Parks

The Bluff Trail can be accessed from the South East corner of the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Parking Lot at the intersection of California Ave and North Lake St. The trail begins with a short bridge over San Vicente Creek and travels for a short distance to a junction that offers park visitors a choice of two pathways. To the right the Bluff Trail travels through the Cypress trees and leads West to the bluff top; to the left the Coastal Trail travels South towards Cypress Ave. The Bluff Trail gently ascends through the Cypress grove to the western bluff top where an open view awaits, offering a commanding view of the main beach, the Pacific Ocean and depending upon the tide, the Reserve’s famous tide pools. Here, park visitors will be able to easily observe any resting Harbor Seals on the rocky reefs below. The trail follows along the bluff top at a level grade as it continues to offer stunning ever changing perspectives of the coast including Seal Cove and the southern section of the tide pool area. The Bluff trail will take hikers past the remnants of the Smith-Dolger Estate which is marked by the three Canary island Date Palms and continues to the Seal Cove Beach stairs at Cypress Street. From the stairway, park visitors can travel down to the beautiful Seal Cove beach where the southern tide pool area can be enjoyed.