Sunset sessions in San Diego

Access is via the Sunset Cliffs natural stairways and trails south of Ocean Beach. The main entry point is off Sunset Cliffs Blvd near Ladera Street—look for the worn dirt trail down the bluff. The descent is steep, rocky, and can be slippery when wet. No handrails, no official path. You need to scramble over rocks to reach the water. Not accessible for anyone with mobility limitations. No facilities—use the restrooms at Sunset Cliffs Park to the north before heading down.

Access from the Mission Beach boardwalk—walk south along the sand to the jetty rocks at the channel entrance. The closest street access is at the south end of Mission Blvd near the channel. You can also enter from the Jetty Park area. The rocks along the jetty are slippery and sharp—don't walk on them to get a better entry point. Paddle out from the sandy beach south of the rocks. No facilities right at the break; the nearest restrooms are at South Mission Beach park a few blocks north.

Steep hike (Gliderport); pack light, sandals bad idea

Access is from the north end of Ocean Blvd on the Coronado strand, near the Naval Amphibious Base boundary. Walk north along the beach toward the jetty at the San Diego Bay entrance. Be aware of the military boundary—do not cross onto NAB property. There are no facilities at the break itself. The nearest restrooms and showers are at Coronado City Beach to the south. The walk from parking to the break is about 10-15 minutes along the sand.

Crystal Pier sits at the end of Garnet Avenue, the main commercial drag of Pacific Beach. Beach access is on either side of the pier with staircases from the boardwalk. The pier itself has a hotel (Crystal Pier Hotel) with cottages built on it—it's a landmark. Full facilities in the area: restrooms on the boardwalk, outdoor showers, restaurants and shops along Garnet Ave within a block. Lifeguards are stationed nearby year-round. The boardwalk runs north and south for easy access to adjacent peaks if the pier is too crowded.

Beach access is directly in front of the Hotel del Coronado at 1500 Orange Avenue. Public beach access points flank the hotel on both sides. The beach is wide and flat with easy sand entry—no rocks, reefs, or tricky currents to navigate. Lifeguards are stationed along this stretch in summer. Restrooms and showers are available at the public beach access points. The hotel's restaurants and shops are steps away. Coronado's main village is a short walk or bike ride along Orange Avenue.

Park on Marine Street or surrounding residential streets in La Jolla and walk to the end of the road. A steep concrete staircase descends the bluff to the beach—it's narrow and gets slippery when wet, so watch your footing with a board under your arm. There are no facilities at the bottom: no restrooms, no showers, no lifeguard tower. The nearest restrooms are at Windansea to the south or Bird Rock to the north. Respect the neighborhood—don't block driveways or park illegally, as residents are vigilant about enforcement.

Access from Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, south of Ladera Street. Look for the informal dirt trails that lead down the bluff face—these are steep, eroded, and can be treacherous when wet or loose. There are no improved staircases at this section. Some surfers access via the tidepools to the north at lower tides. No restrooms or showers at the break itself; the nearest facilities are at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park to the north. The bluff edges are unstable—do not stand close to the edge or attempt to scramble down unfamiliar paths.

Access via informal bluff trails along Sunset Cliffs Boulevard south of Ocean Beach. The trails down are steep, rocky, and require sure footing—this is not a staircase situation. Most surfers descend at specific known spots; ask a local or watch where others go rather than pioneering your own path. The paddle-out requires navigating through rocks and kelp. Time your entry with a lull between sets. At low tide, you can access the water from the rocks more easily but the reef is more exposed. No lifeguards, no facilities.

Access from the north end of Pacific Beach via Law Street or the coastal path that runs along the bluff. The reef and rocky shoreline make water entry a bit tricky—most surfers enter from the sandy pocket to the south and paddle north along the kelp line to the takeoff zone. At lower tides, you can scramble over the rocks to get closer to the peak, but it's slippery and sharp. Restrooms and showers are available at Law Street Beach to the south. Lifeguards are seasonal at the nearest tower.

Enter through Silver Strand State Beach off Highway 75 (the Silver Strand) between Coronado and Imperial Beach. The state park has a main entrance with a day-use fee. Once inside, the beach is wide open with easy, flat sand access—no bluffs, no stairs, no rocks. You can walk your board right to the water's edge. Restrooms, showers, and picnic areas are available in the park. The beach extends for over a mile, so you can spread out. Lifeguards are on duty during peak season.

Take the metal staircase for North Garbage or use the rope-assisted path from the dirt lot for South Garbage. Carefully climb down the sandstone cliff and time your entry between sets.

Walk to the point, climb down onto the ledge near the metal cage and jump into the surf between sets. Be prepared to scramble up slick rocks on exit.

Access via stairs/trails; check your exit before paddling

Access through the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve, off Seacoast Drive in Imperial Beach. Drive or walk south through the reserve to the beach. The walk from parking to the surf can be 10-20 minutes depending on how far south you go. There are no facilities at the break—no restrooms, no showers, no lifeguards. The nearest lifeguard tower is back at IB pier. The Tijuana River mouth is immediately to the south; do not surf south of the main peaks. Bring everything you need and plan to be self-sufficient.

Two entrances off I-5. Southbound: exit Carmel Valley Rd, drive west 1.5 miles to McGonigle Rd, turn left into the North Beach lot. Northbound: exit Genesee Ave, turn left, follow it onto N. Torrey Pines Rd for 4.5 miles downhill to the South Beach lot on your left. You can also walk down from Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve via trail. The beach stretches 4.5 miles so it's a serious walk between the north and south ends. No dogs allowed anywhere on the beach or in vehicles.