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PRESS RELEASE. From the Coastside Land Trust on July 28th, 2025.
We’re excited to share that construction for the Wavecrest California Coastal Trail Expansion will begin this Monday!
Wavecrest Open Space is one of the great treasures of the San Mateo Coast—offering sweeping ocean views, incredible wildlife sightings, and a peaceful place to explore the coast. It’s already home to the much-loved Bird Trail, a 1/3-mile stretch of the California Coastal Trail that draws birders, walkers, cyclists, runners, and nature enthusiasts from near and far.
Now—with the support of our dedicated team, partners, and community—we’re beginning work to expand and improve this space for all.
This long-anticipated project includes:
- Expanded Trails: 2.7 miles of new, compacted gravel trails connecting Poplar Beach to Redondo Beach, completing a vital section of the California Coastal Trail.
- Safe Beach Access Stairs: From the blufftops down to Redondo Beach.
- Improved Parking: Gravel parking with restrooms/ drinking water/bike racks/trash
- Wildlife Protection: Reducing erosion and restoring habitats
- Universal Access: Trails and facilities designed for accessibility year-round, making it safer for families, seniors, and people with mobility challenges.
Why It Matters?
- Preserving Wildlife: Wavecrest is the most important site on the San Mateo Coast for wintering raptors, as well as a rich diversity of other shore bird species, including shorebirds, pelicans, and cormorants. This project will help protect their habitats while giving visitors better access to wildlife viewing.
- Sustainability: By consolidating public access onto well-designed, environmentally-friendly trails, this project will protect Wavecrest’s grasslands, wetlands, and roosting sites.
- Safety: Informal trails are not only unsafe for visitors but also accelerate erosion. The new trails will provide a safe, year-round experience for hikers, bikers, and equestrians.
- Scenic Views: From the new trails and the Bird Trail, visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, spot migrating whales, and watch raptors in flight—all while protecting this precious coastal ecosystem.
Project Features:
- 2.7 miles of compact gravel trails, with equestrian-friendly soft shoulders.
- Boardwalks through wet areas to protect habitats.
- Beach access stairs for safe, easy beach visits.
- New parking areas with 35-45 spaces, restrooms, drinking water, and trash bins.
- Preservation of Wavecrest’s wildlife habitat and native vegetation.
- Accessible trails and facilities for all users, including families, seniors, and those with mobility challenges.
Wavecrest Coastal Trail is ready to welcome you safely, while protecting the natural beauty and wildlife that make this space so special. Let’s work together to keep Wavecrest a place of joy for generations to come. Dogs are welcome on-leash at Wavecrest. Please remember to pick up after your pets and respect others.
Getting Started
This week, our team held a preconstruction kickoff meeting with the City of Half Moon Bay, conducted environmental awareness training led by our project biologist, and completed preconstruction wildlife surveys—checking for nesting birds, woodrat nests, and other important habitat considerations.
Our stewardship team has also been collecting native seed, including the rare Choris’s popcorn flower, bee plant, and soap plant. These seeds will be used to rewild and restore informal trails across the 50-acre property—helping nature reclaim the areas shaped by years of casual foot traffic.
On Monday, the construction team will begin Phase One: clearing the future parking area, which will serve as the main staging zone (home base) for construction equipment and materials. Our biologist will be on-site again, walking the alignment to ensure all wildlife is protected as work begins. From there, the team will begin construction of the designated gravel trails and parking lots—in tandem with ongoing restoration work throughout the area.
As We Move Through the Phases
We are deeply grateful to the planners, biologists, engineers, contractors, city staff, and community members who are working so thoughtfully to bring this project to life.
If you want to learn more?
Check out the webinar recording, in which Coastside Land Trust’s COO and Trail Project Manager, Sara Polgar, provides an in-depth overview of the trail improvements—including parking, amenities, beach access, habitat restoration, and erosion control.
Please help to support this important work—and help preserve, protect, and steward our shared open space: Donate Today
Coastside Land Trust Webinar Series
More on the Coastside Land Trust on Coastside Buzz
Coastside Land Trust 2024 Annual Report
Author: mdrag
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