San Mateo County piers

1/9

Don’t tell San Francisco, but Coronado Ferry Landing in San Diego may have the most jaw-dropping city views in the state, including a snazzy skyline, Navy craft, the Coronado Bay Bridge and the traffic (sailboats to freighters) in the channel. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

2/9

All aboard for spectacular views of the bay. Board a craft at Coronado Ferry Landing for the 15-minute cruise across the bay to downtown San Diego. Prepare to be dazzled. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

3/9

Just after sunset, surfers return to shore on the southern side of the Oceanside Pier. At 1,954 feet, it’s the longest wooden pier along the West Coast. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

4/9

The Oceanside Pier provides a perfect vantage point for watching waves -- in this case, huge ones -- crash into the beach. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

5/9

Trim cottages line both sides of Crystal Pier in San Diego County. Each of the 21 lodgings comes with a small, private deck that looks out on the water and provides some privacy. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

6/9

From the San Clemente Pier, the view of land trumps the view out to sea. Cliffs showcase buildings and homes that riff on classic Spanish Colonial design. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

7/9

A surfer rides a wave near the wooden San Clemente Pier at sunset. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

8/9

Sunset at the Manhattan Beach Pier -- early morning or late afternoon, it’s a photo op waiting just for you. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

9/9

Pier 39 is the biggest outdoor, multistory shopping mall sitting on/masquerading as a pier in California. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

June 29, 2012 2:01 PM PT

San Mateo County piers

Johnson Pier at Pillar Point Harbor, Half Moon Bay

Overview: The L-shaped concrete pier is more utilitarian than recreational. Cars and trucks are permitted on it, and there is a fishery at the end, with a harbor seal or two begging for handouts. Four gangplanks run from the pier down to ramps along which boats are berthed. These are mostly private craft, though the Princeton Waters Maritime Salon (2-6 p.m. Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays) invites passersby to stop.

Parking: Free in the lot at the foot of the pier.

Directions: Exit Highway 1 at Pillar Point Harbor, turn right and take the road to the harbor and pier.

Pacifica Pier

Overview: In the second edition of his book “Pier Fishing in California,” Ken Jones called this the best pier in California for catching fish. The number of fishermen here would seem to confirm that, but for tourists, the allures of this 1,140-foot weather-beaten spot are fewer. Most notable is the cute, low-key Chit-Chat Café at the pier’s foot, which opens at 7 a.m. daily (“weather permitting,” says the sign on the door), serving soup, sandwiches, breakfast bagels and omelets, as well as information on which fish are biting.

Notable views: Views inland are more interesting, with rolling green hills tapering off to a craggy shoreline to the south.

Parking: Limited free parking on nearby streets.

Directions: Exit Highway 1 at Paloma Avenue/Francisco Boulevard off-ramp. Take Paloma to the coast, turn left on Beach Road. and follow it to the pier.

More: https://www.pacificapier.com

Oyster Bay Pier

Overview: This 300-foot concrete pier, built in 1983, reaches out into a pleasant bay. It’s a modest, homey spot, with a snack bar across the parking lot at the foot of the pier, plus a jogging trail that loops past the pier and grassy areas. It’s a tranquil location heading into or out of San Francisco on the 101 Freeway, and a good locale for a picnic on a mild day to take advantage of the water and the ambience.

Notable views: There is a 270-degree view, including the planes taking off and landing at San Francisco airport. To the north, you can see the San Francisco skyline in the distance; Oakland is visible across the bay.

Parking: A dozen or so free parking spaces at the foot of the pier. A larger, free parking lot is nearby.

Directions: 101 Freeway to South San Francisco/Oyster Point Boulevard. Go one mile east and turn right on Marina Boulevard until reaching an office complex. At the far end of the complex, look for a sign to the marina parking lot. The pier is visible at the end.

-- Christopher Smith

San Mateo County piers

More to Read

More From the Los Angeles Times