Cabrillo Bayside Trail

The Bayside Trail is a coastal walking route inside Cabrillo National Monument, at 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr on the tip of the Point Loma peninsula in San Diego, California. Visitors drive to the monument, where an entry fee applies per vehicle and is valid for 7 days. It has recently been about $20 per vehicle, and current rates are posted at nps.gov/cabr. The monument's phone number is 619-557-5450. The trailhead is located near the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, a short distance from the visitor center and main parking area.

The trail runs about 2.5 miles (4 km) round trip and descends roughly 300 ft (91 m) along the east-facing slope of Point Loma, then returns uphill the same way. This makes it an easy hike overall, though the return climb is gradual and sustained. The surface is a wide, mostly smooth dirt and gravel path, in places with small rocky patches. It runs through coastal sage scrub, a rare native habitat that supports birds, lizards and, in spring, flowering shrubs. There is little shade, so the route is exposed to sun, though ocean breezes often keep it comfortable.

Along the way, the trail offers views across San Diego Bay to the downtown skyline, Coronado Island and the North Island naval air station, and boats and ships pass through the channel below. The path ends near the water's edge at a point where hikers can turn around; the end of the trail is the recommended turn-around point, and visitors should not leave the marked path because the slopes are fragile and parts of the shoreline are restricted. Interpretive signs along the route describe the plants and local military history.

There are no huts or shelters, and the trail has no water source, so visitors should carry their own supply. Water and restrooms are available near the visitor center. The trail is open only during the monument's hours, and the gates close in the late afternoon, so hikers should check the closing time posted by the National Park Service before starting the descent.