There are so many amazing places in San Diego to explore. Sunset Cliffs is the perfect example of cliffs, caves, and incredible views right in my backyard.
One Friday afternoon, my friend and I headed down to the cliffs to see what we could find. We started out walking along the coastline until we reached a big crowd of people cliff jumping. Although technically prohibited, people choose to jump at their own risk. Across the way at a much smaller jump, a girl was building up the courage to take her first leap into the water. Her friends encouraged her by chanting her name, which the crowd quickly picked up on, until she committed to the jump. Others were more experienced and showcased flips and twists.
The next spot we checked out was the small beach area that had beachgoers down by the water. This isn’t a common beach spot, as there are no stairs to get down to the sand in a convenient fashion. We kept walking down the trail to a rocky area that led down to the water. The large rocks and low tide provided for a fairly simple climb. When we reached the bottom, we walked a bit along the coast and explored some large caves and cliffs carved out by the ocean. The sun shining down and warm water temperatures encouraged me to swim out to a large rock that was a short distance away. Once I climbed up to the top, I was rewarded with a grand view of the ocean. There are so many small nooks and coves to explore once you get down to the water.
The following weekend, I took my mom to the cliffs for a more conservative version of the trail walk. We passed a wedding, an engagement photo shoot, and plenty of groups enjoying the sunset views. No matter the time of day, Sunset Cliffs will be sure to satisfy your adventure needs. Helene Gerasimchuk is a freelance writer and group fitness instructor. Contact her at [email protected].