Shore Thing!

Hike Crystal Pier to Mission Beach in San Diego

06.23.2016

Beach hop from pier to jetty on a 6-mile (round-trip) journey infused with classic beach culture. The trip starts at Pacific Beach Pier (aka Crystal Pier, after the classic cottages lining its edges) and goes to the Point Medanos jetty, the southernmost area of iconic Mission Beach. To start, find street parking along one of the many east-west side streets and take the paved path by the pier, paralleling a wide swath of soft sand. Soak in the quintessential San Diego beach scene: eateries, shops, grandiose homes, and interesting people!

About 2 miles south of the pier, you’ll reach Belmont Park at Mission Beach, a truly classic oceanfront amusement park dating back to 1925. Its centerpiece, the Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster, is the second oldest of its kind in America, a symbol of the city (and a hell of a ride). {FIFA World Cup Bonus: San Diego's biggest outdoor World Cup gathering is the Soccer Celebration at FIT Social inside Belmont Park. Enjoy a beachfront viewing experience with giant screens, plus food and drinks.}

Continue south for another mile to the Point Medanos jetty, a string of huge rocks piling out into the Pacific, acting as the northern border of Mission Bay’s entrance channel. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, scramble along the jetty to check out a mysterious graffiti house perched on the rocks. Time your return walk for sunset, when the sandpipers scurry in harmony with the tide amidst the glowing backdrop of the San Diego sky.

BONUS BAR: On the final frontier of on-the-beach drinking, Lahaina Beach House in Pacific Beach has a deck literally stretching onto the sand. Their cash-only policy often drives visitors away, but it’s a great experience. Pair fish tacos with beer and a sunset.

To get to the Pacific Beach starting point, take I-5 and exit west on Garnet Ave., which runs directly into Crystal Pier. Lahaina Beach House is half a mile south of the pier at the Oliver Ave. intersection. Dog-friendly on the boardwalk. No dogs on the beach.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Napa Valley Paddle kayaker and paddle boarder on the Napa Valley river

    Napa's Wild Side

    It’s wine country’s Amazon. The gentle Napa River is an ecological—and recreational—delight. And Napa Valley Paddle sets you up for maximum enjoyment of this experience.

    View

  2. Been There, Dome That

    Surrounded by granite domes, craggy peaks, and miles of hiking trails, the High Sierra landscape of Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park is famous for good reason. For a truly grand view, take a short hike to bold—and bald (except for snow at times)—Lembert Dome.

    View

  3. Wapama Wows

    Hetch Hetchy can be overlooked in Yosemite National Park because of its more remote location and limited facilities. But this is where you’ll also find one of the best day hikes in the park: Wapama Falls.

    View
  4. Hike Mount Tamalpais into Muir Woods

    Muir Woods Through the Backdoor

    A backdoor entrance into Muir Woods? Hike a tranquil trail that starts in Mount Tamalpais State Park and quietly leads into Muir Woods, letting you avoid the busyness of the main parking area.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

  1. Inn-spiration Point!

    For more than a century, people have been hiking or mountain biking to West Point Inn for good reason. Perched at 1,785 feet on the southern slope of Mount Tamalpais, the historic inn has sweeping views from the Marin Headlands to the San Francisco skyline.

    View

  2. A Thousand Steps to Paradise

    A picture is worth a thousand words, but is a gorgeous beach in Laguna worth a thousand steps? The answer is yes, though the question is moot, because it’s only 223 steep steps down to the 400-yard stretch of sand known as 1000 Steps Beach.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    Take the Exit to the Best of the San Francisco Peninsula

    The San Francisco Peninsula is proof that some of Northern California’s greatest surprises are hiding just off Highway 101. All you have to do is take the exit.

    View
  4. Hike to the Sierra Buttes Fire Lookout in the Lakes Basin

    Lookout for This View!

    Sierra Buttes Lookout, at a lofty 8,591 feet, is a memory maker for its pucker-worthy stairway to the tower’s balcony. It's a 5-mile (round-trip) hike to reach it. And the reward? Epic!

    View