San Elijo Stairway and Beach Walk

Stairway Coastal and Beach Walk In San Elijo State Beach and Campground

06.05.2024

Looking to maximize your beach time this summer? We’ve got a shore bet! Grab your sunscreen and your tent and head to San Elijo State Beach and Campground near Cardiff in San Diego County. Take in some bluffside bliss and a 1.5-mile coastal stairway and beach walk.

If you’re visiting for the day, park at the State Beach Lot ($10-15 daily) or find a street spot nearby and head for the northernmost lot, where you’ll find a charming wooden staircase scaling the dramatic bluffs. You’ll immediately be treated to classic San Diego coastline views stretching in both directions.

Head south along the cliff walls, looking for resident squirrels and bunnies navigating the ice plant or darting around rocks on the sand. This beach is also a popular surf spot—take time to watch locals ride the waves too. Over the next 0.75-mile sandy stretch, you’ll pass four more staircases—great for getting a leg workout in, or for easy campground access. At the end, you’ll reach a series of small, rocky tidepools and the adjacent Cardiff State Beach, which can be reached, if you don’t mind getting wet. Otherwise turn left and head up the rocks and stairs to reach a large lifeguard tower above the amphitheater.

This is a great spot to take in the panoramic coastal views before exploring one of the coolest campgrounds in all of SoCal. Here, there are 171 sites ($35-50 for the sites without hook-ups). While all of them have incredible beach access, some are perched on the edge of the bluffs for some seriously unparalleled beach campsite views. The sites are also generously large and can fit multiple tents, with room for cars and the cornhole set too. If you’re not spending the night (you really should!), be sure to head back down to the beach at the fourth staircase (you can’t get back to the lot along the bluffs) and return to your first staircase and back to your car. Talk about paradise found!

BONUS LAGOON: San Elijo is also home to a nearby lagoon and ecological reserve; the 979-acre estuary is a great hiking and birdwatching spot and should definitely be enjoyed while you’re there (consider visiting Annie’s Canyon Trail). Beach camping + lagoon hiking = perfect day!

To get to the San Elijo State Beach and Campground, take the I-5 to the Birmingham Dr. exit and head west. After half a mile on Birmingham, take a left on San Elijo Ave. followed by your next right onto Chesterfield Dr. and another immediate right onto the Coast Highway. After 0.4 mile, the entrance to the campground will be on your left. Dog-friendly in campground, but not on the beach!

Story and photos by Matt Pawlik, @mattitudehikes

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Perles Beach Angel Island San Francisco Bay

    Secret Beach

    A hidden beach and a killer view? Those are hard to come by, but that’s exactly what you’ll get at Perles Beach on Angel Island. Bike or hike to this beautiful pocket cove.

    View

  2. Cinematic Sonoma

    Longer days. Golden light. Wildflowers in bloom. It’s the perfect moment to plan your spring escape to Sonoma for the Sonoma International Film Festival, March 25–29. No fuss. No sprawl. Just films, friends, fresh air, and that unmistakable Sonoma glow.

    View
  3. Hike Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve

    Mellow in the Marsh

    Beach, birds, ice plant popping purple flowers: That’s a hiking slam dunk! Hike about 2 miles at Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve using their easy to navigate (well-signed) Sequoia Audubon Trail.

    View
  4. A man is looking through his binoculars at sunrise at the Bayland Nature Preserve in Palo Alto

    Baylands Bird & Art Loop

    Combine an outdoor art walk and wildlife sightings at the Baylands Nature Preserve in Palo Alto. This 5-mile loop through Byxbee Park and the Emily Renzel Wetlands features striking installations by artists Peter Richards and Michael Oppenheimer—where the landscape itself becomes part of the canvas.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

  1. Tree Town

    Home to an estimated 21,000 trees and 100 acres of parkland, South Pasadena has earned its nickname: the City of Trees. This 2.5-mile neighborhood walk lets you experience its leafy canopy up close, winding through charming streets and three of the city’s beloved parks.

    View

  2. A Better Way to Baldwin

    The Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook in Culver City is one of West L.A.’s most popular hiking spots, but most visitors miss the bigger picture. This 3.5-mile out-and-back along a section of the Park to Playa Trail offers a fuller experience of this gorgeous nature park with sweeping urban views and a few artistic surprises along the way.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    Warm Up to Winter in Reno Tahoe

    2026 is just getting started, but there’s one place already rising to the top as the best for adventure and relaxation: Reno Tahoe. The awe—and ahhhs—begin as soon as you arrive. G

    View
  4. A woman standing at the pond's edge at Ernest B Debs Regional Park in Los Angeles. Trees are making reflections on the pond.

    Urban Oasis Loop

    Home to the city’s Audubon Center, Ernest E. Debs' 282-acre park features a robust network of hiking trails and surprising wildlife diversity. More than 140 bird species have been spotted here. Birdwatcher or not, this 2.5-mile route makes for a gorgeous outing.

    View