Closed: Grandview Beach access, Leucadia. The City of Encinitas closed the Grandview stairs on Sept 18 after a bluff failure, with concern about more failures within 300 feet of the stairs. No reopening date yet; the City points beachgoers to Beacon's or Ponto instead. Text PJ which access to use instead.
Official: City of Encinitas: Bluff Failures (report one: Encinitas Fire, 760-633-2800); also reported by North Coast Current · FOX 5. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Quick picks
- With a dog: Del Mar Bluffs City Park, Del Mar City Beach (17th Street), Powerhouse Park. Dog rules change by season and by stretch of sand, so read the posted signs.
- With little kids (lifeguards and restrooms): Fletcher Cove Park, Cardiff State Beach, Del Mar Bluffs City Park, Del Mar City Beach, Del Mar City Beach (17th Street), San Elijo State Beach, Swami's, Torrey Pines State Beach, Moonlight Beach.
- Tide pools: Tide Beach Park, Swami's. Today's low tides: -0.2 ft at 12:59am and 1.8 ft at 1:02pm (NOAA, La Jolla); the lower the tide, the more reef shows. Lowest daylight tides this season.
- Wheelchair or stroller (listed as accessible): Fletcher Cove Park, Cardiff State Beach, Del Mar City Beach (17th Street), Powerhouse Park, San Elijo State Beach, Swami's, Torrey Pines State Beach, Moonlight Beach.
Every beach access within 6 miles of Fletcher Cove
| Access | From Fletcher Cove | Way down | Parking | Restrooms | Lifeguard | Dogs | Tide pools |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fletcher Cove Park End of W. Plaza St. (west extension of Lomas Santa Fe Dr.), Solana Beach · Play equipment, basketball court, ramp to beach | 0.1 mi | Path or ramp | Yes | Yes | Yes | - | - |
| Seascape Sur Stairway 501 S. Sierra Ave., Solana Beach · Stairs to beach on north side of residential complex, parking lot on S. Sierra Ave. | 0.4 mi | Stairs | Yes | - | Yes | - | - |
| Tide Beach Park Pacific Ave. at Solana Vista Dr., Solana Beach · Swimming, stairs to beach, on-street parking | 0.5 mi | Stairs | Yes | - | Yes | - | Yes |
| Del Mar Shores Terrace Stairway 180 Del Mar Shores Terrace, Solana Beach · Stairs to beach | 0.7 mi | Stairs | Yes | - | - | - | - |
| Cardiff State Beach Coast Hwy. 101, W. of San Elijo Lagoon, Cardiff-by-the-Sea · Swimming, surfing, surf fishing | 0.9 mi | - | Yes · fee | Yes | Yes | - | - |
| Del Mar Bluffs City Park W. of Camino Del Mar, N. of San Dieguito River mouth, Del Mar · Shoulder parking, pay-and-display | 1.0 mi | - | Yes · fee | Yes | Yes | Yes | - |
| Del Mar City Beach W. of Camino Del Mar, from 29th St. to Torrey Pines State Beach, Del Mar · Beach access on foot only via street ends from 29th St. to 17th St. | 1.5 mi | Path or ramp | - | Yes | Yes | - | - |
| Del Mar City Beach (17th Street) W. of Camino Del Mar at 17th St., Del Mar · Swimming, surfing, metered parking nearby | 2.0 mi | - | Yes · fee | Yes | Yes | Yes | - |
| Powerhouse Park Coast Blvd. between 17th and 15th streets, Del Mar · Landscaped park, play equipment, fee for parking | 2.2 mi | Path or ramp | Yes · fee | Yes | - | Yes | - |
| San Elijo State Beach Coast Hwy. 101, .2 mi. N. of Chesterfield Dr., Cardiff-by-the-Sea · Day use and camping | 2.2 mi | Stairs | Yes · fee | Yes | Yes | - | - |
| Swami's W. of Coast Hwy. 101, S. of K St., Encinitas · Surf spot, blufftop park | 3.2 mi | Stairs | Yes | Yes | Yes | - | Yes |
| Torrey Pines State Beach McGonigle Rd., off Carmel Valley Rd., San Diego · North Beach parking area off McGonigle Rd., also shoulder parking on southbound Torrey Pines Rd. | 3.9 mi | Path or ramp | Yes · fee | Yes | Yes | - | - |
| D Street Beach W. end of D. St., Encinitas · Wooden stairs to beach, on-street parking | 4.0 mi | Stairs | Yes | - | Yes | - | - |
| Moonlight Beach W. ends of B and C streets, Encinitas · Swimming, beach volleyball, snack stand | 4.2 mi | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | - | - |
| Stone Steps Beach W. end of S. El Portal off Neptune Ave., Encinitas · Stairway to beach, on-street parking | 4.7 mi | Stairs | Yes | - | Yes | - | - |
| Encinitas Beach Between Beacon's Beach and Stone Steps Beach, Leucadia · Access on foot from Beacon's Beach or Stone Steps Beach | 5.0 mi | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Beacon's Beach (San Diego) Neptune Ave. at W. Leucadia Blvd., Leucadia · Steep trail to beach, blufftop parking lot | 5.4 mi | Path or ramp | Yes | - | Yes | - | - |
Every yes and no is the California Coastal Commission's, from its public access points data (the same data behind its YourCoast app). Distance is a straight line from Fletcher Cove. "Fee" usually means paid parking at the state beaches. Lifeguard coverage varies by season and hour.
Views, lagoons and gardens
- Overlook (Solana Beach): Visual Access, 0.1 mi. Views
- Overlook (Del Mar): Visual Access, 0.8 mi. Views
- San Elijo Lagoon: Natural Resource, 1.2 mi. Trails at N. end of Rios Ave. in Solana Beach and El Camino Real S. of La Orilla in Rancho Santa Fe
- San Dieguito River Trail: Natural Resource, 1.2 mi. Path leads E. overlooking the river, on-street parking
- San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center: Historic/Cultural Site, 1.5 mi. Exhibits about ecology and history of San Elijo Lagoon, trails
- San Dieguito Lagoon: Natural Resource, 1.6 mi. Ecological reserve, trail extends east from Jimmy Durante Blvd. on north side of river
- Vista Point (Cardiff-by-the-Sea): Visual Access, 1.7 mi. View area, access from southbound lanes of Hwy. I-5
- Seagrove Park: Visual Access, 2.3 mi. Landscaped park, no beach access, metered parking
- Self-Realization Fellowship Meditation Garden: Historic/Cultural Site, 3.4 mi. Meditation garden, bathing attire not allowed
- Viewpoint Park (J Street): Visual Access, 3.5 mi. Views, no beach access, blufftop path connects I and J Streets
- Viewpoint Park (I Street): Visual Access, 3.6 mi. Views, no beach access, blufftop path connects I and J Streets
- Viewpoint Park (H Street): Visual Access, 3.7 mi. Views, no beach access
Before you go
- Today at the beach: beach day checklist · surf report · 7 days of tides · sunset.
- By train or bus: La Jolla Cove · Torrey Pines by bus.
- Beach Stuff Hauler: park free at the Del Mar Civic Center garage and PJ hauls your chairs, umbrella and cooler down to the access you pick and back to your car: $20 each way. Text PJ.
- Gear at Fletcher Cove: ✓ PJ checked in person · Oct 4 Ride Solana Beach, 113 N. Acacia Ave, rents surfboards ($25 a day), body boards and wetsuits ($20), beach cruisers ($35 a day) and e-bikes ($25 an hour), 8am to 7pm daily. Ride Solana Beach · 858-663-4790. Source: ridesolanabeach.com (prices, address, hours) and their street sign, photographed by PJ, checked Oct 4, 2026.
- Ice for the cooler brought to your access point in Solana Beach, Del Mar or Cardiff: $35 a stop plus the ice at the store's price. Ice delivery · Text PJ.
- Left something at home? Towels, sunscreen, the leash or the kids' sand toys brought down to the stairs or the lot: $35 a stop. Text PJ.
Need a human?
This page is built every morning from public data by SideGuy, run by PJ, a local in Solana Beach. If something looks off, or you want a hand with your plans, text PJ at 858-461-8054. A real person answers.
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Questions people ask
What is the closest beach access to Solana Beach?
Fletcher Cove Park (End of W. Plaza St. (west extension of Lomas Santa Fe Dr.), Solana Beach), with parking, restrooms, lifeguards, per the California Coastal Commission.
Which beaches near Solana Beach allow dogs?
The Coastal Commission lists Del Mar Bluffs City Park, Del Mar City Beach (17th Street), Powerhouse Park as dog friendly. Rules change by season and by stretch of sand; read the posted signs.
Where are the tide pools near Solana Beach?
Tide Beach Park and Swami's, per the Coastal Commission. Today's low tides: -0.2 ft at 12:59am and 1.8 ft at 1:02pm.
Which beaches near Solana Beach have lifeguards?
Fletcher Cove Park, Seascape Sur Stairway, Tide Beach Park, Cardiff State Beach, Del Mar Bluffs City Park, Del Mar City Beach, Del Mar City Beach (17th Street), San Elijo State Beach, Swami's, Torrey Pines State Beach, D Street Beach, Moonlight Beach, Stone Steps Beach, Beacon's Beach (San Diego). Coverage varies by season and hour.
Know someone who needs this?
Something changed here? Text PJ and we'll update this page.
More free local tools: the North County toolkit.