San Onofre Trails

San Onofre Trails make  up the southern-most 4 miles of San Onofre State Beach.  One of the most beautiful stretches of beach in Southern California, this scenic sandy beach  stretches uninterrupted for  miles,  and  is backed by gorgeous,  tall,  coastal bluffs. It is a  wonderful setting, despite the occasional military jet flying overhead, and the sight of a nuclear power plant in the distance to the north.

The beach is very wide and  is comprised of a mixture of fine and coarse  sand. It has a nice gentle slope into the water, but there is gravel  just below the  tide line  which one has to walk over  to reach the surf.  

There's  always a volleyball net out on weekends for those who wish to play. Some people bring wind breaks, as the afternoon winds can be rather cool. The surf is very rough,  so San Onofre is  better for surfing than bathing. While nudity is illegal here, it seems to be tolerated by the local officials.  

San Onofre beach is a South Orange County treasure. It is a quiet little place with a dirt road where you can pull off anywhere, build a beach fire, and enjoy some of the finest surfing on the coast.  

Facilities at San Onofre - Trails
Rest rooms  
Lifeguard  
Camping ground  
Showers  
Parking  - with an entrance fee
Fire pits  
Handicapped friendly  
Picnic tables
383 developed tent and RV campsites. For camping reservations, call Destinet at (800) 444-7275.
More Info: For beach information, contact San Onofre State Beach at (714) 492-4872. Or contact San Onofre State Park Headquarters, 3030 Del Presidente, San Clemente, CA 92672; (714) 492-4872 (San Onofre Bluffs) or (714) 361-2531 (San Mateo Campground).
 

Beach Highlights
Lifeguards
Camping Ground
Showers
Rest Rooms   
A Scenic Sandy Beach
Volleyball
Great Surf
Nude Bathing


San Onofre State Beach is located just north of Camp Pendleton,  and just south of the San Onofre Nuclear Plant. From Interstate 5, exit at Basilone Road. Turn west. The road will curve left. Continue south on the access road. You will have to pay $3 at the toll booth for day use, $10 for camping, more with an RV. (These rates may  change at any time)

Follow the road to the south end and park near Trail 6. Parking is scarce here; you might also want to use the bathroom before going further, since there aren't any at the beach. Follow the trail to the beach and head south.  

If you want to avoid the parking problems, you can exit south of the immigration check point at Las Pulgas Road. East of I-5 is a small parking lot. People park here when using  the three mile bike trail. The three mile bike trail connects to the south end of the San Onofre State Beach parking lot. You can bicycle, walk or roller blade the 3 miles.