It's my go-to beach. Not only is it dog friendly, the scenery is very calming. Cliff, rocks, grass and flowers, not to mention FREE parking... heck ya, I'm here every time I need to get away. It feels so far from the hustle and bustle of the city, although it's really just a 40min drive from where I live. Oh, just watch out for horse droppings, there's quite a few! read more

This beach is great every time I visit. The horse poop is not as bad as everyone claims as long as you choose the left side of the beach as soon as you get down the walk way. read more

Poplar Beach - Beaches Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Poplar Beach is easy to find if Siri is cooperating and doesn't send you on a wild goose chase. Once we finally arrived, parking was convenient and like other reviewers, we didn't experience a line and it was on a Sunday, also. I like that bathrooms were right there before the trek down to the beach but I agree, they could have been cleaner. The trail is steep and dangerous at times but worth the climb to be down at the beach. Weather wasn't that great when we were there and since we were coming from San Jose, a bit of a drive. Plus, traffic was horrendous getting down the hill into the town bordering the beaches. Beach was a bit junky with horse poop, litter and miscellaneous stuff. Weather, junk, unsafe path to beach all make it just a three star in my book. For my beach fix while in CA, I will still love Capitola Beach and Santa Cruz! read more

Nice, dog friendly beach and not to busy either, however, the walk down to the beach from the car park is down right dangerous, especially if you have young children, whilst holding 2 dogs and beach equipment. So on this basis alone, I will not be returning, which is a shame, because the beach was lovely. Will be back to do some horse riding along instead read more

Poplar Beach - Beaches Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Ooph. This is a tough one. I appreciate the diversity of patrons at this beach on the south side of HMB. It's a very short walk down to the beach from the parking lot that costs $2/hr (and they DO enforce it...several cars got ticketed the day we visited). The beach is very long, and seems good for long walks. But lordy, the amount of dog & horse poop, trash, broken bottles and bottle caps, abandoned clothes (??!!), and general detritus at this beach is shocking. Gross is another word for it. I would understand it if it were, say, Ocean Beach in SF, but on the San Mateo Coast? There are way better beaches, my friends. read more

Beautiful views and lovely, quite beach. So awesome to see horseback riding on the beach...just kind of wish someone would pick up after the horses. Lots of poo to avoid on the way to the water. read more

I am having a good time reading these reviews. I'm a local and find it hilarious that people are complaining about the trash. One guy said, "Clean up your act, HMB!". Ha! For the record, the locals are the ones cleaning up all the trash left by the tourists...and there's ALOT of it, especially after a sunny weekend. More than the parks and rec can handle. So maybe others can help keep our clean beautiful by being responsible. Another complaint is that there aren't any stairs. Too funny. Even if our town built stairs, they'd be gone with the erosion in a year. Many other beaches to have easier access. Regarding the poop...again, us locals know what it's like to step on sandy poo. And again, I ask for the tourists help. Horse poo? Yeah, that one kinda sucks, but again, go elsewhere if it bothers you. That's the main horse trail. And riding a horse on the beach is kinda cool, so that won't stop. I find a yelp review for a beach a little odd, but I guess this will help people decide. Poplar and Kelly are the most crowded beaches. Head north or south on hwy. 1. Wherever you come from, please remember to take your trash with you when you leave. read more

This place is hidden from sight. Beautiful large beach with a great view. Also, caught a lot of good Pokémon here too.

This is a great beach for horses! I went there a week ago with a girlfriend and our horses and had a blast riding down to the the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay. Definitely go when its low tide as the beach can get a little narrow for horses in places. Also the sand can be quite deep so we just walked down so we didn't strain the tendons on our ponies. There are also places to go up on to the bluff from the beach and ride along the trail there, which are flat and compact. Great views from up there too. Bring your camera so you can take fun pictures!!! read more

Poplar Beach - Beaches Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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Soft spot for this beach cause parking is free free free! and we used to cut class to come out here and laze around. Great views, tons of open space and just step around the horse crap. (I seem to remember a couple benches up on the cliff as well, but I'll have to confirm...) read more

I made it a point to check while out yesterday - yes, apparently parking DOES cost here. Oh well.

A really nice beach, allows dogs! And we saw a group of horseback riders on it :) We did have some issues getting down to the water, because the cliff was muddy and we weren't sure if we'd be able to get back up, so come when it's dry :) read more

PROS: + Dog friendly + Scenic, windswept beach + Pleasant trail along the cliff CONS: - Metered parking - Very windy - Loads of horse poop read more

This is a great place to take your dog off leash on the beach. The parking lot is a little small but it wasn't a problem on the day we came. You also have to pay to park but the machine takes credit cards and we paid $4 for 2 hours, not bad. There are porta potties and a ramp down to the beach just off the parking lot. I would come here more often if I lived closer. read more

I Love this beach. The paved trail along it has sweeping views of the ocean, which can take you to Half Moon Bay State Beach. There are numerous benches along the view points. You can smell the wildflowers...Its the most peaceful place...It takes you to another place, serenity...The fog horn can be heard in the distance... Sometimes horses pass by...although its quiet its not completely isolated. read more

Definitely a dog beach so we liked that. Very crowded on a Sunday afternoon, but found a parking spot easily. One star for ALL the horse poop on the beach. Definitely a bad thing when you have a dog that wants to roll around in it. Didn't stay for long. read more

Awesome beach for those who like horses and dogs!! This is one of the only beaches in the bay area that allows horses, and I'm grateful to be able to ride in this beautiful location. They even have a designated section of the parking lot for horse trailers. Now, when I've gone with my horse, I don't see other horse trailers; I see big groups of rental horses coming from a nearby rental outfit. That's good and bad: good for people who've always wanted to ride a horse on the beach, bad for those who want a pristine beach. Then again, I've never seen a beach that clean even when it's free of horse and dog poop. It's a beach for crissakes. On the other hand, because this is one of the only beaches that allows horses and dogs, there are a lot of alternatives! And yes, the other awesome thing is that dogs are allowed too. When I've been there, people were fairly good about keeping their dogs under control, etc. Horses, dogs, and people all seemed to coexist just fine. Sure, one irresponsible dog or horse owner could make for an unpleasant experience, but so far I haven't seen it. read more

I tried paying on the kiosk area twice. It said the transaction went through successfully yet I got a citation. Go figure.

Overall I absolutely loved this beach, for a gorgeous day there was still enough room to walk around and not get sand on others!! The entrance is pretty steep but I managed to get down even with a bad knee, just have to get low to the ground so if you do fall it wont hurt as bad. I believe we paid $8 dollars for parking and that was about five hours, which isnt bad at all in comparison to other beaches I have been to. Yes there is horse poop but it is not hard to avoid, as for smell I couldnt smell much but there was a good breeze that probably helped out. Anyways if it's not horse poop, there is always some other thing that makes a beach a bit less desirable but no beach is perfect! This was my pit bull's first time at the beach, she wasnt a big fan of the water but Im not either so we enjoyed meeting friendly people and their pups. Being able to get away from the valley heat for the day is always a plus as well!! Definitely recommend for those with fur babies, very dog-friendly and enough room if you need to get away from all commotion. read more

Popular Beach has a lot going for it. Free parking, for one. Easy beach access for another. And a fantastic cliffside nature trail that heads south towards the Ritz Carlton. There are wind-whipped trees aplenty, lots of birds for viewing, and a pleasant mix of bikers, joggers, hikers, and beachcombers. This is definitely a better place to access the Pacific than the spots closer to Pillar Point and the HMB harbor. Unless Mavericks is breaking, of course! read more

Tried to go to Half Moon Bay State Beach with my dog but was kindly redirected by the ranger to go to Poplar where they allow dogs. It's only a few minutes south of the state beach. This beach was perfect! Google maps took me right to the parking lot where there was plenty of parking. There are trails near the parking lot that go along the top of cliff. To get down to the beach there is a bumpy slope (not that difficult to walk down) that'll lead you to the sand. The beach was clean, quiet and very peaceful. Everyone I met on the beach was very friendly and so were their dogs. My dog had the most amazing time sprinting with me along the beach, digging in the sand, and chasing the bubbles in the water. We will definitely be back :) read more

Poplar beach is nice. The main issue I had is the amount of animal waste on the beach. I refer to these as H Bombs. H stands for horse. Bombs refers to manure. I was walking on the beach and noticed H Bombs everywhere. I suppose the city allows Horses to patrol the beaches. However, please..cleanup after yourselves. read more

This is a fairly nice and clean beach... aside from the horse poop you'll encounter further away from the shore, closer to the cliffs. As long as you keep by the water you're fine. I went and visited on a pretty cloudy day, but there we're still a lot of families here. Nice beach! Definitely stop by again when I'm in Half Moon Bay. read more

Decent beach...There are nicer ones near there. Overall only questionable part is the pay parking.

I'm truly sorry to read that some people don't like Poplar Beach. Okay, to be honest, I'm not sorry. If you don't like it, that means more room for me!!! I've probably been here eight times in the last six months. I mean, I park for free along Railroad Avenue and either walk or ride my bicycle into the park itself. That saves me $1-5 dollars that I'd otherwise pay to park, and it's only a 2-3 block walk (or ride). Worth it, and none of the homeowners in that area have ever said anything to me about parking in front of their houses. The trail that runs along the cliff, probably 50 to 60 feet above the actual beach, can be pretty crowded, to be sure. Especially on Saturdays which is usually when I go. However, once you cross the first wooden bridge south of the parking lot, the trail goes from pavement to dirt. At that crossing, Poplar Beach and park becomes a 200-acre nature preserve maintained by local and state authorities. It's basically just grassland, but it begins to feel like a sort of prairie with some blue on one side and mountain foothills on the other. Really quite nice. The farther south one travels along the cliffside trails, the more small ravines there are to cross, the rougher the trails get and the less crowded those areas become. I always strike off that way when exploring the area. On a mountain bike, such as what I own, these trails can become dangerous, not because of the geography since it is not rough, but rather because of the deep burrows and holes along the numerous trails in the preserve. Some of these holes are 3-4 feet deep with only 1-2 feet clearance on either side of the hole; when you encounter these on a bike, it's probably best just to do what I (sometimes!!) do, get off, walk your bicycle around the hole, and then continue to ride again. When you choose to stop to overlook the ocean and beach, some of the cliffs are as high as 80 feet in my estimate and you can really get some great north and south views along the coast. It's not Big Sur or even Pescadero, but it'll do! Down on the beach itself, take the horse crap-covered ramp and descend on to the beach. Just wait until you're on the beach to actually go barefoot, you'll be glad you did! I like to walk about 1/4 mile south of the ramp; the farther south you walk along the beach, the progressively quieter it gets and fewer people there are. I've gone at a 4pm on a Saturday afternoon and while the main beach has been very or semi-crowded, the "south beach" has had nary a soul! A great way to decompress. Now, if you go the opposite direction, north, along either the beach or bluff, you soon run into Half Moon Bay State Beach, one of the most overrated beaches I've ever been to, IMO. And you have to pay to get into HMBSB. It's worth it to me, poppin' over the hill on 92 just for Poplar Beach. Just drop by Raman's Coffee on the way and you're set! read more

Brought my English bulldog, Bowser here for a day. Beautiful beach- dog friendly which is why I gave it 5 stars. You do have to pay for parking. If u want to be cheap, park around the residential area which I've seen some people do. Great place to walk around. Be careful for the horse poop though! Lots if horseback riding tours here. read more

Very Wendy, Bring a damn Jacket. I love this beach

This beach is a ton of fun. If you have kids, dogs, horses and/or just want to be out in nature- this is just the place. I would agree with what others have written- dog friendly (big bonus points!), scenic beach walking trail, beautiful ocean beach. (I will say that the state/county needs to add another parking meter machine- sometimes depending on the time of day you come, there's a line to pay.) Plus its so easy to get to. Right down the street from downtown HMB. We love it and come often. And we will continue to do so.... read more

Loved this beach and so did my dog Bear! The parking was the worst part you are better off just parking on the street a little further than beach. It wasn't too steep to get down to the shore and there are trails as well. Horses are also allowed on the beach as well. The beach is very long and even on a Saturday afternoon there was plenty of places to choose from to settle down and relax. My dog had plenty of friendly cute dogs to play with and there portapotties available near the parking lot. The waves are pretty crazy out there too but thankfully my dog isn't a big fan of swimming. One of the drawbacks is that there aren't any trash areas to get rid of dog poop only once u get to the parking lot where there is a dumpster.would definitely recommend. read more

Great Beach, a bit steep on some of the entrances for my little guy (Corgi short legs). View and weather was absolutely perfect would definitely go again! read more

Great place for a picnic and dogs on the beach! Parking is $6, and the lot is small. However there is parking in a residential area a short walk away. read more

We arrived early and spent a couple hours just laying on the beach, enjoying the scenic views and walking the sands. It was less populated and really allowed for some relaxation. We have coined this a "thinking spot"- just chill out enjoy the solitude and clear your mind. There were some families, couples, dogs, and kids scattered along the beach but it was so spacious no one infringed on anyone's zone. A solid note for those with kiddos: the lifeguard on duty was very attentive and ran down from his station at the more populated part of the beach to gather a small group of kids and families and go over basic ocean safety. I thought that was cool, so kudos to that guy for doing his job; because those kids were venturing further and further out it seemed. Anywhoo, the beach: nice cliffs; there were horses, but they tended to keep to the upper shoreline, so just put your shoes on as you're leaving. Did see a dead seal :-( that was sad. And no sea shells, this beach has been picked clean. read more

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Miles of coastline to disappear in.....walking trails above beach are peaceful as well! Plenty of parking...several beach accesses.

A very scenic and beautiful beach in Northern California! I prefer HMB just because it's a little more secluded and private than beaches to the south and Poplar is definitely one of the best I've been to. Although it does cost to park in the lot by the beach, you can park further down in the residential area for free and just talk a short walk. read more

Came here to meditate, excellent spot with few people when I arrived. If you're lucky like I was, you can even spot orcas off the shore. There's a metered parking lot and the beach is easy to access. read more

You will enjoy this beach if you don't mind walking on a horse poo poo sand. My 18 months old boy didn't enjoy this beach. He can not really speaks words yet but he pull his dad's hand and showed him that he wanted to leave... Smell like horse poopoo. Only my dog didn't mind : p read more

Should be called "Pooplar Beach" instead. Runs parallel to a horse trail. Visited this afternoon and the trail leading down to the beach was littered with poop as was the beach. read more

Love to bring my dogs to Poplar Beach. Dogs can run freely with lots of space along the shoreline. Yes, there is a short pathway from the top of cliff down to the sand--but not too tricky to manage at all---only one or two steps that are considered uneven footing. The beach seems endless so I walk the dogs south where less people tend to plant their spots. My dogs can roam freely and play with others without worrying about romping through families who tend to be right at the base of where the trail meets the beach. read more

Inconvenient amount of charcoal and horse poop littering the entire beach. If you are a small human, beware the strong waves.

Yes it's good for dogs but it's also dirty. Not everyone picks up after their dog and there is a ranch near by and that means horses that go on the beach and leaves their dropping everywhere. You can see it but come on, if you want people to pick up their dog's crap then pick up your horse's crap. I get the ranch is running a business and letting people ride their horse on the beach but it's rude how they ride right through people sitting on the beach and then having to worry about our dogs getting stomped on by the horses or agitated. It's a bit much. I'm just lucky my dog doesn't care for the beach so I won't be returning to this beach ever. read more