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Half Moon Bay
Cowell Ranch Beach
Good for Relax
About
Cowell Ranch Beach is located on the Pacific ocean and it is in the 154th place out of 385 beaches in the California region 153 km away from its center, the city of Sacramento. It is one of the beaches of Half Moon Bay settlement, just 4.8 km from its center. The beach is located in a natural place, surrounded by the cliffs.
It is a long lasting coastline with turquoise water and bright sand, so you don't need special shoes. The sharpness of entering the water is quite normal. This beach is suitable for different categories of people, lonely travellers, relaxation getaway lovers, hikers etc. It is not crowded place during the season.
Cowell Ranch Beach coast is free for all. It has no amenities, only nature, toilets. .
In addition to swimming and sunbathing, you can also take part in other activities.
To get to the beach, you need to walk along a mountain trail about 500m long.
2 more beaches are also available within a 5 km radius. The best one is Redondo Beach, which has a rating of 7.5.
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Historical
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+22
oC
+12
oC
Air temperature
7.8
M/S
Wind
+13
oC
Water temperature
1.9
M
Wave height
Key features
Beach overall scores
Cowell Ranch Beach (California) is located outside the Half Moon Bay settlement, which may cause some difficulties for travelers who stay far from the coast. However, the remoteness from the village is not always a bad thing. Lovers of quiet rest know, the farther the beach, the fewer crowds.
The beach stretches on the sunny coast, but accessing the beach requires traversing some distance on foot. While driving or cycling are the most convenient options for reaching the start point of trail, these methods may not be feasible for everyone. Alternatively, a taxi can be used to drive directly to the location. Public transportation is another option, but it's important to confirm the correct route with locals beforehand as the bus stop may be located at some distance.
User reviews
"The beach has a tranquil and stunning atmosphere, and it is typically not too crowded. To reach the beach, you'll need to walk approximately 0.5 miles through the farms from the parking lot, which only has around 10-12 available spots. Additionally, there are stairs that you'll need to take in order to access the beach."
Savita Karambola
"The wild flowers blooming at the beach are absolutely stunning! It's a perfect opportunity for a leisurely stroll along the coastal trail, either heading north towards the Ritz Carlton or south until you reach the Seal Rock viewpoint at the end of the trail. Taking this walk in early April is truly delightful."
S M
User reviews
"The beach has a tranquil and stunning atmosphere, and it is typically not too crowded. To reach the beach, you'll need to walk approximately 0.5 miles through the farms from the parking lot, which only has around 10-12 available spots. Additionally, there are stairs that you'll need to take in order to access the beach."
Savita Karambola
"The wild flowers blooming at the beach are absolutely stunning! It's a perfect opportunity for a leisurely stroll along the coastal trail, either heading north towards the Ritz Carlton or south until you reach the Seal Rock viewpoint at the end of the trail. Taking this walk in early April is truly delightful."
S M
Stays nearby
12 accomodations nearby
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In walking distance
Closest to nearby town center
Nearest hotels
Nearest houses and apartments
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4.3km
from the beach
Guesthouse/Bed And Breakfast
Located at nearest locality
Half Moon Bay
•
550m from center
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9.8km
from the beach
Guesthouse/Bed And Breakfast
Located at nearest locality
Half Moon Bay
•
5.7km from center
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General features
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cover
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swimming details
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Natural features
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Nearest Beaches
Average rating of nearest beaches is 7.3 (Good)
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise water
Half Moon Bay 2.9 km
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Miramar 2 km
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Martins Beach 2.1 km
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Seal Cove 0.1 km
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Montara 0.5 km
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Montara 2.5 km
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Picturesque, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise water
Butano Park 7.9 km
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Last Chance 5.5 km
Beach surroundings
Restaurants
- Half Moon Bay Joe's• 20 min walk
- The Ocean Terrace• 20 min walk
- Navio• 21 min walk
- The Conservatory• 21 min walk
Transport
- HAF• 11.8km
- Hwy 92 & Hwy 1• 5.2km
- Hillsdale• 17.9km
Localities
- Half Moon Bay• 4.8km
- Sacramento• 153km
Travelers reviews
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Questions and answers
What is the water and sand quality of the Cowell Ranch Beach?
The coastline of Cowell Ranch Beach is covered with golden sand. It's very clean, the surface is pure and unmixed. The water is impeccably turquoise. The entrance to the water is sandy, which makes it very comfortable.
What are the key activities at Cowell Ranch Beach?
For the main activity - sunbathing, there are no sun loungers on the Cowell Ranch Beach, so you need to take personal items with you and there is no natural shade, so be careful on a hot day.
Is the Cowell Ranch Beach good for swimming?
The entrance to the water is gentle, the bottom is comfortable. The area has the high prevalence of sharks so all swimmers should be very careful.
The waves in the Cowell Ranch Beach are usually strong.
Is the Cowell Ranch Beach good for families?
Family travelers should consider the following features of the beach. This is the natural virgin beach with minimal amenities. It's covered with sand and the entrance to the water is gentle.
Is the Cowell Ranch Beach secluded and good for relaxing?
The beach is located in a natural area. During the high season, the occupancy of the beach is moderate, which is very good for lovers of a relaxing holiday.
The following features add extra points:
- Mountains/hills in the vicinity
What are the key audiences of Cowell Ranch Beach?
Cowell Ranch Beach can be a good place for the following groups of travelers:
- Hiking adventurers
Is there any food or beverages in the area of Cowell Ranch Beach?
There is no restaurant or bar directly on Cowell Ranch Beach.
There are 4 restaurants nearby.Half Moon Bay Joe's is the closest place located 1600 meters from the beach.
What is the closest accommodation to the Cowell Ranch Beach?
There are 43 places to stay in the Cowell Ranch Beach area.
Some of the best hotels in the area of Cowell Ranch Beach include:
The most popular other types of accommodations nearby:
How far is the Cowell Ranch Beach from parking?
The Cowell Ranch Beach has no parking spot and you have to overcome a long descent.
What is the best time of the year to visit Cowell Ranch Beach?
The month with the highest temperature in Cowell Ranch Beach is September. Its average value reaches 26°C. The warmest sea is in September, the average value is 16°C. The coldest month is December with air temperature 14°C and water 13°C. See more details in weather section.
Is the beach good for sunbathing?
Cowell Ranch Beach (California) is not fully equipped for sunbathing. However, if you are not picky and are willing to spread out on a towel, you can sunbathe here as well. The natural shade will allow you to hide from the scorching sun in the peak of its activity. Well, the photos of our visitors will be the best proof of that, all the available photos of the beach are above.Cowell Ranch Beach (California) is a place for true nature lovers, but if you like sunbathing on the beach, then this location is not the best option. There are no sunbeds and umbrellas, and even there is no natural shade to hide you from the scorching sun. From positives, the presence of sand, on which you can sit comfortably. But do not forget sunscreen for this place, such a recommendation is relevant. Photos of the beach you can see above. All photos are taken by our visitors personally.
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