Trails State Beach — Attraction in San Clemente

The BEST place for surfing (short boards/longboards) or body surfing (fins/handplane) with little to no crowds. This is the attractive feature that the vast majority of quasi (kinda of) watermen miss! They're too busy trying to populate the popular spots and are content to park their vehicles directly onto the beach for the easiest accessible experience. Over there, you just park, suit up and paddle out. At Trails it's different. You park, suit up, and hike 5-7mins down one of 6 trails along San Onofre Campground Cliff Bluffs and then paddle out. Because most are too lazy to do this, the waves are not jammed packed. It's nearly impossible to get hit by another surfboard like it is at places like Malibu, Doheny, Cardiff Reef, Tourmaline, San Onofre State Beach (The Point, 4 Doors, Old Man's, Dog Patch). There are 6 Trails... Assuming you have a longboard, I highly suggest visiting these trails in the following order: Trail 4, Trail 1, Trail 5, Trail 3.5, Trail 6. Starting with Trail 4: This break is the farthest. Meaning that if you catch a wave, you have the potential to go the longest for both time and distance travelled. Trail 1 is second and is peakier, meaning it's a somewhat a faster wave and bc of the underwater topagraphy certain sections with speed up or slow down. Trail 5 and Trail 3.5 are harder to access (and officially closed by the State Parks) and you have to go with the locals to know how to get there. But once there, you have your own little private beach. Trail 6 is a pure beach break. Lots of sand, so expect a faster wave that caters more to shortboards, especially...

Note: Fee area for day use. Also, there is an associated / designated 'campground'. This whole strip was previously a part of the old coast highway, so there's some extended length to the park. These beaches offer a comparatively sparse crowd for SoCal. Note, there's a camping season May-Sept. There's a cliffside access from the parking lot, the aforementioned highway, via six different trails - all far apart. Once parking is at capacity, there's no more parking available nearby - which gives reason to the lower crowd factor. Be advised - there is a walk to/from the beach (down, then up the cliffs) - which also helps thin the crowds. The beaches are sand and /or cobble depending upon the season, tide level and recent storms. Trails 1 and 6 offer the most parking and easier access due to the graded lifeguard access roads all the way down. The geology and illusion of seclusion are major drawing factors. Take it all in! The beaches face southwest and the surf is all beahbreak (miles of it). The waves tend to close out; but a mixed swell can produce some peaky A-frames. All in all, this place is unique and deserves a...

Opens 6am - sun set as of Feb 2023. Requires payment to park for the day, various amounts ranging from $7.50 for disabled up to 15 or so pending vehicle size.

Edit, it's a clif / beach, is on "tsunami warning zone" must clear at night time to ensure safety of people. Gates block access after patrol clears the grounds. Don't try to hide because the fines and fee can be serious and even the aircraft scan the areas to make sure people...