Just south of Half Moon Bay, tucked below the bluffs along Highway 1, lies Martins Beach: a small, crescent-shaped cove framed by rocky headlands, with a dramatic sea stack rising from the surf just offshore. For more than a century, families, surfers and fishermen came here to spend lazy days by the water. Today it remains one of the most photogenic and least-visited corners of the San Mateo coast, a true hidden gem for landscape photographers.
Getting There
Martins Beach can be tricky to reach. It was open to the public for generations, but a gate now blocks the access road from Highway 1, and whether the public can use that road has been the subject of a long-running legal battle. When I visited, photographers could park along the highway and walk down to the beach.
Access rules here have changed more than once, so check the current situation before you go, and respect any posted signs along the road.
Gold After the Storm
One day, after a whole afternoon of rain, we decided to try our luck. The moment we stepped onto the sand, the clouds began to break and the entire sky turned to gold, glowing over the wet beach and the rocks. It was spectacular, the kind of light that only seems to follow a storm.
If you have an hour to spare near Half Moon Bay, Martins Beach makes a perfect quick photography getaway.
