If you love to hike and want to see amazing ocean views then La Jolla Natural Park has just the trails. In fact, La Jolla Natural Park is one of the best-kept secrets in La Jolla.
La Jolla Natural Park consists of 42 acres of untouched, natural beauty. Looking to the north, you can see La Jolla County Club’s golf course, with it’s sea of green rolling hills. To the west, the hike offers amazing views of La Jolla Village, and La Jolla Cove. The park is dog friendly too, but your furry friends must be leashed at all times. Old time La Jollans called the park “La Jolla Heights Open Space”, but the kids know it better as “Viewpoint”.
The trail starts at the top of Al Bahr Drive with a brown trailhead sign. After passing through tall reeds, the hike opens up to an expansive desert hillside covered in chaparral. There are several clearings up the hill that will provide you fabulous photo opportunities; the view of La Jolla gets better with each step upward. There are many forks in the path, but as long as you continue on an uphill branch, you will eventually reach your destination and come to an asphalt path, which is Encelia Drive.
The round trip hike, up the hill and down the streets back to the trailhead, is approximately 1.3 miles and takes around 50 minutes if you stop for a few photos don’t forget to sit on the bench at the top to admire the view. The total elevation of the hike is 655 feet.
Don’t forget to bring water, sunglasses, sunscreen or hats there are very few trees for shade.
Also not sure where to park, here’s an insider tip park on Brodiaea way and walk up to Encelia Drive.
If you are thinking of buying or selling your home or moving to La Jolla, give us a call 619-980-2738 or 619-851-4084 we are here to help!