Pacific Coast Highway
The coast highway (Carlsbad Blvd) is a popular scenic venue for hiking and biking trails
that follows the beach or the perimeter of the several lagoons.
Carlsbad State Beach
760-438-3143; Beach Weblink;
The beach is located on Carlsbad Boulevard, Highway S21 at Tamarack in Carlsbad;
This beach offers swimming, surfing, scuba diving, fishing and beachcombing.
This small beach is located at the foot of coastal bluffs, south of Carlsbad Village.
South Carlsbad State Beach
7201 Carlsbad Blvd. Carlsbad, CA 92008; 760-438-3143;
Beach Weblink;
Located 3 miles south of Carlsbad;
This San Diego beach features swimming, surfing, skin diving, fishing and picnicking.
The large bluff-top campground is very popular, especially in summer. Stairs lead to the beach.
Cardiff State Beach
One mile south of Cardiff on Old Highway 101. 760-753-5091;
State Beach Website;
Located on a gently sloping sandy beach with warm water, this site offers swimming, surfing and beachcombing.
Located next to Cardiff's Restaurant Row.
Moonlight State Beach
Located west of I-5 on Encinitas Boulevard in Encinitas; 760-633-2740;
State Beach Website;
This wide, sandy beach offers swimming, surfing and fishing. Facilities include volleyball and tennis courts, recreational equipment rentals and a snack bar.
This beach became popular in the early 1900's when local families would come here for
midnight picnics - hence the name.
Leucadia State Beach - Beacon's Beach
948 Neptune Avenue, Encinitas, CA; 760-633-2740;
State Beach Website;
The City of Encinitas operates Leucadia State Beach (listed as Beacon's Beach).
Swimming, surfing, fishing and picnicking are popular at this small, rocky beach.
The beach access is via an improved trail at the foot of Leucadia Boulevard.
City Beaches of Solana Beach
Beach Website;
There are 1.7 miles of city maintained beachfront bordered on the north by Cardiff State Beach, and on the south by the City of Del Mar.
It is divided into four main Beach Parks: Fletcher Cove, Tide Beach Park, Seascape Surf, and Del Mar Shores.
These beaches provide a wide variety of recreational activities for City residents and visitors.
Fletcher Cove
- Excellent recreational opportunities for surfing, surf-fishing, swimming, body-boarding, jogging, and walking.
Located where Lomas Santa Fe Blvd hits the beach.
Tide Beach Park
- The beach itself is mostly known for its large reef, or "Table Tops," and its beautiful tide pools located at the park's northern border.
Adventure opportunities for surfing, surf-fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming, body-boarding, jogging, and walking.
Public access located at 302 Solana Vista Drive, at the intersection of Solana Vista and Pacific.
Seascape Surf
- Known to many surfers as Cherry Hill - an excellent location for surfing, surf-fishing, swimming, body-boarding, snorkeling, and other water related activities.
Del Mar Shores
- The beach park provides a scenic viewpoint and opportunities for surfing, surf-fishing, swimming, body-boarding, snorkeling, jogging, walking, and picnicking.
San Onofre
Featuring 3.5 miles of sandy beaches, this place includes the blufftop San Mateo campground and the very famous surf spot, Trestles Beach.
California Coastal National Monument
Established in 2000, the California Coastal National Monument runs the entire length of the
California coast (1,100 miles) between Oregon and Mexico, extends 12 nautical miles from the shoreline, and encompasses
thousands of BLM administered islands, rocks, exposed reefs, and pinnacles above mean high tide.
These provide forage and breeding grounds for significant populations of coastal birds and sea mammals.
Oceanside City Beach
Beach Website;
Oceanside boasts 3.5 miles of some of the widest beach in all of San Diego County
with playground equipment and some 70 fire rings.
- Buccaneer Beach - South Oceanside - Wide sandy shore, great for families, waders and boogie boards.
- Wisconsin Street Beach - Wisconsin Street and The Strand
- Tyson Street Park - 1/2 mile south of The Pier - picnic tables and playground adjacent to beach.
- Pier View South - Oceanside's most popular beach - on southside of the Pier - famous for surfing contests.
- Pier View North - Northside of pier - family swim beach
- Breakwater Way - Where the San Luis Rey River jetty hits the ocean is popular spot for surfing.
- Harbor Beach - adjacent to Oceanside Harbor - Oceanside's largest beach
San Diego Youth Aquatic Center
Youth watersports and marine biology camp facility owned by City of San Diego located
on the eastern shore of Fiesta Island. It is home to Camp Fiesta Island (a boy scout summer camp),
SeaCamp oceanography youth club and San Diego's Kayak Team. It is adjacent to
Enchanted Cove which is a popular for non-motor based watersports such as Kite Surfing, Small
Sailboats, Boardsailing and Kayaking.
Oceanside Pier
One of the longest piers on the west coast -
very popular for fishing and there is a Ruby's Restaurant on the end.
At the base of the pier is a bandshell which is the site of special concert events.
Mission Bay Park
Miles of bayside shoreline with facilities for picnicking, boating, camping and fishing.
Popular watersport activities include sailing, water-skiing, swimming, wind-surfing and jetbikes.
San Elijo State Beach
Coast Hwy, Encinitas; (760) 753-5091; State Beach Website;
Just south of Encinitas - features swimming, surfing and picnicking. The narrow, bluff-backed stretch of sand has a nearby reef popular with snorklers and divers.
The Cardiff Reef is located just off the mouth of San Elijo Lagoon and is a popular surfing spot.
The beach extends along Coast Highway 101, 3/4 mile north from San Elijo Lagoon's entrance channel.
This is the first California state park to feature wireless internet service.
:Campground - 171 campsites with fire rings.
Beach Adventure Outfitters:
Action Beach - Downtown Oceanside Surf Shop
Special Interests:
Live Surf Cam - Oceanside Beach
Special Events:
World Bodysurfing Championships [AUG] - Oceanside North Pier
Del Mar Beaches
La Jolla Shores