Nature
Montara State Beach on the San Mateo County coast is known for its high bluffs, broad sandy shore, and reputation as one of California’s cleanest beaches, drawing visitors for surfing, fishing, sunbathing, and nature study. The area has a far older human history, beginning with the Chiguan tribe of the Ohlone and later European contact offshore with Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo in 1542 and the Portolà expedition’s camp here in 1769. Today the beach forms part of a wider protected landscape that includes Devil’s Slide, McNee Ranch, and nearby marine reserves, preserving diverse coastal habitats, rare species, shorebirds, and rich offshore life.
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Montara, California · United States
