Exploring the area’s hiking and walking trails doesn’t have to be an all-day, exhausting endeavor.
Sometimes, you just need a light stroll, or an easy bike ride, to feel invigorated and accomplished – and what better way to soak in the sights than with a seaside view.
While Southern California beaches can be crowded, there are open space areas near the coast set aside for strollers, joggers and hikers to explore. These stretches of pathways still offer the serene sights of the ocean and a cool, salty breeze to keep an outing pleasant.
We set out to find out some nice, easier-to-manage ocean-view coastal trails to explore, a way to escape and feel like you’re on an excursion by the sea – even if just for an hour or two.
If good things ever came in small packages, this is so it. Seriously. This is so it!
This local jaunt is not even two miles, but the payoff packs a lot of punch: Magestic views abound as the surrounding Point Dume Natural Preserve and the ocean itself coincide for what likely are countless paintings hung on many walls.
But even better, you get to see it in real life.
The dramatic bluffs, the wildflowers, the panorama — they all make for an immersive experience as you stroll your way to the peak of Point Dume, where it all comes together in that moment when you just take a deep breath and take it all in. Forget about work. Forget about COVID (for a moment). Put them in the background for a bit and just look, smell, feel.
Once you reach the “top” of the trail (the total climb is at about 350 feet, which is “easy”), Mugu and the Santa Monica Mountains will do the rest. Cathartic to say the least.
Park near 27807 Pacific Coast Highway, in Malibu.
Long Beach’s Shoreline Bike Path
We had to slip this one in, because the parallel pedestrian path is just such a great and open chance to get to your walk on. And if you’re a rider, bless you, for it will be hard to take the smile off your face knowing you’ve chosen the right path as you travel what indeed is one long beach.
Long Beach’s Shoreline Bike Path is a 7.3-mile, heavily trafficked out-and-back trail. It runs from the city’s eastern boundary at Alamitos Bay to the Navy Mole on the downtown Long Beach waterfront, offering a view of the Port of Long Beach and the Queen Mary.
A side trail takes bike riders to the esplanade along Rainbow Harbor to the Aquarium of the Pacific. Ambitious riders can go over a bridge to the Queen Mary and Carnival Cruise Lines terminal.
The path is flat and surfaced, with cement for bike riders and other wheeled modes of transportation, and that separate pedestrian path along the primary beach portion. There are two concession stands and restrooms along the path, as well as commercial areas.
Riders and walkers will pass Rosie’s Dog Beach, the only off-leash dog beach in the area. There are sand volleyball courts, playgrounds adjacent to the path. The eastern end of the path passes one of the most popular kite surfing areas in Southern California.
The views are also no slouch, but it’s a different kind of view. You’re right. It’s not necessarily the ocean-meets-the-forest thing you’ll see farther north on the PCH. But there’s something about the Queen Mary, and the ports, the massive tankers and cargo ships off in the distance, that make make it an eye-catching experience in its own way.
It’s not Big Sur, but it’s not supposed to be. Oh, and keep in mind, you don’t have to travel the whole trail. Do what works.
Abalone Cove (Palos Verdes peninsula)
Talk about packing a lot of punch…
This little gem of a trail is just 1.1 miles on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. And yet, consider the world you’d be walking into: Tide pools and a rocky beach, where visitors have described it as the way nature should look.
This one might even keep the kids interested amid an abundance of natural beauty many hikes for the beginner to the more adventurous.
A word of caution about the high tides, but when they are low, the tide pools are mesmerizing reminders that there’s so much more to life than morning commutes on the freeway, pandemics and a recall election.
If a morning of peace, accompanied by the sound of waves is what you seek on an relatively easy and shorter walk, consider this one. Do note that the Abalone Cove Reserve and Ocean Trails Reserve are open, but both have sections of beach and trails that are closed due to rock fall and land movement, according to the city. This includes a portion of the tide pools. There are signs posted at the closed areas.
Still, you’re in business checking out the peninsula, in general.
The Alta Vicente Reserve at the Rancho Palos Verdes Civic Center is an active habitat restoration site and offers views of the coast and the Point Vicente Lighthouse. Its trails lead to the lighthouse, the Point Vicente Interpretive Center and the Terranea Resort.
The trails also offer a more challenging hike from the Salvation Army Trail to a steep climb in the Three Sisters Reserve. The city has recently completed a beautification project at the site. The Civic Center is at 30940 Hawthorne Blvd., where visitors can park free in the City Hall lot. According to the city, it is one of the least crowded coastal hiking spots in the city.
The Abalone Cove Trail in Rancho Palos Verdes has trails leading to Abalone Cove and Sacred Cove, which feature a State Ecological Preserve. The trails have views of the ocean and Catalina Island with tidepools featured at the end of the trail. Parking is available at Abalone Cove Shoreline Park, located at 5970 Palos Verdes Drive South.
The Ocean Trails Reserve in Rancho Palos Verdes features acres of restored or preserved habitat areas around Trump National Golf Course and access to the beach. Reserve hours are one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Parking is available on La Rotonda Drive and a public parking lot at the golf course.
Ahhh… Breathe it all in.
You might say the trails that line the nearly 30-acre Santa Monica recreational hub are hidden in plain view.
It’s Santa Monica, a metro that meets the sea, but in dramatic fashion. The gorgeous, albeit eroding, bluffs are breathtaking, where on a clear day you can see all the way to Malibu.
The path here is between Ocean Avenue and the Pacific Coast Highway below, and overlooks Santa Monica beach and, well, the Pacific Ocean. It’s definitely well-traveled day to day. But it is a classic. You’ve got the well-kept grassy areas, the flat and smooth paths, the palm trees. It’s so L.A., but it’s also so good for the soul. Along the way, there’s the Camera Obscura Art Lab (a hub for interactive exhibits — temporarily closed), a rose garden, a picnic area, among other goodies.
And don’t be surprised if you end up at the Santa Monica Pier.
Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
There are 40 miles of trails tucked away in the 7,000 acres of Laguna Coast Wilderness Park.
You can choose from pathways lined with oak and sycamore trees, and the trek pays off once you hit the rocky bluffs that overlook expansive scenic views, the glistening ocean in the distance.
Be warned, the further you get from the coast, the warmer it gets. Be prepared with plenty of water to hydrate.
Mostly untouched by human development, the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park exists much like it did thousands of years ago, with coastal sage scrub abundant in the rolling hills.
As fall approaches, time your hike after a rain and you may see streams trickling down creek beds. You may even see a deer or bobcat drinking from the rivers.
Explorers can make the trek as easy or as challenging as they want, even connecting to other the trails that make up the 20,000-acre South Coast Wilderness area. You can connect to the Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Crystal Cove State Park or inland into Irvine’s open space network.
A good starting point is the Nix Nature Center, 18751 Laguna Canyon Road, where you can find trail information, including what’s allowed and not.
In some areas, horseback riding is allowed and you also may have to share the path with mountain bikers or trail runners. Dog lovers will have to leave their furry friends at home.
If you’re hesitant to explore alone, guided tours are available and suit many interests, such as those looking for a workout to those wanting to know about native plant and wildlife habitats.
Parking is $3 a day. More information: ocparks.com
Huntington Beach cliffs
A stretch between the busy Huntington City Beach and Bolsa Chica State Beach offers a slightly elevated view down to the ocean and sand.
This area is particularly fun for canine fanatics who love to watch pooches frolic on the sand and in the surf at the dog beach down below.
The pathway is popular with joggers, walkers and bikers, especially because parking is plentiful at lots just steps from the path, located along Pacific Coast Highway, and at both the city and state beaches.
For a longer trek, follow the pathway along Bolsa Chica State Beach and cross over at Warner Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway to the Bolsa Chica wetlands, offering an entirely new coastal landscape to explore with fewer crowds, while still enjoying the ocean views.
Dana Point HeadlandsAbout three miles of trails sit high up on the picturesque plateau, perfect for taking in harbor views and maybe even spotting a whale spout in the distance.
There are four conservation parks within the 60 acres of the Dana Point Headlands: Harbor Point Conservation Park, Dana Point Preserve, Hilltop Conservation Park and South Strands Conservation Park.
Within the area, there are some 150 species of plants and animals native to coastal Southern California, including the endangered Pacific Pocket Mouse and Coastal California Gnatcatcher.
Step into the Nature Interpretive Center, 34558 Scenic Drive, to learn about the marine life that can be spotted in the distance. Don’t forget your binoculars to see the sea creatures out at sea.
The center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, get information at .
The parks and trails can be reached either off of Green Lantern or at Dana Strand Road, with street parking or in the Nature Interpretive Center parking lot.
No dogs are allowed on these trails because of the sensitive landscape and habitats.
San Clemente beach trail
The 2.3-mile trail that stretches from Calafia State Beach to North Beach in San Clemente is like no other stretch of Orange County, a dirt path that runs alongside the sea built about a decade ago.
Start at either end of the trail and stop at the iconic pier at the halfway point for a snack or cocktail from Fisherman’s Restaurant, or take a stroll on the wooden planks to hover above the water and see what fish anglers are reeling up.
It’s not uncommon to see dolphins feeding close to shore and the path passes several popular breaks, including T-Street, where surfers ride waves.
Closer to the state beach to the south is the more rustic, less crowded stretch of beach path. A bridge north of the pier near Mariposa Beach offers some great views of the Dana Point Headlands to the north.
If the 2.3 miles isn’t enough to satisfy, keep going along the concrete pathway to reach Doheny State Beach and the Dana Point Harbor, or cross over at Avenida Pico to the Sea Summit trails, which are rarely crowded and offer several paths and various inclines within 116 acres of habitat.
The Sea Summit nature preserve opened in 2015 and is still a bit of a hidden gem that offers ocean views at vistas throughout.
One last tip: Don’t forget the sunscreen, swimsuit and a beach towel, just in case you need to take a quick ocean dip to cool down during your coastal trek. And remember, trails are subject to closure. On the other hand, they are also subject to being a popular place to be, so plan accordingly.
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Go coastal! Check out these 8 easy Southern California Labor Day weekend hikes - LA Daily News
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