Montara

Montara is a steeply sloping, exposed sand beach break with rocky outcrops at the north and south ends, located between dramatic coastal bluffs about eight miles north of Half Moon Bay. The beach produces consistent lefts and rights from roughly one to three meters depending on swell size. Winter, particularly December, offers the most reliable conditions with clean waves as a northwest swell combines with southeast winds to produce surfable conditions nearly half the time.

Montara has hosted the Jetty Classic annual surf competition and is sometimes called the mini-Mavericks by locals due to its ability to produce spectacular, dangerous waves during major winter storm swells. The beach's bottom constantly shifts with swell and tide, and during big swells the conditions can close out dramatically. Low tide reveals rocky tide pools at both ends of the beach.

Access is via Highway 1 with limited free pullouts and short trails leading down, or via two more formal parking areas near Second Street with portable toilets and steep stairs to the beach. The steep beach slope and powerful winter waves create genuine hazards; the water is considered too rough for swimming and dangerous for wading. Rip currents and sharks pose additional risks during bigger swell periods.