We love our September summer, when blazing sun and blue sky days create perfect beach weather. Here are three sandy spots that offer all the season's charms—without the season's crowds.
If you're looking for the quintessential Northern California pocket beach, head to Marin's Pirate's Cove. Only accessible by a moderate 1.5-mile hike, this secluded haven of soft white sand is bookended by tall,  rugged cliffs. And the coast-hugging trail you must take to get there is almost as spectacular as the cove itself. Starting from Muir Beach, you ascend a fire road for about three-quarters of a mile until you reach the crest of the trail, and then—wow! Your high vantage point (pictured) offers stunning views of the craggy coast all the way to Pacifica—and you'll spot the stretch of sand that's your destination. Pirate's Cove's privacy made it a great staging area for bootleggers in the 1920s. These days there's no hooch (except what you pack in your picnic basket), but there's plenty of booty in the form of salty air and solitude. Kick off your boots, dip your toes in the waves, and soak in the sun and seclusion. Argh, matey, there be treasure here!
Note: You'll have more beach if you plan your visit for low tide; click here for a tide chart. If you want to extend your trip, make your return hike a loop by exiting the cove and heading south toward Tennessee Beach. Turn left onto the Coastal Fire Road, and then complete the loop by taking this trail back to where you got onto the Coastal Trail, near Muir Beach. It's a three-mile, uphill hike, but the views—and the sense of accomplishment—are delicious. Click here for a PDF map of the area. Dogs allowed.
Directions: Take 101 north across the Golden Gate Bridge. Exit onto Highway 1 and go north about six miles. Turn left and follow the sign to Muir Beach. From the parking lot, cross the footbridge and turn left, heading up the Coastal Fire Road.
It's a warm Friday afternoon, and you can't take the Excel spreadsheets and cubicle cacophonies for one more minute. Kick off your weekend right: grab a Tsingtao and your favorite take-out treat; then make a  beeline for China Beach, San Francisco's semi-hidden seaside escape. Located in the Sea Cliff district, the place was named for the Chinese fishermen who used to congregate here. Today the fishermen have been replaced by savvy locals who come for the views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the bay all the way to Point Bonita Lighthouse. The beach is about the size of a football field, making it the ideal place for an impromptu urban sunset feast. Gan bei!
Directions: Take 26th Ave. north into the Sea Cliff district. Turn left onto Scenic Rd., then turn left again onto Seacliff Rd. Follow this until you reach the fork in the road and turn right (a sign says "not a through street"). Parking will be on the right. Dogs not allowed.
Ah, Half Moon Bay on a sunny September day. Eight miles of beach and that farm-meets-coast atmosphere. It's a classic getaway. The cherry on the top of this sundae is a little-visited slice of sand  called Cowell Ranch Beach. To get there, head south of Half Moon Bay. Just past the Ritz Carlton, you'll find a tiny parking lot. Look for the sign that says Cowell Ranch Beach. Follow the flat half-mile trail through an artichoke field—and thank the Peninsula Open Space Trust for preserving this working farm from development. At the end of the trail, descend a wooden stairway about a hundred feet to a crescent-shaped beach that's tucked away from the rest of the world by towering cliffs. Enjoy the ocean breeze, watch the harbor seals play, and relish a different side of Half Moon Bay.
Directions: Head south on Highway 1 through the Half Moon Bay. At three-quarters of a mile past Miramontes Rd. (which goes to the Ritz), look for a small parking lot on the right. If it's full, park one-quarter mile down the road on a turn-out on the right. Dogs not allowed.
Correction: Last week's issue, "Labor Day Escapes," suggested visiting Steep Ravine hot springs at low tide. We regret that over the Labor Day weekend the tides were not low enough to expose the springs, which are usually only accessible at an extreme negative tide of minus 1.0-foot mean tide or lower. Here is the tide chart and the corrected story. Thanks for reading Weekend Sherpa, and enjoy your soaks.
Patagonia has teamed up with Weekend Sherpa to talk about initiatives they support, activities they love, and clothes they dig.
Through their iconic photo and essay catalogs, Patagonia became the first company to teach the concept of layering to the outdoor community: Wear an inner layer against the skin for moisture transport, a middle layer for insulation, and an outer-shell layer for wind and water protection. Whether you're hiking in the mountains, biking the back roads, or venturing somewhere beyond, stay warm and dry with Patagonia's newest edition of base layer clothing made from merino wool. Staff picks include the Men's Wool 3 T-Shirt and the Women's Wool 3 V-Neck. These machine-washable layers insulate even when wet, resist odor, and stretch when you stretch. Plus, they're eco-washed without chlorine. Your skin will thank you for it.
The Wool 3 line is available at these stores:
Patagonia San Francisco, 770 North Point St., San Francisco; 415-771-2050.
Patagonia Palo Alto, 525 Alma St., Palo Alto; 650-329-8556.
Weekend Sherpa thanks Patagonia for a fun and inspiring 12 Weeks of Summer.
Don't forget to pick up your free Patagonia tote bag while supplies last. Click here for details. Miss a week? Click here to see an archive.
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