Camp at Francis

Camp at Francis Beach in Half Moon Bay

05.11.2015

Bluff-top camping with easy beach access? You're not in SoCal. You're in Half Moon Bay's newly reopened Francis Beach Campground. The campground powered up last month, with electric hookups added to 40 of its 52 sites. Tents can be pitched at all the sites. Among the most popular: Sites 36, 37, and 38 are set atop a dazzling—but exposed—seaside bluff carpeted in fuchsia ice plant. You'll get panoramic ocean views and lovely sunsets, but you'll also get seaside wind on occasion, which can be chilling—so bring warm layers and a windbreaker. Ten sites offer ocean views and electric hook-ups. For an option that doesn't require a reservation, the campground also has a hike- and bike-in area, set in a large grassy communal area with picnic tables and nearby showers. You can pitch a tent for one night only, for just $7. The caveat: Instead of being able to park in the lot for the campground, you'll have to park in surrounding neighborhoods and then walk (or bike) in.

BONUS HIKES: Spend the day strolling through Bluff Top Coastal Park and along the Bluff Top Trail, heading south on a 0.75-mile multi-use path that connects the campground to dog-friendly Poplar Beach, with views of the towering Mavericks surf to the north. For some of the best bird watching in the county, continue south from Poplar onto the Bird Trail at Wavecrest—a 0.33-mile extension through the most important site on the San Mateo Coast for wintering raptors, along with white-tailed kites, purple finches, barn owls, and Savannah sparrows. Watch your head: Blue herons and red-tailed hawks are known to swoop down onto fences and benches!

The campground is located at the end of Kelly Ave. off Hwy. 1 in Half Moon Bay. Tent sites can be reserved  and start at $35/night. Hike- and bike-in camping is $7, however you cannot park in lot for the campground. Day parking is also available for $10 at any of the beach trailheads. Francis Beach Campground and trails are dog-friendly, but no dogs allowed on beaches, with the exception of Poplar Beach, which is dog-friendly! 

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories

  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  3. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View

  4. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Tram to Cool Treks

    Elevate your fun, getting whisked from palm trees to alpine wilderness on the world’s largest rotating tramcar. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway transports you up and away on a 2.5-mile scenic route from the desert floor to the refreshing wilderness of Mount San Jacinto State Park.

    View

  2. Coming Up Roses

    Looking to spice up your hiking life? Give your partner a rose—Mount Rose! The 10-mile out-and-back peak hike goes up to one of the grandest views in all of Lake Tahoe. Get ready f

    View
  3. A group of people clamored around the summit marker at Mission Peak in the Bay Area

    Your Mission Is Less Crowded

    Mission Peak is one of the Bay Area’s most popular mountains, with many hikers climbing every weekend. Skip the crowds with this 6-mile loop up the less-traveled southern route.

    View
  4. Vista Hermosa Park in Echo Park Los Angeles

    Vista Hermosa, Echo That!

    Tucked in Echo Park, the little-known gem of Vista Hermosa Natural Park feels worlds away thanks to its serene beauty and thoughtful design. At 11.5 acres there’s still plenty to explore. And it's got a premier view of the iconic Los Angeles skyline.

    View