San Diego Hikes: Bayside Trail at Cabrillo National Monument
Cabrillo National Monument is located at the tip of Point Loma where the Pacific Ocean meets San Diego Bay. It is best known as the point where the Spanish first landed in California in 1542. Bayside Trail is a scenic walk that is the prime hiking opportunity in the area.
- Starting Point: Cabrillo National Monument, 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr, San Diego, CA 92106
- Length: 2.3 miles
- Elevation: 300 foot gain and loss
- Type: out-and-back
The tip of Point Loma is an area of incredible scenic beauty. Cabrillo National Monument is a high point sitting about 400-feet up on the Point Loma peninsula. The Bayside Trail provides an opportunity to hike about 300 feet below the monument.
There is an entrance fee for Cabrillo National Monument, including Bayside Trail. As of summer 2020, costs $20 per vehicle to enter the Cabrillo National Monument ($15 motorcycle). Walking or biking in costs $10 a person but a group of 4 can get in for $20. An annual pass to Cabrillo National Park is $35 and includes a vehicle and its passengers.
Entry is included with an annual National Park Pass. This pass costs $80. People over the age of 62 can get a lifetime pass for $80. U.S. Military and families with a 4th grade student get a free pass.
There is plenty to see and do at Cabrillo. However, hiking opportunities are limited to the Bayside Trail and a short trail that runs along the tide pools. We have separate guides for the tide pools as well as other activities at Cabrillo National Monument. The official site for Cabrillo National Monument is here.
Bayside Trail is a great hike for families. However, it is a one-way trail with the first section downhill and the return uphill. When our children were little we would turn around if they started complaining on the downhill portion. However, even in preschool days this was a doable family hike.
From the parking lot by the Visitor Center, Bayside Trail starts a short distance up the sidewalk towards the lighthouse. The trail is well-marked and starts on a paved service road that bears downhill to the left.
The service road goes down a short distance until the official dirt trail takes a sharp curve downhill to the left. From this point it is about 0.8 miles downhill until the trail ends.
The trail hugs the bluff with many opportunities to view ships entering and leaving San Diego. Across the bay is the city of Coronado. Coronado is almost an island except for the long spit of land, the Silver Strand that connects Coronado to Imperial Beach, forming San Diego Bay.
The half of Coronado directly across from Cabrillo is a large military base, Naval Air Station North Island. Directly south of the base is the city of Coronado, highlighted by the iconic Hotel del Coronado.
Across the bay from Coronado there is a great view of downtown San Diego. The San Diego airport is directly left of downtown at the base of Point Loma.
About halfway down the trail there are some military buildings that were used to protect San Diego during World War I and II. The first building housed a massive search light that was visible for 35 miles. It was used to identify ships in the area. The second building is the generator used to power the searchlight.
Bayside Trail also has many signs discussing the animals and native plants of the area. There are several benches along the trail where hikers can stop and view the scenery.
The trail ends about 300 feet below the statute of Cabrillo at the visitor’s center. Straight ahead is the Naval Base Point Loma which is a key submarine base.
At this point the only option is to head up the way you came. The uphill climb is fairly mild and the total length of Bayside Trail from the Visitor Center and back is 2.3 miles.
If you are in the area and want more hiking a great option is Sunset Cliffs. Sunset Cliffs is located on the Pacific Ocean side of Point Loma. This is a level hike along the cliffs.
