La Jolla Coast Walk

Location: Coast Blvd from Hospital Point to Coast Walk
La Jolla, San Diego, CA

With breathtaking ocean views, La Jolla Coast Walk extends from Hospital Point to Coast Walk and Park Row in a largely residential area. All along the walkway are park benches.

Coast Blvd Walkway has Four Sections:

Hospital Point to Children's Pool

(Map)
Located in a residential area, this section of path stretches alongside short bluffs with occasional entry point to the rocks and tide pools below. There is a viewing and eating area with picnic benches, atop the bluff, near Hospital Point.

At about the halfway point is a narrow grassy area between the path and cliffs, a popular spot for relaxing, picnicking, reading a book or watching the surf. Next to the grassy area is Cuvier Park, a small, secluded park, sunken below and hidden from the path. Also known as the Wedding Bowl, Cuvier Park is a popular spot to get married.

As the path makes it way closer to Children's Pool, the path itself becomes wider and bluffs become taller with virtually no shore access until Children's Pool.

Children's Pool to Ellen Browning
Scripps Park

(Map)
The path hugs the tall cliffs, with limited access to a secluded sandy beach below. This section offers some of the best scenic views of the ocean, beaches, and rocky shoreline.

Ellen Browning Scripps Park
to La Jolla Cove

(Map) Please note: map shows Coast Blvd route. The actual path goes along parkside cliff.
At the park, the concrete path continues along the cliffs, but now away from Coast Blvd, separated by a large grassy area and trees. Close to La Jolla Cove are some entry points to the rocky shoreline. La Jolla Downtown Village is located south of the park, up the hill on Girard Ave to Prospect Street.

La Jolla Cove to The Cave Store

(Map)
The park abruptly ends and the concrete path hugs the cliffs again, with Coast Blvd on the other side. From this point on, there is no access to the inhospitable shoreline below. This part of the journey makes its way up a constant incline.

Across Coast Blvd is Goldfish Point Cafe and Brockton Villa Restaurant. Also along Coast Blvd are the backsides of the hotels, office buildings and retail shops that line Prospect Street.

The Cave Store, along Coast Walk Trail,
to lookout point

(Map)
Beyond and to the left of The Cave Store, the path turns into a dirt trail, called Coast Walk. Nearby is a lookout point with scenic views of La Jolla Shores, Scripps Pier, and the coastline beyond.

Coast Walk dirt path continues along the tall cliffs, continuing the ascent. A wooded area with few people has now replaced an urban area with crowds, buildings and streets. At some point the top is reached and the path begins a descent until it reaches and levels off at a wooden foot bridge, just past Park Row, a small culdesac with limited parking.

Beyond the wooden foot bridge, the dirt path continues along the cliffs and ends at a lookout point. Coast Walk now becomes a small side street.