San Gregorio State Beach

San Gregorio State Beach is a beach near San Gregorio, California, USA, south of Half Moon Bay. Part of the California State Park System, the beach lies just west of the intersection of State Route 1 and State Route 84. San Gregorio Creek widens to form a small freshwater lagoon in the park behind a sand berm, or barrier beach, which typically blocks the mouth of the creek, forcing the creekwaters to flow underfoot as they seep into the Pacific Ocean. During the rainy season the creek often cuts through the sand berm and flows directly into the ocean. Historically the creek was a coho salmon spawning site and the Department of Fish and Game is considering restocking it with coho to improve the salmon fisheries south of San Francisco. [http://www.coastalconservancy.ca.gov/coast&ocean/winter2002/pages/ebb.htm]

Park facilities include restrooms and picnic tables. Dogs are not permitted on the beach, as it has been identified as potential nesting habitat for the endangered (official status "threatened") Western Snowy Plover, a subspecies of the Kentish Plover. North of the main beach is a nude beach (private property) that charges a fee to park in their parking lot north of the park's lot that provides closer access.

A stone marker with a plaque commemorates (now missing) the three days Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portolà's expedition camped at the beach to rest and treat their sick in 1769, during his first (failed) attempt to reach Monterey Bay. They would go on to discover San Francisco Bay instead. The site is registered as California Historical Landmark 26.

* Considered a self-registered fee area, although there is a kiosk which is staffed during summer months

ee also

* Half Moon Bay State Beach, for further information on history and wildlife of the local area.

Other Local Beaches

North
* Poplar State Beach
* Half Moon Bay State Beach/Francis State Beach
* Venice State Beach
* Dunes State Beach

South
* Pomponio State Beach
* Pescadero State Beach
* Bean Hollow State Beach
* Ano Nuevo State Reserve

External links

* [http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=529 Official site from the California State Parks Department]
* [http://www.noehill.com/sanmateo/cal0026.asp Pictures of beach and plaque]
* [http://www.californiacoastline.org/cgi-bin/image.cgi?
]
* [http://www.montereybay.noaa.gov/visitor/access/sanGreg.html Monterey Marine Sanctuary page on San Gregoria State Park]
* [http://www.sfbg.com/nudebeaches/sanmateo.php SF Bay Guardian Nude Beaches Guide, San Mateo County]