San Diego Beach Hikes -
Cardiff to Carlsbad
By: Rick Chapo
San Diego offers a bevy of interesting
hikes. With the average home price being around $500,000, they better be
interesting!
To unwind, I typically stop on my way home from work to hike from Cardiff to
Carlsbad on the beach. For picturesque sunsets and "tasty waves", the beach
between Cardiff to Carlsbad can't be beat.
Cardiff - Starting
I typically start this hike by parking just south of restaurant row in
Cardiff. Restaurant row is located to the north of the lagoon between
Cardiff and Solana Beach on Highway 101. Parking is located on the side of
the road, which is right up against the beach. Give me convenience or give
me death!
As you head north, you first pass Charlie's and other restaurants. Past the
restaurants, you will come to the beginning of the bluffs that will line the
beach to the end of the hike. San Elijo campground is on top of the initial
bluffs and extends for roughly a mile north. The campground is very popular
and the temporary home of locals and tourist. You can tell the difference by
contrasting tans with sunburns.
Following San Elijo, you will walk through Sea Cliff County Park with bluffs
over 100 feet high. An area known affectionately as "Swami's" quickly
follows this park. The name derives from the fact the area above the bluff
is the home to the Self Realization Fellowship Center. This area is know as
hot surf spot, but is very crowded. If you are a bit winded, you can stop
and watch 50 or so surfers maneuver for waves. Yes, traffic jams aren't
exclusively restricted to California freeways.
North of Swami's, you will cruise along a long strip of sand hemmed in by 50
to 60 foot bluffs in the town of Encinitas. For those with a wicked sense of
humor, there is a relatively popular game called, "Watch the house fall."
Yes, the bluffs are giving away slowly. As they erode, the homes first lose
plants, then patios and so on. They say real estate is all about location,
location, location, but sometimes a beach front home isn't all that great.
The Encinitas section of the hike is fairly long. With the high bluffs, you
will find sections of the beach that are deserted. Yes, even during summer.
The only thing breaking up the solitude is Moonlight Beach, a fairly popular
beach with locals. Otherwise, it's just you, shells and joggers until you
arrive at the end of the bluffs and South Carlsbad. Time to turn around and
find the car.
The Cardiff to South Carlsbad hike is about 5 miles in each direction. The
walk is flat and quick. By the end, you will be relaxed and forget that Bert
in accounting is a jerk. Enjoy.
About The Author
Rick Chapo is with
http://www.nomadjournals.com - makers of diary and writing
journals for the outdoors and travel. Visit
http://www.nomadjournaltrips.com
for more articles on the great outdoors.
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