Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
Ocean Beach, CA
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park protects a genuinely dramatic stretch of high sandstone cliffs carved by the surf below, one of San Diego's most photographed sunset spots and a real surf destination for the experienced surfers who navigate the rocky coves beneath the bluffs.
One of the most genuinely dramatic stretches of coastline in San Diego, a real must-see for sunset regardless of whether you get in the water.
How we score beachesStay well back from the cliff edges, the sandstone here is genuinely unstable and erosion has caused real accidents over the years.
Free lots and on-street parking along Sunset Cliffs Blvd.
Trails along the bluff top offer views; access down to the water is steep and uneven in most spots.
Dogs must be leashed on the bluff trails at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park, and are banned from the beach areas daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Nov 1 to Mar 31) or 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Apr 1 to Oct 31).
San Diego County's water climbs into the upper 60s and low 70s by late summer, the most comfortable window for swimming.
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