La Jolla: an Enchanting City on San Diego's Northern Coast

La Jolla, California

La Jolla Beaches
Elevation: 110' (858) 454-1444

La Jolla Cove (1100 Coast Boulevard) is a very small beach, tucked between adjacent sandstone cliffs. Due to its extraordinary beauty, La Jolla Cove is one of the most photographed beaches in Southern California. It is within a short walk of the commercial area of the community of La Jolla, but retains a character all it's own.

La Jolla Shores (8200 Camino del Oro) is a sandy beach adjacent to a residential area. Approximately one mile in length. Usually the most gentle of all San Diego beaches, many novice scuba classes are held at La Jolla Shores. Kellogg Park, a grassy area, is located behind the main lifeguard station and is ideal for picnicking. A wide cement boardwalk parallels a portion of the beach between the park and the sand.

La Jolla Shores lies adjacent to the San Diego La Jolla Underwater Ecological Reserve. Fishing and removal of objects from this area is prohibited. At the north end of this beach lies the Scripps Institute of Oceanography and Scripps Pier. The pier is not open to the public, but the Steven Birch Aquarium is within 1/2 mile of La Jolla Shores and is open daily.

La Jolla Shores has the only beachfront boat launch within City limits. Small vessels can be launched directly into the surf at the foot of Avenida de la Playa, approximately 300 yards south of the lifeguard station. This is an unimproved boat launch and vehicles are allowed to drive on the sand in a very limited area at five miles per hour or less. Four wheel drive is highly recommended.

A permanent lifeguard station is located adjacent to the main parking lot at the foot of Calle Frescota. This station is generally staffed daily from 9:00 a.m. to near dusk. Closing hours vary based on time of year. Check at the lifeguard station for further details. Surfing is permitted in specified areas and waves tend to be relatively small. The south end of the beach near the foot of Vallecitos is heavily used by scuba diving classes. There is a submarine canyon off the beach and the protection offered by the San Diego La Jolla Ecological Reserve ensures the presence of sea life.

Public restroom and showers are located 100 yards north and south of the main lifeguard tower. In addition to disabled parking, the boardwalk is disabled accessible. A temporary rubber walkway is often available to allow limited access over the sand.

A special beach wheel chair, which requires an attendant, is generally kept at the main lifeguard station and available on a first come, first served basis at no charge.

Containers for beach fires are generally provided during summer months and available on a first come, first served basis. The burning of rubbish is prohibited. Only wood, charcoal, or paper products may be used as fuel. Fuel for the fire may not exceed a height of more than twelve inches above the upper edge of the fire container. The fire must be extinguished before leaving the beach. Open beach fires, outside containers are prohibited at all San Diego beaches.

From the north, take Interstate 5 south and exit at La Jolla Village Drive westbound. Turn left at the signalized intersection at Torrey Pines Road and follow it to the signalized intersection at La Jolla Shores Drive. From the south, take Interstate 5 northbound and exit at Ardath Road. Turn right at the signalized intersection at La Jolla Shores Drive, then turn left at the signalized intersection at Avenida de la Playa. Turn right on Camino del Oro. A 350 space parking lot (8 disabled spaces) can be found at the foot of Calle Frescota next to the lifeguard tower. In summer, this lot fills to capacity by mid-day. Limited on street parking may be available.

The basic rule of thumb is that any gathering of over 75 people requires a permit from the Park and Recreation Department. A permit is also required for a wedding of any size, water event, athletic event, voice and/or music amplification, or use of special setup equipment (such as an inflatable party jump, dunk tank, canopy, etc.) For permit information call Coastline Parks at 221-8901

The north facing La Jolla Cove has unusually coarse sand. Grassy Scripps Park is immediately adjacent and an excellent area for picnicking. Water visibility at the Cove can sometimes exceed 30 feet, making it a popular location for scuba divers and snorklers. La Jolla Cove lies within the San Diego La Jolla Underwater Park Ecological Reserve, which helps to ensure that marine life remains plentiful. This is a look but don't touch area and the possession of game is unlawful.

Lifeguards are staffed daily throughout the year. During summer, lifeguard staffing hours are generally 9:00 a.m. to dusk. At other times of the year, lifeguard staffing may not commence until 10:00 a.m. Always check with lifeguards to check on any modification of staffing hours.

Most California beaches experience strong currents. The safety tips section provides an explanation of rip currents and some methods of freeing yourself if caught in a rip current. The best advice is to swim near a lifeguard. The waters off this beach are reserved for swimming and diving only.

This is an excellent beach for scuba diving diving when surf conditions are low. Telephone the beach information line before coming to the beach and always check with lifeguards before diving. A public restroom building with showers can be found in Scripps Park beside La Jolla Cove.

Due to the steep hillside immediately adjacent, the beach itself is not wheelchair accessible. However, there is an excellent view from the park above and an extensive oceanside walkway in Scripps Park.

There are no receptacles for beach fires. Open fires are therefore prohibited. The taking or possession of sea life or artifacts is prohibited. Floatation devices are prohibited in La Jolla Cove. Spears are prohibited in La Jolla Cove. Alcohol is permitted only between 12:00 noon and 8:00 p.m.

From the north, take Interstate 5 to La Jolla Village Drive, westbound. Turn left on Torrey Pines Road at the signalized intersection. Follow Torrey Pines Road to the signalized intersection at Prospect Street and turn right. Watch for the signs and bear right on Coast Boulevard.

From the south, take Interstate 5 north to Ardath Road. Continue on Ardath Road as it becomes Torrey Pines Road. Follow Torrey Pines Road to the signalized intersection at Prospect Street and turn right. Watch for the signs and stay right on Coast Boulevard.

There is no public parking lot for La Jolla Cove. On-street parking can be difficult to find, particularly in summer. It is limited to three hours at a time on weekdays and unlimited on weekends, but check the signs for any restrictions. Paid parking is available in downtown La Jolla at several locations and is a short walk from the beach.

The basic rule of thumb is that any gathering of over 75 people requires a permit from the Park and Recreation Department. A permit is also required for a wedding, water event, athletic event, voice and/or music amplification, or use of special setup equipment (such as an inflatable party jump, dunk tank, canopy, etc.) For permit information call Coastline Parks at (619) 221-8901.

The Children's Pool (850 Coast Boulevard), also known as the Casa, is a small beach partially protected by a seawall. The original intention was to create a fully protected swimming area, but sand has filled in much of the area inside the wall. This is a very picturesque beach with a panoramic view. During much of the year, seals and sea lions are present on or near the beach and a reserve for these marine mammals, called Seal Rock, is just offshore.

The Children's Pool, is within a short walk of the commercial area of the community of La Jolla. Grassy park areas can be found a short distance to the north and south. Several small beaches are nearby including Wipeout Beach to the south and Shell Beach to the north. This is a popular beach for scuba divers because of the reefs just offshore. These same reefs can create very strong currents and other hazards, particularly in high surf conditions.

This beach information was supplied from the San Diego Beaches online guide. It is provided for your interest and is subject to change. Always call to before going.

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