Everyone knows about So Cal’s beaches. We visit them to surf, swim, people watch, but hike!? Really? Yes. I am here to tell you that some of my favorite hikes are beach hikes. Here are pictures of a few of them right now, in fact: Point Dume in Malibu, Bluff Cove in Palos Verdes Estates, Terranea Beach in Rancho Palos Verdes, Corona Del Mar and Dana Point. Can you figure out which is which? Email your answers to nobodyhikesinla@yahoo.com!
Beach #3
Beach #4
Beach #5
Nature's "putting green" on Terranea Beach
Inside the sea cave on Terranea Beach
Text and photography copyright 2010 by David W. Lockeretz, all rights reserved. Information and opinions provided are kept current to the best of the author’s ability. All readers hike at their own risk, and should be aware of the possible dangers of hiking, walking and other outdoor activities. The author does not take any responsibility for injuries sustained during hikes or walks on the routes described here. Check the informational links provided for up to date trail condition information.
Terranea Beach Sea Caves
The Terranea is a new resort located on the former site of Marineland on the Palo Verdes Peninsula. The Blufftop trail loops around the side of the resort, descending to a rocky beach where there is a large sea cave. The trail is similar to the nearby Seascape trail at Point Vicente, but differs in that it provides easy shore access. Unfortunately, it also feels more like an urban trail than its neighbor to the west; the first half mile or so is on the grounds of the resort and the cave has a lot of graffiti and debris. But it’s one of the easiest ways to see the unique geology of the Palos Verdes peninsula, and with obvious routes and a mild grade, it’s accessible to hikers of all ability and experience levels.
From the parking lot, head left (east) toward the resort and pick up the signed Blufftop Trail. You get great views of the ocean below as you wind around the back of the resort. After few minutes, you meet a service road. Take a right, walk past Nelson’s restaurant and continue on the eastern extension of the Blufftop Trail. Here, the trail gets a little more interesting as it descends a staircase to the beach. Those who are interested can take a detour into the tidal zone (be careful on the rocks), while the trail continues toward the beach. You pass by a swimming pool, a parking area and then make your final descent.
Despite its proximity to the resort–and the lawn chairs you see everywhere–Terranea Beach has a fairly isolated feel to it. The steep bluffs isolate it from much of the noise of Palos Verdes Drive West. Several large rocks are covered with moss and algae; one in particular has a flat top with a little hole on one side that looks like it could be a putting green on Terranea’s nine-hole golf course.
The cave is located across an outcrop of rocks on the east side of the beach. If the tide is low, you should have no problem climbing around the outcrop and getting to the cave. Its entrance is considerably larger than those at Dana Point or Corona Del Mar, but it narrows as you get toward the back.
After you finish at the beach, retrace your steps to the parking lot. If you want to get down to the ocean via a quicker–and more challenging–route, try the Pescadero Trail, which climbs steeply down the bluffs to the ocean, where you can walk for a ways in either direction.
View from the bluffs at Point Vicente
Interpretive and Seascape Trails, Point Vicente County Park
Some purists may not consider this a “hike”; after all, it’s in a fully developed area, and it never really gets away from the noise of Palos Verdes Drive South. However, that’s their loss. For novice hikers, this trip is a perfect way to enjoy the outdoors, and it will also provide veteran hikers with coastal views that are hard to beat. The trails are also wheelchair-accessible.
From the dirt parking lot, head north along the paved Interpretive Trail. You get great views over the bluffs to the ocean, 130 feet below, and can also see the Santa Monica Mountains, Catalina Island and sometimes Santa Barbara Island. After a third of a mile, you get to the beginning of the dirt Seascape Trail, which continues along the bluffs. Two trails head back toward the street, but your route stays straight. As you near the trail’s end at Calle Entradero, look for some interesting geology on the cliffs to your left.
When you reach the street, you can extend your walk a little by heading north on Calle Entradero to a parking lot, or you can head back and visit the historic lighthouse.
View from the Pirate Trail in the Forrestal Reserve
Text and photography copyright 2010 by David W. Lockeretz, all rights reserved. Information and opinions provided are kept current to the best of the author’s ability. All readers hike at their own risk, and should be aware of the possible dangers of hiking, walking and other outdoor activities. The author does not take any responsibility for injuries sustained during hikes or walks on the routes described here. Check the informational links provided for up to date trail condition information.
Mariposa/Quarry Loop in the Forrestal Reserve
Great ocean views, interesting geology and a surprising amount of solitude make this one of the better short hikes on the Palos Verdes Peninsula – not to mention one of the most challenging. On a clear day, you can see Catalina, the Santa Monica Mountains, and if you’re lucky, remote Santa Barbara Island in the Channel Islands National Park.
From the gate, pick up the trail heading right, past a chain linked fence. Almost immediately, you come to a junction. The right fork, the Pirate Trail, is your return route. Head left, toward the Quarry Trail, switchbacking your way up the hill, taking in nice ocean views as you ascend. After half a mile or so, head left on the Bassalt Trail and take a quick right on the Mariposa Trail, which heads east. You get nice views of the canyon below and can see the trail you were just on. Notice the interesting sedimentary rock formations as you make your way through the back of the canyon.
After crossing a foot bridge, the trail heads back toward the ocean, rises slightly and comes to an intersection. If you have had enough, you can follow the steep Pirate Trail back to the street, but if you want a challenge, take a hard left onto the Cristo Que Viento trail. You begin a short but steep climb – 300 feet in about a third of a mile – that finally tops out at a clearing, just below from private homes. Here you’ll get your best views of the whole hike as the ocean spreads out in front of you, barely a mile away and almost a thousand feet below.
After enjoying the vistas, make a careful descent, continuing along the Pirate Trail and back to the street. If you enjoyed this trip, make sure you check out some of the other trails in the Forrestal Reserve, and elsewhere on the peninsula.
Geology on the beach at Corona Del Mar
Text and photography copyright 2010 by David W. Lockeretz, all rights reserved. Information and opinions provided are kept current to the best of the author’s ability. All readers hike at their own risk, and should be aware of the possible dangers of hiking, walking and other outdoor activities. The author does not take any responsibility for injuries sustained during hikes or walks on the routes described here. Check the informational links provided for up to date trail condition information.
Corona Del Mar Sea Caves
The sea caves of Corona Del Mar are a great way to beat the heat. If you want to check out some interesting coastal geology without having to go all the way down to Dana Point, this is a good hike to do. It is a little trickier than the Dana Point trip, however, so if you don’t have a lot of experience climbing over slippery rocks and with beach hiking, definitely make sure you go at low tide.
From your car, head southeast on Ocean and head down the curving walkway to the beach. Here you will see Arch Rock, located a little ways off shore. Head right, toward the rocks, and carefully make your way up and over them toward the sea cave. The cave goes back at least ten feet, and is about six feet tall at its highest. This of course all depends on the tides; expect the waves to reach the two entrances to the cave.
The short stretch from the cave to the state beach is the hardest part of the trip, so if the tides are high and you aren’t confident with your rock scrambling abilities, you can retrace your steps along the shore and back up the ramp to your car. However, if you want to continue, when you reach the beach, you can get back to Ocean Blvd. either by another walkway similar to the one you came down, or by a staircase on the opposite side of the parking lot. The staircase leads to a place called Lookout Point, where you get nice views of the Corona Del Mar beach, the Newport area and Catalina Island.
Crystal ice plants
Text and photography copyright 2010 by David W. Lockeretz, all rights reserved. Information and opinions provided are kept current to the best of the author’s ability. All readers hike at their own risk, and should be aware of the possible dangers of hiking, walking and other outdoor activities. The author does not take any responsibility for injuries sustained during hikes or walks on the routes described here. Check the informational links provided for up to date trail condition information.
Dana Point Sea Caves
If none of the ten Halloween hikes I posted earlier work for you this weekend, consider this short but challenging trip to the sea caves of Dana Point. Between the caves and the area’s history as a filming locale for pirate movies, there’s a lot of intrigue on this hike.
From the parking area, descend a staircase to the beach and head westward along the rocks. If the tide is low, progress shouldn’t be too tough, but as always, be careful when you’re walking across this kind of terrain. On your left are great views of the ocean and on your right are the bluffs, with interesting geology and flora, including crystal ice plants.
After half a mile or so, you come to the first sea cave. Shortly beyond that is the second, which has two entrances. You may be able to scramble through the smaller one, which comes first, but if not, go a little farther to the larger entrance. The cave is large enough that you should be able to stand comfortably inside it. Here, you’ll get a unique view of the ocean. This makes a good turnaround point, but if the tide is low and you feel confident in your rock-scrambling abilities you can head farther down the coast to the Strand Beach.
When you get back to the parking lot, make sure to check out the replica of the Pilgrim, the boat which Richard Henry Dana described in Two Years Before the Mast. If you enjoyed this hike, be sure to check out the similar sea caves farther north along the coast, near Corona Del Mar.
Text and photography copyright 2010 by David W. Lockeretz, all rights reserved. Information and opinions provided are kept current to the best of the author’s ability. All readers hike at their own risk, and should be aware of the possible dangers of hiking, walking and other outdoor activities. The author does not take any responsibility for injuries sustained during hikes or walks on the routes described here. Check the informational links provided for up to date trail condition information.
Point Dume to Paradise Cove
Point Dume is a peninsula that can be seen from most of the coastal Santa Monica mountains, and it has a lot of history as a navigational landmark and a sacred spot for the Chumash tribe. Today it is a popular area for surfing, swimming, whale-watching and hiking. This route is a good introduction to beach-hiking, which can be harder than it sounds.
From the parking area, head up toward the bluffs on a fenced-in trail. You rise quickly above the beach, and after turning right twice, you access a boardwalk that takes you to the edge of the bluff, with dramatic views of the ocean below. The scene is similar to the cliffs of Anacapa Island. Soon, you come to another split, where the main route heads to the right. Straight ahead is another parking area, and to the left is an optional spur to the very top of the bluff (elevation 203 feet), where there is a monument describing the area’s history.
You have one more right turn to make, which will take you back down toward the beach. Descend a steep staircase (be careful!) and head left. There is some fascinating geology on the way to Paradise Cove, and you will also likely see a variety of shorebirds.
Walking along the beach can be tiring, but if the tide is low (see the link above), travel should be pretty simple. There is one short stretch that requires some boulder scrambling and wave-dodging, but if you are careful, you should come through with dry feet.
Shortly after this, the pier at Paradise Cove comes into view, and you arrive after 2.1 miles from the parking lot. There are a bunch of chairs to sit and watch the surf, and if you like you can walk out onto the pier or grab a bite at the restaurant before heading back. This hike is also popular as a point-to-point trip, an option for groups of hikers with more than one vehicle.
