The common theme: they’re along the Pacific Ocean or have a great view of it! The Perimeter Loop, which covers about 4.5 miles of the park’s most scenic trails, is in great condition for running. But some of the best beaches in California are not really known and therefore less busy. Windansea Beach is situated at the end of Nautilus Street in La Jolla and features a small stretch of sand which is popular among families with kids and surfers. One can go as far as Oceanside, which is 16 miles. Best beaches to visit and photograph in Southern California: 1000 Steps In Laguna Beach. I like to run this trail, especially when I have time to explore the area as well (canals anyone?). All of this activity can be found on the popular Ocean Front Walk, a 3/4-mile concrete boardwalk with fast-food spots, flea markets, and shops. Surfing is a rite of passage for kids who grow up in Socal. Situated in the South Bay area, Hermosa Beach is a small beachfront community famous for its outdoor activities such as surfing, sunbathing, swimming, and volleyball. However, keep in mind that swimming is almost impossible due to the large hazardous rocks. Paths on both sides of the water. The run between the Golden Gate Bridge and Land’s End is unique: spectacular ocean views, hills, wooded sections, and some beautiful homes. Here are the best sunbathing beaches in Southern California! On the west side of the Golden Gate Bridge is the Sunset/Ocean Beach area. Cute town, too. The landscape allows you to find hidden coves that offer secluded areas where you can get some peace and quiet away from the large crowds of tourists. Whatever you’re looking for, you’ll find plenty of choice and inspiration on our round-up of the 20 very best places to live in Southern California in 2019. El Matador State Beach in Malibu Shutterstock. Millions of people flock to the California coast each year to visit its beaches If you are into kite surfing or like to play volleyball in the sand, go to the northern part of the beach where both of these are on offer. The essential weekly guide to enjoying the outdoors in Southern California. It makes sense that this postcard-perfect seaside village has one of the best beaches in California. Unfortunately, there are no public facilities provided, but lifeguards are on duty during the summer season. Thanks to the 30-feet visibility under water, this beach is ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving. A series of three parks and 8+ miles waterside trails along shores, tidal marshes, and beaches, with views out to SF Bay, the Berkeley Yacht Harbor, and South Sailing Basin. In case you get hungry after all of the water activities, there are a couple of great restaurants in the area including the Sunset Restaurant and Spruzzo Restaurant & Bar. ; Main Beach, Laguna Beach: This small beach in the middle of town attracts a variety of people, including artists and musicians. Check out our favorite beaches to hit up, from the fun and crowded to the empty and intimate. . 1. Nearly 6 mile dedicated path around the island, with great views to the water, Bay Bridge, and San Francisco in the distance. Sunset Cliffs in Ocean Beach is a great place to run in San Diego, staying high on windy cliffs with great views. The El Matador State Beach is an exceptional beach for a craggy walk down a ton of stairs and stunning views of the most interesting rock formations. It is a great place for surfing, volleyball, swimming, and just chilling in the sun. Run a beach and a canyon all in one run! Near Santa Barbara . Mt Rubidoux (Riv… 1. 12 Gorgeous Beaches in Southern California You Have To Check Out This Summer Summer will be here before you know it, and that means long and leisurely days at the beach are right around the corner. But some of the best beaches in California are not really known and therefore less busy. Heading north, views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands, and south, the SF skyline. You will also find a skate park, outdoor gym, and dozens of colorful murals. 7 Epic Beach Hikes In Southern California To Take This Summer. … Home to some of the best beaches in the United States, Southern California is well-known for its warm weather throughout the year and a variety of vacation destinations to choose from. Crown Memorial State Beach is a wonderfully restored 2.5 mile beach, with a bike/pedestrian path. EVER. Spend Spring Break At These 10 Southern California Beaches. It's possible to run along the entire road, but the section with the widest shoulder and great views is 4 miles between Cypress Point and Asilomar. The Golden State is synonymous with its golden-sand shores, stretching from the … El Matador is the nicest beach in California. It is popular for various activities including swimming, sunbathing, and surfing. It was built in the early 20th century and is situated at the end of the main entertainment and shopping area, Pier Avenue. A former military installation, now a gorgeous park with miles of trails for walking and running. The Park runs from Highway 1 at the ocean to the west, to the Haight-Ashbury area to the east. Best Hotels in Southern California, California (CA), 40 Places to See in California Before Your Kids Are All Grown Up, 30 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in California, 40 Places to See in Florida Before Your Kids Grow Up, 15 Best Things to Do in Huntington Park (CA), Santa Monica Beach: oneinchpunch / shutterstock, Coronado Beach: WaitForLight / shutterstock, Venice Beach: Ingus Kruklitis / shutterstock, Newport Beach: Grzegorz Czapski / shutterstock, La Jolla Cove: jessicakirsh / shutterstock, Hermosa Beach: aragami12345s / shutterstock, Crystal Cove State Park: LagunaticPhoto / shutterstock, Catalina Island: Chris Grant / shutterstock, Windansea Beach: Sebastien Burel / shutterstock, Manhattan State Beach: OlliCh / shutterstock, Huntington State Beach: holbox / shutterstock, 1000 Steps Beach: LagunaticPhoto / shutterstock. For usability, your best bet is to use the map on the right, which plots the routes from north to south. Combined, with piers, it's 7 miles total. There are steps down to the beach, too. Good add-ons to the north or south along the Bay Trail. El Matador State Beach California is known as a home to some of the best beaches in the United States. Reachable by bridge, or quick ferry ride from the Balboa Peninsula. California’s Pacific Coast is full of stunning beaches and we bet everyone can name a few famous ones like San Francisco’s Ocean Beach, Santa Monica Beach, Venice Beach or San Diego’s Coronado Beach.. Mackerricher State Park is one of the last opportunities for a long coastal run in Mendocino before northern California blends into Oregon. Copyright 2021 Great Runs. It is one of the top beaches in Southern California to enjoy and appreciate the sunbathing and swimming because it is well known for its warm weather. Parking costs $9, but you can find free street parking if you come early in the morning. Great views and variety. Terrific trail along side San Clemente Beach, paralleling the train tracks. Half Moon Bay is an idyllic coastal town about 20 min. The essential weekly guide to enjoying the outdoors in Southern California. Looking for the best Running trails around California? Includes Muscle Beach, the famed outdoor basketball courts, and Venice Skatepark. Big wide beach, towering cliffs overhead, crashing waves, seamless firm sand, sunsets….it doesn’t get better than this. There are a lot of popular places to go this year, but in this article we are going to focus on the top ten spring break beaches in Southern California. Starting at Santa Monica Pier, this dedicated paved path goes 3.3 miles to Venice Beach, ending at Washington Blvd. But not all SoCal beaches are created equal, and with some 300 or so miles of coastline to choose from, selecting a beach destination for your trip can be daunting. Source: divanov / shutterstock El Matador Beach. At the tip of Point Loma, with fantastic views of the water, San Diego downtown & harbor, and Coronado Island. Wonderful 3 mile paved trail on the Balboa Peninsula, with great water views. You can also have a meal at one of the high-end restaurants on the island. You can technically make it longer if you wanted by heading past either area, but this stretch is pretty awesome. The highlight is the five mile Haul Road Trail, a former coastal route stretching from Fort Bragg to Inglenook. The Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail, which spans the coast of Monterey between Pacific Grove and Castroville, is a beautiful 18 mile former railway, which is now a two lane path leading to some of the most notable tourist attractions in the area. Hilly. Insider tips on the best of our beaches, trails, parks, deserts, forests and mountains. We’ve mapped a well-known 12-mile loop, almost all of it on well-marked off-road paths, with water views, lovely parks, beaches, bridges, and an island. Few college campuses rival UC Santa Barbara in beauty. The Insider Info: Huntington Beach, also known as Surf City USA, is widely regarded as one of the best beaches in Southern California. Big Sur is one of the most spectacular gems of the California Coast, and the views are at their best from the Panorama Trail in Andrew Molera State Park, 22 miles south of Carmel. Southern California is stereotyped for its beachy lifestyle – and for good reason. You will also notice many visitors playing volleyball in the inviting soft sand. A wonderful 2.5 mile dedicated pedestrian path, with great harbor views. … On a clear day, you can see the Malibu coast to Santa Monica. For an iconic run along a long stretch of beach, look no further than Arroyo Burro Beach County Park — more commonly known as Hendry’s Beach. One can put together a terrific run, with parks, trails, and paths along the harbor and marina. Sur.Wonderful trail running, frisbee and hiking activities providing plenty of shade ride from the Balboa Peninsula, fantastic... 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