I spent five days hiking a section of the California coast, from San Clemente down to San Diego. It was just a small part of the coastline, but it was packed with beautiful views, peaceful trails, and plenty of ocean air. I camped out of my Crosstrek, kept things simple, and just enjoyed being outside. Here are some of my favorite trails I found along the way.
Annies Canyon
This was a shorter hike—just under a mile to the canyon—but you can add on by taking the walking path nearby, which is what I did. It was nice getting a little closer to the ocean and seeing the views from a different perspective. The slot canyon is the highlight of the trail, even though it’s short. It was still really fun to walk through. There’s a ladder you can climb to reach the top and finish the trail, or you can take the alternate route around if you’d rather skip it. There are signs to guide you either way. Overall, it was a quick and fun hike with something a little different.
Iron Mountain
Iron Mountain was a tough hike! It’s about 5.5 miles round trip, but the steady elevation gain combined with the lack of shade made it feel even harder—definitely a leg burner. I still really enjoyed it, though. The trail takes you to the top of the mountain, where you get an incredible 360-degree view of the surrounding area, including the San Diego Valley. It’s a popular spot, especially in the mornings, and I can see why—standing at the summit was one of those cool moments I won’t forget. Just make sure to bring plenty of water, wear solid hiking shoes, and be ready for sun exposure and some rocky sections along the way.
Old Point Loma
Cabrillo National Monument is a National Historic Monument and one of my favorite stops on this trip. It’s where the old lighthouse is located, and there are several trails throughout the monument grounds. There’s an entrance fee (about $15 when I went), but I thought it was totally worth it—I ended up spending the whole day exploring. One of the highlights was the 2.5-mile hike down to the tide pools. I visited in May, and the best time for tide pooling was around 1 or 2 PM. I hit it just right and had such a fun time, even though it was pretty crowded.
Beyond that, there are a few other trails to check out. The whole area kind of feels like a little island looking out over San Diego, and I especially loved the Bayside Trail. It had amazing views of the city and the harbor. There’s also a national cemetery on the grounds. I visited over Memorial Day weekend, and walking through it felt really meaningful and peaceful. Altogether, this spot was a mix of history, views, and cool coastal hikes—definitely one I’d recommend.
La Jolla
There’s a walking path along the coast in La Jolla that I really loved. It’s not a hike, more of a casual walk, but it’s definitely something I recommend checking out if you’re in the area. As you walk along the cliffs, you can see seals and sea lions laying out on the rocks, especially near La Jolla Cove and the Children’s Pool. It was so cool to see them up close just doing their thing—barking, swimming, or sunbathing.
The views of the ocean are beautiful, and there are plenty of spots to stop and take it all in. It’s a super popular area, though, so parking can be a bit tricky. I had to circle a couple times, but if you’re patient, you’ll find something. Totally worth it.
I did a number of hikes throughout the entire trip—pretty much the entire trip was spent hiking—but these were the ones that really stood out to me. They’re the ones I’d recommend and would totally do again. There are so many fun trails along the coast with some seriously awesome views!
Stay Safe and Start Exploring!