Don't be surprised to hear the roar or loud horn of a train when visiting San Clemente. More than 50 trains zoom by (and several stop) at San Clemente's Metrolink Station at North Beach.  In fact, you may be a passenger on that train that's heading for the beach. While over 2,000,000 travelers go to San Clemente's beaches annually, an estimated 20,000 beach-goers cross the railroad tracks to access San Clemente beaches at Corto Lane not far from the main beach, Parque del Mar near the San Clemente Municipal Pier.

You'll notice in the top photo that a train is passing through, close to the beach and a lifeguard station. To address the safety of beach goers who cross over railroad tracks, and to make the beach more user-friendly, a multi-use 2.5 mile pedestrian beach trail will span from North Beach to Calafia Beach on the southern end of San Clemente. It is located at the base of coastal bluffs and the beach within the right of way of the existing rail corridor.

A multi-use path for pedestrian under rail crossings and pedestrian at-grade crossings at Dije, El Portal, Corto Lane, “T” Street South and Lost Winds for beach access is being constructed. The San Clemente Pedestrian Beach Trail will also serve to form a significant link in the statewide Coastal Trail, making more of the beach accessible to the public by creating a coordinated access system with other regions.

The trail will extend from North Beach (Metrolink Commuter Station) south to Calafia State Park, and begins at the east side of the tracks south of the Metrolink Commuter Station. It will accommodate two-way, non-motorized uses and limited motorized uses such as motorized wheelchairs.