9 Best Beach Hikes in Southern California: Amazing Ocean Views

Looking for the best beach hikes in Southern California to find some epic ocean views? If you love hiking, you’ve come to the right place – both physically by being in California, and on the internet to read my recommendations, of course!

Being surrounded by hills and mountain ranges, Southern California is a paradise for hiking near the beach — and going to the beach in general. What could possibly be better than having a dip in the sea after a tough bush hike? Having grown up here my whole life, I’ve experienced most of these Southern California beach hikes and recommend them.

All of the best coastal hikes in Southern California below either begin at a Southern California beach or have sweeping views of the beach/ocean from their peaks. I mean, great views are why you hike over the beach, right?

I’ve included some tips on lengths and difficulty level, so you can easily plan while exploring the best beach hikes Los Angeles, Dan Diego, Orange County, and Santa Barbara have to offer.

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Moon Southern California Road Trips is an incredible and comprehensive guide to all of Southern California by car. This guidebook is all you need to plan the most epic road trips in Southern California, from one massive adventure around the beaches, cities, and national parks to smaller day trips.

Moon Guidebooks cover all the beach hiking areas covered in this post, and so much more! From getting between destinations and the best stops, to the best hotels and restaurants along the way. Moon really leaves no Californian stone unturned. 

Check out their Southern California Guidebook at the link above. Or you check out their separate and equally comprehensive Northern California Guidebook as well.

Thinking of a California Road Trip? Make sure to check out my California Looped Road Trip Route for the whole state or Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip for the coast. 

Renting an RV in California is the best way to truly see it all - compare prices for California on RVShare . If you love unique stays - look at my list of unique places to stay in California. 

Torrey Pines State Reserve (San Diego)

One of the most incredible places for 2-4 mile beach hikes in Southern California is Torrey Pines State Reserve in San Diego. The park runs from Torrey Pines Rd to the sea, and is full of amazing viewpoints and secluded entry points to the beach and headlands. It’s also one of the best places in San Diego to watch the sunset.

For higher altitude viewpoints, check out the trails in the Northern part of the park including High Point Overlook and Guy Fleming Trail. These are small looped beach hiking trails with gorgeous views.

For hikes that get you closer to the beach, check out Razor Point and Broken Hill trails. You can combine these into a great loop with beach access, viewpoints, and more! Pack your hats, cameras, and towels, because chances are that you’ll want a dip to cool off before you head back. You can also enjoy a kayaking tour in San Diego bay.

Dedicated San Diego beach hikers like to create a one-way beach hike along the waterline from La Jolla Shores to Torrey Pines beach. This 5-mile adventure involves walking across beaches and scrambling across rocky points. Just remember you might need to park a car at the other end!

San Clemente Beach Trail (Orange County)

The San Clemente beach trail is one of the more simple and flat southern California beach hikes – although in this case, I would call it more of a walk! This beach boardwalk runs for 2 miles along San Clemente’s shores and train tracks. Experience views of the ocean for the entirety of this trail, which is also perfect for running and biking.

On this trail, you also have the opportunity to relax on any of San Clemente’s beautiful beaches, such as T-Street and Riviera.

The area is also really well-known for surfing, and you can’t leave without trying some Mexican food! You can also take the trail all the way to check out some activities in Dana Point.

A must-do on this hike is to walk to the end of the San Clemente pier and watch the waves and fishermen. Many people also like to continue the beach hike a few miles down the coast by San Onofre State Beach. Check out more fun things to do in Orange County here.

Crystal Cove State Park (Laguna Beach, OC)

While Laguna Beach is an amazing haven for beach hikes in general, I recommend the Crystal Cove State Park hiking trails most highly. This gorgeous and undeveloped area between Northern Laguna Beach and Corona del Mar has a bit of something for every kind of hiker.

For lower-level hikers, you can spend the day meandering headland trails just above Reef Point before relaxing on the beach. For more advanced hikers, you can take on a nearly 10-mile looped hike that takes you to the Toll Road.

This trail will take you to some gorgeous viewpoints of the sea – such as Moro Ridge Lookout – and through bush, canyons, ridges, and everything in between. Pop across the road for an ocean dip when you’re finished!

Treasure Island Park, Laguna Beach

For a much easier beach hike in Laguna Beach which I’d consider more of a leisurely stroll (with incredible views), check out Treasure Island Park. This beautiful park has interesting Californian flowers, succulents, and other plants blossoming around trimmed grassy pastures and coastline.

The walk isn’t very long – maybe 20 minutes one-way at most – and can be enjoyed as a picnic with a view. You can pop down the stairs to Treasure Island beach which has sweeping views down the coastline towards Dana Point.

Abalone Cove to Del Cerro Park (Palos Verdes, LA)

Palos Verdes is a bit of a hidden gem in Los Angeles. The area and its residents tend to keep to themselves, more removed from the craziness of the city of Angels. However, those who find their way to the rolling hills and canyons of Palos Verdes often fall in love.

While Palos Verdes has quite a few different parks and hiking areas, it’s quite easy to fit them all together into one epic southern California beach hike – either looped or out-and-back.

For an easy hike (which will definitely also include a swim at some point), check out Abalone Cove. You can spend hours meandering the trails from Abalone Cove Shoreline Park to Inspiration Point. All have sweeping ocean views and the chance to have a dip and/or get splashed!

For advanced hikers who want to make a day out of it, you can take trails from Klondike to Portuguese Canyon. You’ll eventually find yourself gaping at incredible ocean views from Del Cerro Park + Reserve.

This one is not for the faint of heart, however – it’s LONG and UPHILL (for the first half, anyway). But the views are worth it! Make sure you bring your camera or pick up one of a few cheap drones under 500 for a bird’s eye view of this beautiful coastline!

South Bay Bike Trail/The Strand (Los Angeles)

One cannot talk about hiking in Southern California without mentioning the 22-mile beach boardwalk that borders nearly the entirety of the LA coastline. From Will Rogers State Beach (nearly Malibu) all the way to Torrance State Beach (nearly Palos Verdes), you can take the same beach boardwalk right along the sand.

The most dedicated of Angelenos have attempted longer portions of it all at once. Most use it as a convenient mode of transport between beaches, as an exercise trail, or as a bike/rollerblade trail. Rent your bike here. Many tourists walk the most famous stretch of it from Santa Monica to Venice (where you will experience the quintessential “LA”).

No matter which part of “The Strand” you walk, you’ll be able to experience true Southern California Beach life – and get a hike in while you’re at it! Check out these LA Quotes to caption photos from one of the best sunsets in LA.

Tuna Canyon (Malibu, LA)

Tuna Canyon is one of my favorite beach hikes in Southern California. This one doesn’t take you too close to the beach, but rather presents you with a gorgeous high-up view of the big blue horizon – or rather the entire Santa Monica Bay.

To experience this hike, you have to drive up through a Malibu neighborhood to find the Tuna Canyon trailhead. As you make your way back towards the sea on the trail, you’ll pass a few different areas. For example, there’s a huge expanse of grass, a small forest, some open rocks to scramble, and more. Tuna Canyon is best-known for having a strange yet beautiful spiral of rocks overlooking the Southern California coastline.

Tuna Canyon trails generally have a bit of elevation gain, but most are less than 5 miles. I’d say their difficulty as easy-moderate.

Point Mugu (Malibu, LA)

Point Mugu is the quintessential beach hike! It begins at the beach, summiting at a gorgeous viewpoint where you can hear the waves.

Although you can hike up to 8 or 9 miles here, the most popular hike is just under 3 miles with a steep yet worthwhile hike. You begin by walking inland from Big Sycamore Canyon. As the trail ascends, you’ll turn around and come to an open ridge with sweeping views of the Pacific Coast Highway. The final viewpoint is just above the beach and one of the best views in LA!

When you return, it’s essential to visit the beach and have a quick dip to cool off. After all – you’ll have been hiking uphill in direct sunlight, so it’s only fair to cool off in the warm Malibu waters! The place is also perfect for catching some waves. If you are an inexperienced surfer, book your private surf lessons here.

Bill Wallace El Capitan Trail (Goleta, Santa Barbara)

Santa Barbara is a Southern Californian city backed by mountains, so naturally it has TONS of beach hikes and trails. One of my favorites is just North of the city in a smaller beach town near Goleta – the Bill Wallace Trail.

Beginning at El Capitan State Beach, the Bill Wallace Trail ascends the mountains into El Capitan Canyon. You can do this as an out-and-back hike if you’d like – or the round-trip looped trail is a whopping 12 miles. This hike is not for beginners, but will take you through gorgeous landscapes and panoramic views. It’s also known for having wildflowers in the right season!

Learn More about Santa Barbara:

• Unique Places to Stay in Santa Barbara
• SB Hidden Gems
• Unique things to do in SB

Montaña de Oro State Park (San Louis Obispo)

Just North of Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo, you’ll find Montaña do Oro State Park. This State Park is blessed with DOZENS of miles of beautiful hiking and mountain biking trails.

Here, you can challenge yourself to hike up to peaks such as Valencia Peak and Hazard peak – which are more inland with more elevation gain. Or you can walk right along the bluffs on my personal favorite trail, Bluff Trail.

Bluff Trail runs for about 2.5 miles right along the bluffs above the crashing waves, coves, and cliffs. You’ll be able to find panoramic coastal views and some beach access as well on Bluff Trail. It’s also easily combined with other trails to make your hike as long or short as you’d like!

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That’s about it for the best hiking near the beach in Southern California! What are your favorite hikes? And road trips in SoCal? Let me know in the comments!