San Mateo County will open Don Horsley County Park at Tunitas Creek Beach on Monday, August 17, 2026 at 8 a.m. The free coastal park is the County’s first newly created park in more than a decade and puts official access on a mile of shoreline between Half Moon Bay and Pescadero.
If a San Mateo County Highway 1 day is already on your calendar this week, shift the stop to Tunitas Creek after the gate time rather than treating the beach as an informal scramble down unmanaged paths.
- Opens: Monday, August 17, 2026 at 8 a.m.
- Where: Highway 1 between Half Moon Bay and Pescadero.
- Cost: No entrance fee.
- Hours: Daily from 8 a.m.; closing times change seasonally.
- Safety: No lifeguards; cold water and cliff hazards apply.
What the County confirmed on August 13
In an August 13, 2026 San Mateo County Parks news release, the County said Don Horsley County Park at Tunitas Creek Beach opens Monday, August 17 at 8 a.m. The 58-acre site sits on Cabrillo Highway midway between Half Moon Bay and Pescadero and is described as the first newly created county park in more than a decade.
The same release states there is no entrance fee, the park opens daily at 8 a.m. year-round, and closing times change seasonally. Visitors should check the park website and posted signage for the exact evening close. Rangers will staff and patrol as time permits. No lifeguards are on duty.
The County’s permanent Don Horsley Park at Tunitas Creek Beach page lists the address as 20775 Cabrillo Highway South, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 and points to hours, map, brochure, trails, and regulations pages for day-of planning.
What is on site for visitors
County Parks lists bluff-top parking for up to 80 vehicles, restrooms, picnic and gathering sites, interpretive exhibits, scenic overlooks, and an ADA accessible pathway from the parking lot to a mid-bluff overlook. Direct access reaches nearly one mile of sandy shoreline.
That combination is the practical traveler change. Before the managed park, the beach was public but lacked official public access points, so people used unofficial trails. Unmanaged use brought parties, illegal camping, litter, and damage to the creek delta, according to the County release.
A free English audio tour is available through the TravelStory app for Tunitas Creek Beach history and biodiversity, funded by Peninsula Open Space Trust, with a Spanish version forthcoming. Use it on site or off site after download.
How to plan a first visit without fighting the lot
Arrive after 8 a.m. on or after August 17 and treat the 80-space bluff-top lot as a hard capacity number on sunny weekends. If the lot is full, do not invent shoulder parking on Highway 1. Leave and return later or choose another coast stop rather than blocking emergency access.
Build the day around overlooks first if you have limited mobility, then the beach path only if conditions and energy match. The ADA path to the mid-bluff overlook is the County’s stated accessible spine. Sand and beach grades below that point are still beach conditions, not a paved promenade.
Pair the new park with a broader San Mateo coast plan rather than forcing a single-purpose drive from San Francisco only for a one-hour stop. Deep Arrival’s San Francisco things to do shortlist remains useful for urban anchors on a multi-day Bay Area trip that also includes a Highway 1 half day.
If you need an overnight near the mid-coast rather than a same-day out-and-back, Deep Arrival’s Half Moon Bay RV parks and campgrounds guide covers stay options north of the park so the August 17 open does not force a rushed parking gamble after a long drive.
Safety and habitat rules that change behavior
The County urges visitors to be safe around water and never to turn their backs on the ocean. There are no lifeguards. Northern California beach water stays cold, sneaker waves hit bluff-backed beaches, and sandstone cliffs are fragile. Stay on marked paths and behind any fenced or signed cliff edges.
The beach and Tunitas Creek estuary are a seasonal resting spot for the western snowy plover, a threatened coastal bird. The creek also offers habitat for the California red-legged frog, listed as threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and for native steelhead trout. Expect possible seasonal restrictions, dogs rules, and dune or creek buffers when posted.
Read the park regulations page before you pack a drone, a fire, or a large group. Group visits with a ranger can be arranged through County Parks when you need a structured visit rather than a drop-in beach hour.
Why the park exists and what the opening does not mean
Peninsula Open Space Trust acquired and protected the property in November 2017 and partnered with San Mateo County Parks on restoration and park development. The project cost roughly 24 million dollars, with more than 12 million from gifts to POST and the rest from the State of California, San Mateo County, the California State Coastal Conservancy, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, and California Prop 68 funds, per the County release.
That public-private path is why the August 17 gate is a true new facility opening rather than a rebrand of an older staffed beach lot. Travelers should plan for brand-new wayfinding and a lot that can fill on the first clear weekend after opening week.
The park is named for former Supervisor Don Horsley, who pushed for protection and public access. The opening is a new public facility day, not a festival with ticketed entertainment. Do not expect concessions, rentals, or lifeguard towers on day one unless the County posts them separately.
Earlier landslide delays and construction notices are background. The August 13 release is the current open-date authority. If weather or an emergency closes the gate after August 17, follow County Parks alerts rather than social media rumors.
| If you… | What to do |
|---|---|
| Want the first public week | Arrive after 8 a.m. on or after Monday, August 17, 2026 with a free-day plan. |
| Need accessible views without beach sand | Use the ADA path to the mid-bluff overlook and picnic sites first. |
| Travel with kids who swim | Treat the beach as unguarded cold water; prioritize overlooks if conditions look rough. |
| Hit a full 80-space lot | Leave and return later; do not park illegally on Highway 1 shoulders. |
| Want habitat-aware visits | Read posted plover and creek buffers and stay on marked paths. |
- Calendar: First public access is Monday, August 17, 2026 at 8 a.m.
- Budget: No entrance fee; bring water, layers, and sun protection.
- Parking: Plan around an 80-vehicle bluff-top lot on peak days.
- Access: Use official park entry only; unofficial trails are not the plan.
- Safety: No lifeguards; respect cliff edges and ocean conditions.
The traveler move is straightforward. Put Don Horsley County Park at Tunitas Creek Beach on a San Mateo County coast day from August 17 forward, arrive after the 8 a.m. open, use the official lot and ADA overlook path, and treat the mile of beach as a free, unguarded shoreline stop rather than a managed swim resort.
When does Don Horsley County Park at Tunitas Creek Beach open?
San Mateo County Parks says the park opens Monday, August 17, 2026 at 8 a.m.
Is there an entrance fee?
No. The County release states there is no entrance fee.
Where is the park on Highway 1?
It sits midway between Half Moon Bay and Pescadero at 20775 Cabrillo Highway South, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019.
Are there lifeguards?
No lifeguards are on duty. The County urges standard cold-water and ocean safety practices.
How many parking spaces are available?
Bluff-top parking holds up to 80 vehicles. Arrive early on clear weekend days or have a backup coast stop.
