[6] The first European land exploration of Alta California, the Spanish Portolà expedition, traveled along the coast on its way north, camping near today's San Gregorio, from October 24 to 26, 1769.

Franciscan missionary Juan Crespi noted in his diary: "This morning broke very cloudy, and as soon as we started on our way it began to rain, and in the whole three leagues [about 7.8 miles (12.6 km)] that we traveled it was falling on us.

Constructed in 1872 by Alexander Gordon, the chute was destroyed by a storm in 1885; eyebolts remain in the cliff-face.

[10][11] The beach was formerly private,[10] with a house on the cliff top, and was owned from 1998 to 2017 by a trust of musician Chris Isaak.

The property, comprising 58 acres (23 ha) was then purchased by the Peninsula Open Space Trust, who transferred it in 2020 to San Mateo County.