Jetty for La Jenelle

Silver Strand Beach hike to La Jenelle Jetty

The La Jenelle was a 467-foot luxury cruise liner before retiring to Port Hueneme Harbor with plans to become a floating restaurant. Then a severe storm ripped her from her moorings, where she capsized and was battered beyond repair by the waves. This sad story has an interesting ending, though. The U.S. Navy dismantled the ship and incorporated a good deal of the wreckage into a breakwater at the southern end of Silver Strand Beach in Oxnard. Now, with a bit of rock scrambling, you can explore what’s left of La Jenelle’s rusty ruins, which are mostly built into the south-facing seaward portion of the breakwater. Incorporate this maritime exploration into a longer trek by walking the length of the beach, which extends for about a mile north of the jetty to the mouth of Channel Islands Harbor. Enjoy views of Anacapa and Santa Cruz Islands before returning to your starting point near the breakwater. Colorful murals in the beach parking lot are worth checking out, too.

TIP: The ideal time for visiting is low tide, when more of the wreckage is exposed. Don’t go during inclement weather (rough surf makes it too dangerous to climb out onto the jetty.)

La Jenelle Beach is hemmed in by the restricted grounds of a large naval facility, so you will need to approach from the north as opposed to from the east (certain mapping apps could lead you astray). From Victoria Ave. in Oxnard, make a slight left on Roosevelt Blvd., which turns into Island View Ave. Turn right at the end of the road on Sawtelle Ave. and follow the road all the way to the small beachside parking lot. Ventura County beaches are dog-friendly (avoid taking the dog on the jetty).

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Taking the Stage: Tyler Ranch

    Hike the recently opened Tyler Ranch Staging Area in Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park, with 18 miles of new trails. This 6.5-mile loop up Sunol Peak is a challenge and rewards with exceptional views of seasonal iridescent hills.

    View
  2. A woman stands at Dante's View in Death Valley, looking out to Telescope Peak and Manly Lake, Badwater Basin below.

    Sunset Hike (and Manly Lake Vista!) at Dante's View

    It’s one of the world’s best places to watch a sunset. Dante’s View is a 5,476-foot vantage of the whole southern basin of Death Valley from the top of the Black Mountains. On clear days you get views of both the highest and lowest points in the contiguous U.S. 

    View
  3. Swing into Spring

    Swing into this 7.1-mile hike in the hills of Half Moon Bay! It’s got gorgeous views, fields of spring wildflowers, and a hidden rustic tree swing.

    View
  4. The Carson Show

    Carson Falls is ready for primetime. This three-tiered, 100-foot stunner is hidden back in a canyon outside of Fairfax and reached on a 3.25-mile (round-trip) hike.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Lava Lava

    Once a land of volcanic activity, Mojave National Preserve shares plenty about its past via a quick yet adventurous hike to the Lava Tube in the Cima Dome Volcanic Field.

    View
  2. Kelso Dunes

    The hike to the top of Kelso Dunes in the Mojave National Preserve is only 3 miles (out and back), but you’ll feel like you’ve hiked much farther by the time you’re done.

    View
  3. William Kenyon Overlook

    Some of the best vistas of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park are easily accessible via a short and sweet 1.25-mile (round-trip) hike just off the CA-78. Enter your next favorite desert viewpoint: the William Kenyon Overlook.

    View
  4. Beaudry Bountiful

    There are no cars allowed on Beaudry Loop, but this 6-mile hike takes you on a wild ride. You’ll be climbing 1,500 feet up the southern Verdugos along a chaparral-lined trail with gorgeous mountain and urban vistas every step of the way.

    View