One of the Bay Area’s most beautiful stretches of coastline is finally open to the public. Don Horsley County Park at Tunitas Creek Beach officially opened Monday, August 17, 2026, transforming a once-private 58-acre property along Highway 1 between Half Moon Bay and Pescadero into San Mateo County’s newest park.
The new park gives visitors direct access to nearly a mile of sandy beach, along with scenic overlooks, picnic areas, interpretive exhibits and accessible trails. There’s also bluff-top parking for up to 80 vehicles and restrooms.
The opening is the culmination of nearly a decade of conservation, restoration and construction. Although Tunitas Creek Beach itself was public, there were previously no official access points, so visitors reached the shore via unofficial trails. The unmanaged property became known for illegal camping, parties, litter and environmental damage.
The property also has a little Bay Area celebrity history: singer Chris Isaak owned the property from 1998 until 2017, when a trust associated with the “Wicked Game” singer sold it to the Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) for $5 million. POST then partnered with San Mateo County to turn the property into a public park.
The transformation has been a major conservation project. Tunitas Creek and its estuary provide habitat for threatened species including the western snowy plover and California red-legged frog, as well as native steelhead trout. The beach is also surrounded by dramatic sandstone cliffs that have formed over millions of years.
The new park is free to visit and open year-round, starting daily at 8 a.m., though closing times vary seasonally. No lifeguards are on duty, and the county is urging visitors to use extra caution around the ocean.
After years of being difficult to reach, this gorgeous piece of the San Mateo County coast is finally open for everyone to enjoy.
Read more at County of San Mateo
h/t SF Gate
