da,

is

onf

rumrunners to unload their illegal whiskeyonto smaller boats headed north to SanFrancisco.

Natural HistoryThe rugged coastline of Half Moon Bay StateBeach, one-half-mile west of Highway One onKelly Avenue, consists of four smallerbeaches with a two-mile crescent of shore-line. Over the years geologic movement andnearly constant erosion have created adiverse system of mountains, canyons and

marine terraces. Located within the activeSan Andreas and Seal Cove-San Gregorio-Palo Colorado fault zones, the coastlineshows the uplifting, faulting and foldingactions of millions of years of seismic activity.Semiprecious stones are sometimes foundhere, with various forms of quartz (agate,chert, jasper, hydrolite and onyx) prominent.

Inland, sand dunes change constantlyaccording to the season. In winter, wind andstorms tend to carry the sand out to sea, butthe milder wave action of summer months

brings it back. Primary sources of newbeach sand are eroding bluffs and sedi-ment from the Sacramento and SanJoaquin Rivers.

PlantsThe plant communities of Half Moon Bayare not as diverse as they were when thiscoast was pristine. The introduction ofnon-native species such as sea fig, capeivy, New Zealand spinach and poisonhemlock has affected the survival of nativeplants and animals.

Half Moon Bay State Beach95 Kelly Avenue

Half Moon Bay, CA 94019(650) 726-8819

© 2005 California State Parks Printed on Recycled Paper

www.parks.ca.gov

California State Parks does not discriminateagainst individuals with disabilities. Prior toarrival, visitors with disabilities who needassistance should contact the park at thephone number below. To receive this publica-tion in an alternate format, write to the Com-munications Office at the following address.

CALIFORNIA STATE PARKSP. O. Box 942896

Sacramento, CA 94296-0001For information call: (800) 777-0369

(916) 653-6995, outside the U.S.711, TTY relay service

Our MissionThe mission of the California Department ofParks and Recreation is to provide for thehealth, inspiration and education of thepeople of California by helping to preservethe state’s extraordinary biological diversity,protecting its most valued natural andcultural resources, and creating opportunitiesfor high-quality outdoor recreation.

sogetheadrcerewevibePoefthBe

tywithSpdabydain

PA

CuByhaasmgrtecom

J

Cover Photo courtesy of Frank Balthis

Half MoonBay

State Beach

Nearly four miles

from north to south,

the sweeping views

of Half Moon Bay

allow perfect

wildlife watching.

HMBBrochure PDFlayout 1

the mission system. The decline in theOhlone way of life began with the loss oftheir lands and grew rapidly with theintroduction of European diseases. By 1810nearly 70 percent of the Ohlone had per-ished from disease or had fled to otherareas. Former Ohlone lands—the nucleusof today’s San Mateo County—weregranted to Spanish settlers in the 1840s.

The native people had managed theland productively without overexploiting

it, but those who took it over changed itsnatural ecology.

In spite of these challenges, today’sOhlone descendents continue the use ofnative plants and are reviving their lan-guages and passing on their honoredtraditions.

When the gold rush brought immigrantsfrom Mexico and Chile to the area, SanBenito earned the nickname “Spanishtown.”Its remarkable diversity began during the

late 1800s, when groups arrived from Canada,Italy, Germany, Ireland, China, England,Portugal, Scotland and the Pacific Islands.The first official mention of Half Moon Bay ison an 1854 Coast Survey sketch ofSpanishtown.

Before Highway One was built, Prohibition(1920 to 1933) had caused a proliferation ofspeakeasies along the coast. This area’shidden coves and thick fog made it perfectfor the eagerly awaited ships of Canadian

ruoF

NTBKblind

ust off Highway One in Half Moon Bay, four small beaches stretchingsouth from Montara Mountain form thegentle two-mile curve of fine, white sandthat is Half Moon Bay State Beach. To theeast the Santa Cruz Mountains frame adramatic backdrop to this captivating northcentral coast region known to localresidents as the “Coastside.” To thewest the enduring Pacific rollsvigorously across the broad, flatbeach. The breakwaters of PillarPoint to the north have a bufferingeffect on the surf, and the waters atthis end of Half Moon Bay StateBeach form a calm surf.

The Coastside weather pattern istypical of the north central coast,with cool morning fog and highs inthe mid-60s during the summer.Spring and fall bring clear, crispdays, while wind and rain—brokenby an occasional bright, sunnyday—rule the winter months. Dress-ing in layers is recommended.

PARK HISTORY

Cultural HistoryBy the time Europeans arrived here, this areahad been occupied for thousands of years byas many as 50 separate and politically autono-mous native groups known as the Ohlone. Eachgroup had its own leader, customs andterritory, though some smaller groups wereconnected by shared boundaries, intertribalmarriage and similarities of language.

According to the diary of Father FranciscoPalou—biographer and successor of FatherJunípero Serra—the native people werefriendly, offering the Spaniards food andguidance through the steep arroyos.

Also linguistically referred to asCoastanoans (a name bestowed by the

Spanish, meaning coast people), theOhlones’ ecologically rich territory extendedfrom the marine environment of today’s SanFrancisco inland to the oak/grasslands of thewestern edge of the San Joaquin Valley andsouth to present-day Carmel. Today’s coastHighway One and Highway 92 over themountains faithfully follow trails created bythe Ohlone.

Housing was simple and food wasplentiful. Alongside trout- and salmon-richfreshwaters, the Ohlone used willowbranches as frames for their dome-shapeddwellings, thatching them with dried tule,cattails or light brush. The ocean providedan abundance of fish, shellfish and sea

mammals, and the inlandareas were rich in acorns,berries, roots, barks andnuts. The people—skilledagriculturists—practicedcultivation, controlledburning, pruning and re-seeding in order to encour-age the growth of herbs,medicinal plants and desir-able food sources. Thesemethods of land manage-ment also produced naturalforage that would lure localgame animals.

The Ohlone hunted large(deer, bears, elk and seamammals) and small (rab-bits, squirrels, skunks andvarious birds) game for food.

Some Ohlone artifacts found at the parkhave included tools of obsidian and othersharp stones, artfully woven baskets,jewelry, clothing and weaponry. What thenative people could not make or gatherthey obtained in trade with other nativegroups.

In the mid-1700s, Spanish missionariesarrived and drew the native people into

Bikers on the Coastside Trail near Dunes Beach

J

6/28/05, 2:22 PM

the mission system. The decline in theOhlone way of life began with the loss oftheir lands and grew rapidly with theintroduction of European diseases. By 1810nearly 70 percent of the Ohlone had per-ished from disease or had fled to otherareas. Former Ohlone lands—the nucleusof today’s San Mateo County—weregranted to Spanish settlers in the 1840s.

The native people had managed theland productively without overexploiting

it, but those who took it over changed itsnatural ecology.

In spite of these challenges, today’sOhlone descendents continue the use ofnative plants and are reviving their lan-guages and passing on their honoredtraditions.

When the gold rush brought immigrantsfrom Mexico and Chile to the area, SanBenito earned the nickname “Spanishtown.”Its remarkable diversity began during the

late 1800s, when groups arrived from Canada,Italy, Germany, Ireland, China, England,Portugal, Scotland and the Pacific Islands.The first official mention of Half Moon Bay ison an 1854 Coast Survey sketch ofSpanishtown.

Before Highway One was built, Prohibition(1920 to 1933) had caused a proliferation ofspeakeasies along the coast. This area’shidden coves and thick fog made it perfectfor the eagerly awaited ships of Canadian

ruoF

NTBKblind

ust off Highway One in Half Moon Bay, four small beaches stretchingsouth from Montara Mountain form thegentle two-mile curve of fine, white sandthat is Half Moon Bay State Beach. To theeast the Santa Cruz Mountains frame adramatic backdrop to this captivating northcentral coast region known to localresidents as the “Coastside.” To thewest the enduring Pacific rollsvigorously across the broad, flatbeach. The breakwaters of PillarPoint to the north have a bufferingeffect on the surf, and the waters atthis end of Half Moon Bay StateBeach form a calm surf.

The Coastside weather pattern istypical of the north central coast,with cool morning fog and highs inthe mid-60s during the summer.Spring and fall bring clear, crispdays, while wind and rain—brokenby an occasional bright, sunnyday—rule the winter months. Dress-ing in layers is recommended.

PARK HISTORY

Cultural HistoryBy the time Europeans arrived here, this areahad been occupied for thousands of years byas many as 50 separate and politically autono-mous native groups known as the Ohlone. Eachgroup had its own leader, customs andterritory, though some smaller groups wereconnected by shared boundaries, intertribalmarriage and similarities of language.

According to the diary of Father FranciscoPalou—biographer and successor of FatherJunípero Serra—the native people werefriendly, offering the Spaniards food andguidance through the steep arroyos.

Also linguistically referred to asCoastanoans (a name bestowed by the

Spanish, meaning coast people), theOhlones’ ecologically rich territory extendedfrom the marine environment of today’s SanFrancisco inland to the oak/grasslands of thewestern edge of the San Joaquin Valley andsouth to present-day Carmel. Today’s coastHighway One and Highway 92 over themountains faithfully follow trails created bythe Ohlone.

Housing was simple and food wasplentiful. Alongside trout- and salmon-richfreshwaters, the Ohlone used willowbranches as frames for their dome-shapeddwellings, thatching them with dried tule,cattails or light brush. The ocean providedan abundance of fish, shellfish and sea

mammals, and the inlandareas were rich in acorns,berries, roots, barks andnuts. The people—skilledagriculturists—practicedcultivation, controlledburning, pruning and re-seeding in order to encour-age the growth of herbs,medicinal plants and desir-able food sources. Thesemethods of land manage-ment also produced naturalforage that would lure localgame animals.

The Ohlone hunted large(deer, bears, elk and seamammals) and small (rab-bits, squirrels, skunks andvarious birds) game for food.

Some Ohlone artifacts found at the parkhave included tools of obsidian and othersharp stones, artfully woven baskets,jewelry, clothing and weaponry. What thenative people could not make or gatherthey obtained in trade with other nativegroups.

In the mid-1700s, Spanish missionariesarrived and drew the native people into

Bikers on the Coastside Trail near Dunes Beach

J

6/28/05, 2:22 PM

da,

is

onf

rumrunners to unload their illegal whiskeyonto smaller boats headed north to SanFrancisco.

Natural HistoryThe rugged coastline of Half Moon Bay StateBeach, one-half-mile west of Highway One onKelly Avenue, consists of four smallerbeaches with a two-mile crescent of shore-line. Over the years geologic movement andnearly constant erosion have created adiverse system of mountains, canyons and

marine terraces. Located within the activeSan Andreas and Seal Cove-San Gregorio-Palo Colorado fault zones, the coastlineshows the uplifting, faulting and foldingactions of millions of years of seismic activity.Semiprecious stones are sometimes foundhere, with various forms of quartz (agate,chert, jasper, hydrolite and onyx) prominent.

Inland, sand dunes change constantlyaccording to the season. In winter, wind andstorms tend to carry the sand out to sea, butthe milder wave action of summer months

brings it back. Primary sources of newbeach sand are eroding bluffs and sedi-ment from the Sacramento and SanJoaquin Rivers.

PlantsThe plant communities of Half Moon Bayare not as diverse as they were when thiscoast was pristine. The introduction ofnon-native species such as sea fig, capeivy, New Zealand spinach and poisonhemlock has affected the survival of nativeplants and animals.

Half Moon Bay State Beach95 Kelly Avenue

Half Moon Bay, CA 94019(650) 726-8819

© 2005 California State ParksPrinted on Recycled Paper

www.parks.ca.gov

California State Parks does not discriminateagainst individuals with disabilities. Prior toarrival, visitors with disabilities who needassistance should contact the park at thephone number below. To receive this publica-tion in an alternate format, write to the Com-munications Office at the following address.

CALIFORNIA STATE PARKSP. O. Box 942896

Sacramento, CA 94296-0001For information call: (800) 777-0369

(916) 653-6995, outside the U.S.711, TTY relay service

Our MissionThe mission of the California Department ofParks and Recreation is to provide for thehealth, inspiration and education of thepeople of California by helping to preservethe state’s extraordinary biological diversity,protecting its most valued natural andcultural resources, and creating opportunitiesfor high-quality outdoor recreation.

sogetheadrcerewevibePoefthBe

tywithSpdabydain

PA

CuByhaasmgrtecom

J

Cover Photo courtesy of Frank Balthis

Half MoonBay

State Beach

Nearly four miles

from north to south,

the sweeping views

of Half Moon Bay

allow perfect

wildlife watching.

HMBBrochure PDFlayout1

of Half Moon Bay off Highway One,(650) 879-2170

ACCESSIBLE FEATURES• The Coastside Trail through the park is

paved and accessible.• Francis Beach camping, picnicking and

beach access via a beach wheelchair areavailable. Four campsites, threerestrooms, parking and outdoor rinsingshowers are accessibly designed.

• The park Visitor Center and InformationCenter are both accessible.Accessibility is continually improving. For

current accessibility details call the park, orvisit http://access.parks.ca.gov.

NEARBYSTATE PARKS

Point Montara Light Station,25 miles south of San Franciscooff Highway One, (650) 728-7177Montara State Beach, 8 miles north of HalfMoon Bay off Highway One,(650) 726-8819San Gregorio State Beach, 10.5 miles south

PLEASE REMEMBER• There are no lifeguard stations at Half

Moon Bay State Beach. Always usecaution in or near the ocean, which isvery cold year round. Even a short swimcan cause cramps or hypothermia (a lifethreatening condition in which yourbody temperature drops below nor-mal). In addition, strong rip currentscan pull even the most experiencedswimmers offshore.

• Dogs are not permitted on the beaches.When in the campground, in the day-use picnic areas, or on the CoastsideTrail, dogs must be on a leash no morethan 6 feet long.

• Horses in the park are restricted to thedesignated horse trail and are notpermitted on the beach.

• Beach fires are NOT allowed.• Shells, driftwood and other natural beach

features are protected by State law.• Fireworks are prohibited.• To prevent vandalism, lock your car,

activate the car alarm and take thekey with you. Hide valuables out ofsight. Report any suspicious activityto park staff.

This park is supported in part through a nonprofitorganization. For more information contact:

San Mateo Coast Natural History Associationc/o Año Nuevo State ReserveNew Years Creek RoadPescadero, CA 94060(650) 879-2041

Horse trail along the Coastside Trail

Campground at Francis Beach

Phot

o co

urte

sy o

f Fra

nk B

alth

is

Phot

o co

urte

sy o

f Fra

nk B

alth

is

Along the Coastside Trail, visitors willsee California poppies, beach primroses,sand verbena, lizardtail, wild radish,mustard, coyote bush and yellow bushlupines. The bluffs and terraces of thehigher elevations have been altered foragricultural purposes, diminishing thepresence of the native sage scrub thatonce dominated the area.

AnimalsThe most common birds in this area aremigratory and resident water-associatedbirds such as western snowy plovers, west-ern, California and glaucous-winged gulls,brown pelicans and sanderlings. Offshore,migrating gray whales, California sea lionsand harbor seals provide great wildlifewatching.

At Frenchman’s Creek the willow shrubsthat grow along the banks make this riparian

area attractive to a number of bird species,including red-tailed hawks, barn owls, red-winged blackbirds and American kestrels.Coyote bush is home to white-crownedsparrows, and jackrabbits and brush rabbitsnibble along the trail's edge.

RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Coastal access is available at RooseveltBeach, Dunes Beach, Venice Beach and

Francis Beach.

CampingThe Francis Beach campground has 52family sites, some suitable for tentcamping, others for trailers or recre-ational vehicles. Although hookups arenot available, there is a dump station.Coin-operated hot showers are alsoavailable.

TrailsThe level, 4-mile multi-use CoastsideTrail extends along the beach’s eastern

boundary from Kelly Avenuenorth to Pillar Point andsouth to Poplar Beach,offering spectacularocean views. Ahorse trail paral-lels the CoastsideTrail betweenRoosevelt andFrancisBeaches;horses are notpermitted onthe beaches.Restrooms areadjacent to parkingareas.

FishingFrom late spring throughsummer, Half Moon Bay is notedfor good runs of surf smelt. Anglersuse throw nets and are known to bring along

gear to catch the striped bass thatsometimes follow the smelt.

SwimmingSwimming is not recommendedhere because of extremely coldwater temperatures and unpredict-able rip currents.

SurfingSurfing conditions here are nearlyimpossible to forecast because ofthe unpredictable weather and surfaction. However, depending on thedirection of swell and the level of

su

ViThtiona

HMBBrochure PDFlayout 2

The western snowy plover that nests atHalf Moon Bay is a sparrow-sized, light-colored shorebird with dark patches oneither side of its neck, behind its eyes,and on its forehead. The Pacific coastpopulation of the snowy plover, foundon flat, open beaches, in dunes andnear stream mouths, is a threatenedspecies.

Extremely difficult to see, the small,well-camouflaged bird lives and nests insmall depressions in the sand. Much ofthe snowy plover’s habitat exists incoastal units of California State Parks.

The bird nests in spring and summer,and the first month of life is the mostchallenging for plover chicks. The youngplovers are under constant stress frompeople, feral cats, visiting dogs, nativepredators, and even high-flying kitesthat resemble raptors.

The snowy plover has lived on Califor-nia beaches for thousands of years.However, today its survival is seriouslythreatened.

If the snowy plover is to survivehuman use of its natural habitat, itneeds our help. In California’s stateparks, plovers are monitored to deter-mine their numbers, banded to allowlater identification, and protected

Sharing the Beach with theWestern Snowy Plover

Phot

o co

urte

sy o

f Fra

nk B

alth

is

behind temporary fences while they nestand nurture their young. Non-native plantsare removed, and predators are kept undercontrol; if necessary some portions of thebeach may be closed to dogs and people.California State Parks, the U.S. Fish andWildlife Service, and other coastal landmanagers work together to ensure thesuccess of this small shorebird.

Avoid approaching fenced or postedhabitat areas; lighting fires or camping onthe beach except in designated areas; anddisturbing areas that provide the ploverswith nesting and feeding habitat. Becauseof the snowy plover’s threatened status, itis protected by the federal EndangeredSpecies Act, and anyone who harms ordisturbs the plover or its habitat may becited and fined.

WesternSnowy Plover

ng

-

rfe

the tide, lucky surfers havebeen known to catch

some memorablewaves, particularly

around thesouthern end

of the cres-cent. A mileoffshorePillar Point,where wavescan reach 20

feet in height,the world-

famousMaverick’s

surfing spot is forexperts only. The

gentle swells at TheJetty near El Granada make

it perhaps the most popularsurfing spot in the area for beginners.

Visitor CenterThe park’s visitor center features informa-tion and exhibits about the cultural andnatural history of the area. Summer hours

are Thursday through Sundayfrom 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Call the park forwinter hours.

6/28/05, 2:23 PM

of Half Moon Bay off Highway One,(650) 879-2170

ACCESSIBLE FEATURES• The Coastside Trail through the park is

paved and accessible.• Francis Beach camping, picnicking and

beach access via a beach wheelchair areavailable. Four campsites, threerestrooms, parking and outdoor rinsingshowers are accessibly designed.

• The park Visitor Center and InformationCenter are both accessible.Accessibility is continually improving. For

current accessibility details call the park, orvisit http://access.parks.ca.gov.

NEARBYSTATE PARKS

Point Montara Light Station,25 miles south of San Franciscooff Highway One, (650) 728-7177Montara State Beach, 8 miles north of HalfMoon Bay off Highway One,(650) 726-8819San Gregorio State Beach, 10.5 miles south

PLEASE REMEMBER• There are no lifeguard stations at Half

Moon Bay State Beach. Always usecaution in or near the ocean, which isvery cold year round. Even a short swimcan cause cramps or hypothermia (a lifethreatening condition in which yourbody temperature drops below nor-mal). In addition, strong rip currentscan pull even the most experiencedswimmers offshore.

• Dogs are not permitted on the beaches.When in the campground, in the day-use picnic areas, or on the CoastsideTrail, dogs must be on a leash no morethan 6 feet long.

• Horses in the park are restricted to thedesignated horse trail and are notpermitted on the beach.

• Beach fires are NOT allowed.• Shells, driftwood and other natural beach

features are protected by State law.• Fireworks are prohibited.• To prevent vandalism, lock your car,

activate the car alarm and take thekey with you. Hide valuables out ofsight. Report any suspicious activityto park staff.

This park is supported in part through a nonprofitorganization. For more information contact:

San Mateo Coast Natural History Associationc/o Año Nuevo State ReserveNew Years Creek RoadPescadero, CA 94060(650) 879-2041

Horse trail along the Coastside Trail

Campground at Francis Beach

Phot

o co

urte

sy o

f Fra

nk B

alth

is

Phot

o co

urte

sy o

f Fra

nk B

alth

is

Along the Coastside Trail, visitors willsee California poppies, beach primroses,sand verbena, lizardtail, wild radish,mustard, coyote bush and yellow bushlupines. The bluffs and terraces of thehigher elevations have been altered foragricultural purposes, diminishing thepresence of the native sage scrub thatonce dominated the area.

AnimalsThe most common birds in this area aremigratory and resident water-associatedbirds such as western snowy plovers, west-ern, California and glaucous-winged gulls,brown pelicans and sanderlings. Offshore,migrating gray whales, California sea lionsand harbor seals provide great wildlifewatching.

At Frenchman’s Creek the willow shrubsthat grow along the banks make this riparian

area attractive to a number of bird species,including red-tailed hawks, barn owls, red-winged blackbirds and American kestrels.Coyote bush is home to white-crownedsparrows, and jackrabbits and brush rabbitsnibble along the trail's edge.

RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Coastal access is available at RooseveltBeach, Dunes Beach, Venice Beach and

Francis Beach.

CampingThe Francis Beach campground has 52family sites, some suitable for tentcamping, others for trailers or recre-ational vehicles. Although hookups arenot available, there is a dump station.Coin-operated hot showers are alsoavailable.

TrailsThe level, 4-mile multi-use CoastsideTrail extends along the beach’s eastern

boundary from Kelly Avenuenorth to Pillar Point andsouth to Poplar Beach,offering spectacularocean views. Ahorse trail paral-lels the CoastsideTrail betweenRoosevelt andFrancisBeaches;horses are notpermitted onthe beaches.Restrooms areadjacent to parkingareas.

FishingFrom late spring throughsummer, Half Moon Bay is notedfor good runs of surf smelt. Anglersuse throw nets and are known to bring along

gear to catch the striped bass thatsometimes follow the smelt.

SwimmingSwimming is not recommendedhere because of extremely coldwater temperatures and unpredict-able rip currents.

SurfingSurfing conditions here are nearlyimpossible to forecast because ofthe unpredictable weather and surfaction. However, depending on thedirection of swell and the level of

su

ViThtiona

HMBBrochure PDFlayout 2

The western snowy plover that nests atHalf Moon Bay is a sparrow-sized, light-colored shorebird with dark patches oneither side of its neck, behind its eyes,and on its forehead. The Pacific coastpopulation of the snowy plover, foundon flat, open beaches, in dunes andnear stream mouths, is a threatenedspecies.

Extremely difficult to see, the small,well-camouflaged bird lives and nests insmall depressions in the sand. Much ofthe snowy plover’s habitat exists incoastal units of California State Parks.

The bird nests in spring and summer,and the first month of life is the mostchallenging for plover chicks. The youngplovers are under constant stress frompeople, feral cats, visiting dogs, nativepredators, and even high-flying kitesthat resemble raptors.

The snowy plover has lived on Califor-nia beaches for thousands of years.However, today its survival is seriouslythreatened.

If the snowy plover is to survivehuman use of its natural habitat, itneeds our help. In California’s stateparks, plovers are monitored to deter-mine their numbers, banded to allowlater identification, and protected

Sharing the Beach with theWestern Snowy Plover

Phot

o co

urte

sy o

f Fra

nk B

alth

is

behind temporary fences while they nestand nurture their young. Non-native plantsare removed, and predators are kept undercontrol; if necessary some portions of thebeach may be closed to dogs and people.California State Parks, the U.S. Fish andWildlife Service, and other coastal landmanagers work together to ensure thesuccess of this small shorebird.

Avoid approaching fenced or postedhabitat areas; lighting fires or camping onthe beach except in designated areas; anddisturbing areas that provide the ploverswith nesting and feeding habitat. Becauseof the snowy plover’s threatened status, itis protected by the federal EndangeredSpecies Act, and anyone who harms ordisturbs the plover or its habitat may becited and fined.

WesternSnowy Plover

ng

-

rfe

the tide, lucky surfers havebeen known to catch

some memorablewaves, particularly

around thesouthern end

of the cres-cent. A mileoffshorePillar Point,where wavescan reach 20

feet in height,the world-

famousMaverick’s

surfing spot is forexperts only. The

gentle swells at TheJetty near El Granada make

it perhaps the most popularsurfing spot in the area for beginners.

Visitor CenterThe park’s visitor center features informa-tion and exhibits about the cultural andnatural history of the area. Summer hours

are Thursday through Sundayfrom 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Call the park forwinter hours.

6/28/05, 2:23 PM