It was prime time to head to the San Onofre Bluffs again. It’s one of my favorite local spots for beach hikes. You have to know when to go, and you absolutely must go at low tide. I arrived at the park, just south of San Clemente, and of the now-decommissioned San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station early in the morning. It’s technically located in San Diego County, though the closest town is in Orange County.
San Onofre State Park is mainly known for its surfing, not hiking. This place is called “Trails,” by surfers, due to a large number of steep trails, leading down to the beach from the parking area. It is rarely crowded here, and a place to feel like you’re getting away from it all.
It’s funny how spring flowers make even the toughest times seem manageable. Since was going through a tough time in my life on this day, or another storm, it felt like the perfect time for enjoying the San Onofre Bluffs, all decked out in golden yellow flowers.
As I ventured down the trail, closer to the oceanfront, I was feeling optimistic, surrounded by wildflowers.
Spring was in the air, and the trails were swimming in yellow blossoms.
I came to an overlook, gazing down the steep mud cliffs, into the canyon. These clay-colored bluffs are ever changing, and highly unstable. I stood near the edge for just a few moments.
I continued on toward the ocean as the breeze blew lightly, bees buzzed about, and waves crashed off in the distance.
I have come here with family, for campouts, for dog walks, and to the surf beach. Sometimes I just come here to hike, and to get away from it all.
The San Onofre Bluffs was one of the last long hikes I ever took my dog on, before she passed. She loved going down to this sandy beach, to run free.
As I ventured further along, I came to a steep wide trail leading to the beach. There are 5 or 6 trails leading down to the ocean. Trail 5 washed away in a winter storm, and I was about to find out if any of the others had met a similar fate, during the atmospheric river which rolled through 2024.
I love this beach, for the waves, along with the peace and quiet. Though the parking area sits along the 5 Freeway, down on the oceanfront, you will hear nothing but the sounds of waves.
Surfers either love it or hate it here since the access is more difficult than other beaches in the area.There had been just a handful of cars in the parking area, so I expected it would be mostly empty along the trails. On the beach, were just a handful of surfers. The waves seemed to be a perfect shape and only 2-3 feet. I watched surfers drop in left and right.
In the distance was what is referred to as “the boobies.” It’s funny how something so serious has become a joke among surfers.
I had planned to hike down to the very end, to the last trail in the park. With low tide approaching, this beach hike would definitely be possible.
As I trod along the beach, I was on the lookout for anything interesting such as shells, or glistening rocks. I am a big fan of beachcombing, and searching for finds. But mostly I was just there to soak it all in and relax to the sounds of the waves, rather than treasure hunt.
As I headed southward from Trail 1, towards Trail 6, it started to get rocky. I stepped over large rounded cobblestones, and boulders, sanded smooth by the tide. I would have to pass through this rock garden for almost a mile. This stretch of beach is impassable, except during low tide. During high tide, this beach is virtually impassable. I tried to be careful not to twist my ankle. This was a good exercise in balance, and being a surfer is helpful, with improving your balance in just about everything you do.
Eventually, the beach became a wide swath of smooth sand. It would be flat and less rocky for the rest of the way south. Large rocks were strewn about. With the tide was sucking out, it had revealed these rocks which are typically submerged. Unlike San Onofre Surf Beach, which mainly has small cobblestones, the beach here has huge boulders strewn about, visible only at low tide.
I am always fascinated by eroding bluffs like this. They bring up memories of building sand castles and, they also bring cathedrals to mind, resembling some sort of beachside church. There are slot canyons tucked away, all along this beach. I have explored these beachside wonders before, but they are decidedly not safe, and prone to collapse. These unstable bluffs will frequently give way. I would not want to be in there when that happens.
I passed one well-composed surf shack echoing the surf shacks of yesteryear. Surfers like to build driftwood surf shacks all along the beach. Some are lean-to’s, which seem fit for draping a tarp over, like on the show Survivor, and others are shaped more like teepees. There was supposed to be a trail right around this shack, but I could not see anything really defined. The trails marked on the map are easy to miss.
Trail 5 washed out long ago, and I began to wonder if recent atmospheric rivers had washed out more of the trails, since I had not visited this beach in a very long time.
As I headed south the shorebirds dotted to and fro, with the ebb and flow of the tides.
As I continued on south, I was the only one there for the next 30 minutes or so. I was using this time to contemplate a sudden loss in the family. It was not someone I was close to, yet he was still on my mind, and I was trying to process it. It was my stepson from my former marriage. I never got to know him, and only saw him a handful of times during a twenty year span. Still I had memories of him, and he was gone too soon, in his early thirties. Rest in peace Luke.
I am at a crossroads in my life, at this point in life. I am trying to do more than I have done before. I work a lot, leaving little time for my hiking adventures. I have to choose carefully, since I can’t do it all anymore, all the time, everyday. I have to choose between family, and my own somewhat selfish pursuits, such as hiking.
I do believe in still getting outside everyday, regardless of what is going on, even if it’s just for 30 minutes. I try to look at the bigger picture, and realize people are what matter. Hiking is and always may be very healing for me. It just gives me time to think, and let go of the stress of just being a human, in a very mixed up world.
There were some huge tidepools here, and I was surprised it felt like I was seeing them for the first time. Huge rocky slabs of ancient rocky reef broken in shards and tossed about by storms, rising and falling tides, and the shifting sands of time.
Nothing is forever, and the earth constantly churns, enduring consistent cycles of change, and occasional upheaval. What sinks to the button of the sea, may someday rise. What sits high above the sea, someday may be engulfed in it. We can’t predict these cycles any better than we can predict what we will be doing a year from today to twenty years from now. Knowing we actually know nothing is a great lesson.
I discovered an artist palette on the beach. God is the ultimate creator, and all his artistry is everywhere around us. I put myself in an artist’s prison for a long time. I told myself I was not good enough or creative enough to pursue being a creator. This was due to me caring about what the world thinks about me too much. To be great at something, you just need to do it, and practice. I am no longer selling myself short believing these false narratives. This artist palette called out to my heart, to my inner artist, which recently has started to break free of its prison. I put down my paint brushes and stopped believing in my creativity years ago. Recently, in my present job, I get to be a graphic designer, as part of my job. It’s been freeing to spend so much time creating everyday. Finding this on the beach was a sign, I need to pick up my paint brushes again soon.
I explored these tide-pools in search of critters, seeing many anemones, barnacles, and mussels, though not much else. Laying in the sand, I noticed a conch shell and a lobster shell.
There is something about exploring places like tidepools. It feels like your part on a scavenger hunt, and in part re-visiting that inner curiosity we seem to leave in childhood. You can search, and you may find what you’re looking for. I saw no scurrying crabs, or an octopus here. There were plenty of anemones, barnacles, and mussels crusting the rocks.
Shorebirds were standing there, with waves splashing in the backdrop, amongst the barnacle-crusted exposed reef. These are the remains of ancient coral reefs, which were submerged thousands of years ago when the sea levels were much higher.
There is something about exploring places like tidepools. It feels like your part on a scavenger hunt, and in part re-visiting that inner curiosity we seem to leave in childhood. You can search, and you may find what you’re looking for. I saw no scurrying crabs, or an octopus here. There were plenty of anemones, barnacles, and mussels crusting the rocks.
Everything in the world is continually weathering, settling, and undergoing change, especially at the beach. We are not getting younger over time. Being here makes me feel introspective. The passage of time is demonstrated, from the tiny grains of sand, to the giant boulders and bluffs they were born of. There are periods of warming and cooling on Earth. Contrary to popular belief, we are not more powerful than the universe. We simply don’t have the power to change the trajectory of the planet, our climate, to cause an ice age, or to cause a great thaw after we experience one. Only the sun and universe, powered by our creator, have this power. It’s sort of vain to think we have more power than God. The seas will rise, and nothing we do, or don’t do will stop that.
I continued on until it was at my turnaround time. I had more to do in my day and only gave myself 2 hours to explore. Since I lagged a bit, as usual, especially on the rocky part of the beach, it was time to turn back.
I passed by some off-leash dogs having the time of their lives, on this unofficial dog beach. I made it as far as the last lifeguard chair, near trail 6, and decided to head back.
I hiked back up to the bluffs, one trail shy of the last one, Trail 6. I love exploring the beach to get away from things.
I use the time out in nature to think and make sense of the tasks at hand, the hurdles I face, and how to best go about it. I felt highly productive in my processing of the many hurdles I needed to conquer in my mind.
The Way Back
As I hiked along the bluff top trail, occasionally it was washed out, so I would switch to walking through the parking area, which sits oddly right alongside the 5-fwy. The border patrol station is located here too. With the current crisis at the border, I wondered how safe this area was. Were there people hiding here, in the shrubs, trying to evade the border patrol? I had so many questions on my mind.
I made my way back to my car, jogging as much as possible along the trail, where there was one, past the old lifeguard station. The flowers were blooming everywhere, and I was grateful to switch up my normal routine for a change, with a beach hike.
If you get a chance, I recommend taking a short hike at San Onofre Bluffs, sitting on the beach watching the surf, or enjoying the views from one of the many blufftop benches. It’s a nice little getaway however you decide to enjoy it. Springtime is definitely the best time to visit too.
All Are Welcome
I’m not a fan of localism, since we are really one planet of humans, one community. There was a group of surfers close to Trail 4. Even though I am a surfer, and have been for a few decades, many surfers are not all that friendly. If you surf you will know what I mean. Some treat it as an exclusive club and are borderline territorial. Some are aggressive in the waves, will snake you waves and threaten to skeg you. So they can be violent too, like a gang of thugs. There was a group on the beach, glaring in an aggressive weird way, as if their space was invaded. I waved, but they only stared back in an unfriendly unwelcoming way. They say surfers are a tribe. I’m not in that kind of tribe. It’s a state park, and it belongs to everyone.
They say to Leave it Better Than You Found it. I stick to that rule. That includes your attitude. Share the Love.
I hope you enjoyed reading this, and it is helpful in knowing what to expect, should you decide to visit here.
About me
I’m Serafina! I’m a writer and California girl who loves to go exploring. Hope you will get outside today, breathe some fresh air, and be happy!
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Disclaimer: The work on this blog is my opinion and my opinion alone and I am not responsible for the outcome if someone were to apply these thoughts to their own life. All text and photography copyright 2024 by Serafina, all rights reserved. Information and opinions provided are kept current to the best of the author’s ability. All readers’ usage of the ideas and opinions presented in the blog, are at their own risk. Be aware of the possible dangers of hiking, surfing, walking, cooking, and other activities, which may take place indoors or outdoors. By reading this, you agree not to hold the author or publisher of the content on this web site responsible for any injuries or inconveniences that may result from reading the blog, or partaking in any activity mentioned in the blog. Read the blog, and use its ideas, if you so desire, at your own risk.
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