Gray Whale Cove State Beach is a small California state park on the San Mateo County coast between Pacifica and Montara, just south of Devil’s Slide and about 18 miles south of San Francisco. Established in 1966, the 3.1-acre park centers on a sheltered cove beneath steep coastal cliffs. Though compact, it is part of a larger scenic and protected landscape, with trails connecting the beach to Montara Mountain and McNee Ranch State Park. Offshore, nearby protected marine areas help conserve coastal ecosystems. The beach is valued for its dramatic setting along Highway 1, where a pocket of sand lies below high bluffs beside coastal and mountain trails.