Devils Slide Beach, Pacific coast beach in San Mateo County, United States.

Devils Slide Beach is a coastal strip in San Mateo County where sheer cliffs drop into the Pacific Ocean and rock formations rise from the water below. The shoreline here sits at one of the most dramatic points along the coast, with steep terrain creating a striking natural backdrop for the beach.

California State Route 1 was built above this location in 1936, replacing the narrow and winding Pedro Mountain Road that once served the area. This new highway transformed how people traveled along this stretch of coast.

Devils Slide Beach lies along the route of the California Coastal Trail, a path planned to run about 1,200 miles from Oregon to Mexico. The beach sits in San Mateo County, on the Pacific shore south of San Francisco, where the trail follows the coast.

Devils Slide Beach lies below the cliff section of Highway 1, and the rough trail down is steep and uneven, so sturdy shoes are needed. The shoreline narrows at high tide, and loose rock falls from the bluffs above. Check tide tables before setting out and keep clear of the base of the cliffs.

A military triangulation station with six structures once stood on the headland during World War II to help defend San Francisco harbor. These wartime defense facilities are no longer visible today, though they left their mark on the area's past.