Sunset Cliffs Sea Cave
DETAILS:
Location: Sunset Cliffs in the Point Loma neighborhood of San Diego. (Sunset Cliffs Natural Park spans 68 acres, so you’ll want to enter “Luscomb Point” into your navigation. This point is just north of the cave and it’s where you’ll need to descend in order to reach it.)
Hours of Operation: Daily - Sunrise to Sunset.
Parking: Free street parking available along Sunset Cliffs Boulevard & nearby residential streets. Please respect the neighborhood and adhere to local street parking signs.
You can find Luscomb Point along Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, between Hill Street & Monaco Street.
Cost: Free!
Time Commitment: 1 hour.
Miscellaneous:
You ABSOLUTELY need to visit during LOW TIDE if you have any shot of reaching the cave without taking a swim. (Tide chart provided below under “resources”) Even then, a negative tide is optimal. When I visited, low tide was only 0.8 feet and that still had me wading waist-deep in several sections.
Plan to get wet to some degree. With that in mind, I recommend bringing a change of shoes, socks, shorts, etc. You can never be too safe!
With stunning vistas of the Pacific Ocean and arguably the best sunsets in all of California, you hardly need any more motivation to visit Sunset Cliffs in the Point Loma neighborhood of San Diego. But what if I told you it also boasted an epic sea cave, complete with a magnificent natural sunroof? If you’re not already in your car by the time you finish that last sentence, I’m not sure we can be friends anymore. Nix that, we’ll always be friends, so here are a few tips you’ll want to consider when planning for this amazing adventure.
I mentioned it above in “details”, but I can't stress enough that you should only attempt to visit during low tide. This is the only time of day you’ll be able to reach the sea cave without swimming for it. Even then, a negative tide is preferential. I thought I had it made on the day I visited. Low tide was only going to be 0.8 feet deep, so I only expected to get minimally wet. Boy was I wrong! Two different sections found me waste-deep. Thankfully, the water wasn’t very cold and I had brought an extra set of dry clothes just in case. The two takeaways here? GO DURING LOW TIDE, and you’re definitely going to get wet in some form or another.
With that out of the way, let’s discuss your journey to the cave. After you park near Luscomb Point, you’ll immediately notice the fenced-off area that surrounds the cave’s “sunroof” which prevents people from accidentally falling down this enormous hole. Definitely take a moment to stop here and take a look down since the sight from above is just as impressive as the one you’ll eventually see from underneath. It’s also a good way to orientate yourself to the surrounding terrain (the views of the ocean aren’t too shabby either). Just north of the cave, you’ll notice Luscomb Point jutting out towards the water just passed the small bay below. This will be your access point down to sea-level to reach the cave.
Since Luscomb Point is also a popular launching pad for area surfers, if there’s any confusion how to get down to the water from here, just wait a few moments and I promise you’ll see a surfer leading the way. The initial descent is pretty short, maybe 15-20 feet. I wouldn’t necessarily call it rock-scrambling to get down, but it’s hardly a defined path. Once you’ve reached sea-level (this is a relative term depending on the height of the tide during your visit), the cave is about 200 yards away. You’ll need to hug the cliff you’ve just descended during the first portion of your trek. This will be the most treacherous part, so please watch your footing, especially as you get splashed by a rogue wave or two. You’ll eventually reach the small bay that you saw from above that separates Luscomb Point from the cave. This stretch is pretty easy to traverse as you draw closer. Once passed the bay, you’ll hug the northern wall of the cave until you finally reach your end destination, and oh what a destination it is.
To call this cave other-worldly would be an understatement. It’s a place lost to time and you’ll feel both awed and in peace as you stand at the alter of this natural temple. One of the benefits of this labored journey is that you’ll most likely have it all to yourself when you visit (or at least shared with minimal visitors) which makes it feel all the more reverent. But you’ll certainly be reminded of the visitors that preceded you as indicated by the cairns left against the eastern walls of the cave. If you’re so inclined, you should consider leaving one yourself. And don’t forget to look up (as if that were possible) to view the cave’s looming hole above. No doubt you’ll enjoy every second of your stay. Just make sure you leave before the tide comes in or else you’ll be swimming home!
RESOURCES:
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park website.
Sunset Cliffs Tide Chart.
