Dog Friendly Day Trip in Pacifica
With the scare of this Labor Day being the hottest in San Jose since 2008 – at a brutal high of 104 degrees – it was mission critical that we escape the excessive heat for the day. Pulling up a map, it appeared the coolest city within a reasonable driving distance was… Pacifica!
Pacifica is a coastal city between San Francisco and Half Moon Bay – the paw-fect escape filled with beautiful beaches, cliffs, ocean views, and not to mention highs of only 78 degrees that day. AND it is extremely dog friendly!
It took us 45 minutes to get to Pacifica from San Jose. Driving up the 280, we passed by the Hwy 92 exit to Half Moon Bay and saw it was severely backed up, bumper-to-bumper. This is another advantage of Pacifica – a hidden gem that is a lot less crowded than its coastal cousin.
Coastal Hike Along Mori Point Trail
I’m sure many of you have experienced this too: you’re excited to start the day off with a great new hike (like Mori Point Trail!)… only to discover the parking lot is full. So you spend the next 30 minutes waiting and hoping for any car to leave. Luckily by the time we arrived around 11:30am at the small parking lot off Hwy 1, there were at least four parties leaving. We were able to quickly snag a spot and explore this dog friendly coastal hike!
Note: The sweet spot in finding ever elusive trailhead parking is either early in the morning around 7-8am or 11am (when the early birds finish their hikes). If you’re not so lucky, there is another larger parking lot further south on Hwy 1 at San Marlo Way near Rockaway Beach with a different trailhead that also connects to Mori Point Trail.
Greeting us at the start of the trailhead were several quaint gardens – our favorite was the Liberty Garden, with its patriotic colors and tribute to 9/11. Don’t be fooled by the paved trail at the beginning. While you could get by with wearing running shoes on this trail, hiking boots will definitely help when you come across the steep inclines and loose powdery dirt.
A quarter-mile in, we arrived in the heart of the valley surrounded by bright yellow fennel flowers and tall, feathery pink pampas grasses. Kona highly recommends a mini photoshoot with your furry friend here!
A half-mile in we came across our first climb of the day along the edge of the bluffs. Thankfully we were rewarded with a beautiful 360 degree coastal view of Rockaway Beach, the deep blue ocean, and the pampas-filled valley below. Kona had a Lion King moment at the top, gleefully staring at the waves and enjoying the cool breeze.
The trail continued along the coastline for the next mile or so. We saw mini labyrinths and other rock designs on the right – similar to the old Lands End labyrinth… RIP. Near the top was a narrow corridor that was not only steep, but also very slippery. I gladly let Kona lead us on that conga line.
Beyond the corridor we were welcomed with a gorgeous view of Mori Point, Sharp Park Beach, and Pacifica Pier. Mori Point was the most crowded part of the hike with lots of people taking photos at the point itself and birdwatching. We bumped into the most number of dogs on this section of the trail, of which the majority were off-leash. So be careful if that is something you keep track of with your own dog, like we do with Kona – luckily that part of the trail is nice and wide.
From here, there was the option to extend the hike and go down “Bootlegger’s Steps” along the Sharp Park Golf Course and beach, but we opted out this time and finished the loop via the Lishumsha Trail, which led to the official Mori Point Golden Gate National Recreation Area sign on Hwy 1. From there, we turned right and headed up Timigtac Trail, which was the steepest but final climb before returning to the car.
Lunch at Miss Tomato Sandwich Shop
That last climb got us pretty hungry and ready for lunch, so we treated ourselves to a spot I have been wanting to try: Miss Tomato Sandwich Shop. After a short 7-min drive, we came across this unassuming liquor store on top of a hill with a little sandwich bar tucked inside… and a good-sized parking lot too!
It was a busy day for the owner, who was the only person there making sandwiches and manning the cash register for the store. He offered us samples of crusty bread with two house-made sauces as we waited for our Spicy Mama and Flying Dutchman sandwiches.
This spot reminds me of a mom and pop version of Ike’s Love & Sandwiches – except the sandwiches are EVEN BIGGER. Just like at Ike’s, you MUST order your sandwich here with dutch crunch bread, or else why even bother?
While this spot does not have outdoor seating that dogs could enjoy, you can head over to the nearby Skyridge Park (7-min walk), or drive a little further like we did to Sharp Park Beach to enjoy these monstrous sandwiches with your toes in the sand.
Below are other lunch spots we recommend for those who prefer someplace closer to the coast with either a patio to enjoy oceanside views with your dog, or a quick and easy takeout picnic on the beach:
- Sharp Park Beach
- Kitten & Pinky – Banh Mi sandwiches. A bench outside the entrance.
- Taqueria Pacifica – Mexican. No outdoor seating, but a 7-min walk to the beach.
- Dinosaurs – Banh Mi. Outdoor tables in front of the entrance.
- Rockaway Beach
- Breakers Breakfast, Brunch & Lunch – Classic American. Dog friendly patio.
- Pacifica Brewery – American. Dog friendly patio.
- Pacifica State Beach
- Taco Bell Cantina – Dog friendly patio. This location also serves alcohol.
- High Tide Cafe & Creperie – Crepes and classic brunch. Dog friendly patio.
- Humble Sea Brewing Co. – Great beers and bar food. Dog friendly patio.
Relaxing on Sharp Park Beach
Who doesn’t love a good laze on the beach? Especially after a morning hike! We assumed the more popular beaches like Pacifica State Beach and Rockaway Beach would be crowded given the heat wave, so we opted for Sharp Park Beach, which had caught our eye from atop of Mori Point.
Sharp Park Beach is one of California’s few black sand beaches and there is no entrance fee or parking fee. Here are some key logistics for an enjoyable experience:
- The main parking lot is on Beach Blvd near the Pacifica Municipal Pier. There is also free street parking on Palmetto Ave or the adjacent residential streets like Salada Ave.
- Dogs must be on leash at the beach.
- Dogs are not allowed on the Pacifica Pier.
- Public restrooms are located at the Chit Chat Cafe on Beach Blvd near the pier.
- We HIGHLY recommend setting up shop on the upper level of the beach, above the rocks to protect your belongings from accidentally getting wet. With this beach being pretty narrow, we saw (and heard) several groups below scrambling to run away from the strong waves.
- Pacifica Pier is known for some of the Bay Area’s best fishing and crabbing. A fishing license is not required.
Kona enjoyed a blissful afternoon sunbathing and digging in the black sand (evidence below). We’ll definitely come back here, even when the heat wave is over!
