodies after my next visit here. read more

Beautiful views absolutely stunning. A little turned off by a huge dead seal that looked like it had been there a few days but besides that it was stunning. Many friendly people with dogs a lot of surfers and parasailing. Looks like you can see whales jumping out of the ocean. Parking is free but there are no bathrooms anywhere which was a downer for me. Crazy waves and current, my dog loves it. Kids and dogs need to beware of the waves etc. loved and would come back read more

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Super clean and great beach to come to with your pups! I originally wanted to go to fort funston but it was way to crowded due to the sunny weather. It was difficult to find parking so this beach was a great alternative. read more

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