60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: San Diego: Including North, South, and East Counties - Softcover

McGregor, Sheri

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1634040244 ISBN 13: 9781634040242

Publisher: Menasha Ridge Press, 2016

Synopsis

It's Time to Take a Hike in San Diego!

The natural open spaces in and around San Diego are a prized natural resource for area hikers, and author Sheri McGregor shows you where and how to enjoy 60 of the best trails that the city of San Diego, nearby state parks, and private ventures have to offer. Bounded by San Diego Bay and the Pacific coastline to the west, the Santa Rosa Mountains to the east, Mexico to the south, and the lower reaches of the Los Angeles metro area to the north, the 60-mile radius beyond San Diego creates a small but rich wedge of scenic, natural wealth. Whether you're an experienced hiker or a casual day-hiker, 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: San Diego is the perfect tool to explore it all.

About this title

About the Author:

A prolific writer of outdoor narrative, travel, fitness, and fiction, author Sheri McGregor knows San Diego hiking. Author of Day and Overnight Hikes Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, McGregor appreciates the tranquility of a coastal walk but is just as at home trekking along a stark desert trail. Over 1,000 of her articles have appeared in print, including in The Washington Post, Salon.com, and Reader's Digest publications. An active promoter of her books, Sheri appears frequently on local TV, is featured in local publications, and maintains two websites, one of which is devoted to 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: San Diego.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

LA JOLLA SHORES: TIDE POOLS WALK

• LENGTH & CONFIGURATION: 2-mile out-and-back
• DIFFICULTY: Easy
• SCENERY: Ocean waves, tide-pool creatures
• EXPOSURE: Exposed
• TRAFFIC: Moderate–heavy
• TRAIL SURFACE: Sand and surf, rocks
• HIKING TIME: 1 hour
• ACCESS: Free
• MAPS: None needed
• WHEELCHAIR-ACCESSIBLE? No, due to soft sand and rocks on the beach
• FACILITIES: In the parking area near the lifeguard tower
• INFO: No official contacts
• SPECIAL COMMENTS: Wear sturdy rubber-soled shoes that will cling to wet rock surfaces. You’ll need protection to climb among the tide pools. Be sure to visit around low tide; find tide schedules online at weather and forecast sites.

IN BRIEF

The ocean breeze, rolling waves, and sand beneath your feet. Who could ask for more? But that’s only the beginning―low tides mean plenty of sea creatures to marvel at.

DESCRIPTION

From the grassy area at the north end of Kellogg Park, where free parking is plentiful in the off-season or early on weekday mornings, head north up the beach toward the pier. You might as well kick off your shoes on this wide, sandy beach and let the surf roll in around your feet.

It’s about 0.5 mile to the pier that extends from UCSD’s Scripps Institute of Oceanography on the cliff above the beach (the cliff and the institute are closed to the public). Standing beneath the pier between the wide, mussel-encrusted supports, one can only wonder at man’s ability to build structures strong enough to withstand the ocean’s power. A short distance ahead, though, tiny creatures thrive in the ocean’s ebb and flow―proving worthy design on a small scale.

As you continue north, you’ll see more and more large rocks, pitted by the sea and sand, strewn along the beach. Stuff your feet back into shoes to cross a strip of piled, rounded rocks that form a hobbling path near the base of the cliffs. The larger rocks, roughened into various shapes by wind, water, and sand, clump together, leaving little sand between them.

As you hop from rock to rock, startled crabs scurry sideways into crevices. Schools of fish trapped in pools left by the receding tide swim to safety among fluttery pink and mauve sea plants. Take the time to stoop and get a closer look at what may seem at first just an empty pool. Often, you’ll discover the collected water teems with life.

Squabbling over territory, hermit crabs scuttle about in temporary shell houses that are sometimes smaller than a pea. The bigger crabs carry larger shells. Notice the variety of shapes and sizes they select. Even a broken shell may be chosen by a less discerning hermit crab. As he haltingly makes his way across the waterscape, the shell’s uneven edge catches on everything he passes. A rusty-colored sea plant suddenly moves away, and you realize it’s a sea slug. Watch for a moment and see several more that have been camouflaged in plain sight advance into view. Clumps of elongated oval mussels adhere to the rocks. Sea anemones contract when touched. Gently touching the animals is permitted, but you may not collect or remove anything from the area.

From the rocky tide-pool area, you could hike about 3.5 more miles to Flat Rock, named for its shape, and access a climbing route (signed beach trail) up into Torrey Pines State Reserve. You may spot nude sunbathers along the way: Past the rocky tide pools is the area called Black’s Beach, well known as a clothing-optional zone―although public nudity is officially illegal.

NEARBY ACTIVITIES

If the tide pools have whetted your appetite for knowledge about the ocean and its wildlife, the nearby Birch Aquarium, at 2300 Expedition Way in La Jolla, is worth a visit. Consult aquarium.ucsd.edu or call 858-534-3474 for more information.

GPS INFORMATION AND DIRECTIONS

N32° 51.514' W117° 15.374'

From CA 52 West, merge onto La Jolla Parkway, drive 1.4 miles, and turn right on Calle de la Plata. Continue 0.2 mile to Avenida de la Playa and turn left. Drive 0.1 mile to Camino del Oro and spot the park. Drive to the north end of the parking area and park near the lifeguard tower and restrooms.

About this edition

• Publisher: Menasha Ridge Press
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1634040244
• ISBN 13: 9781634040242
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 240