Rockaway Beach

Visited by over 1 million people every year, this popular, almost chocolate-brown colored sandy beach is located in Pacifica, which is a 20 minute drive south of San Francisco. The beach is easily accessible and parking is nearby so you won’t have to worry about any long hikes through the mountains to get here. This is a great place to come relax and enjoy the ocean views.

It is right next to restaurants, shops and hotels so travellers can choose to spend the day or even a few days here. Surfers can be seen riding the waves and sometimes fishermen will use the shoreline when it’s not too crowded. There is a paved bike path that runs north and south behind the beach for cyclists, walkers and runners. If you’d like to check out the area on two wheels, you can hire bicycles from one of the shops nearby. Options for hourly or daily rentals are available.

There are no lifeguards on duty, so swimmers are advised to check the weather conditions closely and take the appropriate precautions if they decide to go out into the surf. Surf shops are in the area as well so there’s always the option of popping into one to rent a board as well as ask about the local water conditions.

If you’re up for a bit of hiking, check out the Rockaway Point Trail. It takes a little over an hour from start to finish, it’s considered an easy route and it’s family friendly. 

Nearby Mori Point is another place of interest for visitors. Walk to the tip of Mori Point where you can see the stunning views of the peninsula coastline. Along the way, you’ll come across several species of flora and fauna. Also, be on the lookout for threatened and endangered animals such as the California red-legged frog.