San Diego Wheelchair Accessible Beaches

San Diego Wheelchair

I present to you a comprehensive list of all San Diego wheelchair-accessible beaches. First, I will be listing for the entire San Diego County, beginning North and making way to the South.

All addresses are linked to Google Maps, and a phone number is also provided.

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Los Penasquitos Lagoon

Los Penasquitos lagoon featured image

One of my favorite places to explore over the past 30 years is the Los Penasquitos Lagoon at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. Can I take you on tour?

Ok! Let’s go!

Los Penasquitos Lagoon

Located between Del Mar to the north and the border of San Diego to the south, the Los Penasquitos Lagoon is a 510-acre coastal salt marsh estuary.

—>San Diego Lagoons and Nature Centers<—

Meaning “The Little Cliffs” in Spanish, the Los Penasquitos frames the northern part of the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve.

The Los Penasquitos Lagoon is a Salt Marsh?

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

Los Penasquitos Lagoon is one of the last salt marshes in southern California. The lagoon supports many plants and animals, including seven threatened or endangered species.

Another interesting fact is that this lagoon also serves as a refuge for migratory birds that use the Pacific Flyway.

—>Best San Diego Birding Hotspots<—

Since joining the State Park System, there have been quite a few changes to help increase the overall tidal flow here at the Los Penasquitos Lagoon.

Let’s now have a look.

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Exploring Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve featured image

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is a 2000-acre park located in the community of La Jolla in San Diego, California, off North Torrey Pines Rd. Nothing here has ever been altered or diverted at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, making it one of the wildest coastal stretches left in California.

I can not emphasize enough just how beautiful this Reserve is!

Come and join me for a tour!

Torrey Pine Tree Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

 What is a Reserve?

Everything here and surrounding the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is a protected area. That includes the Penasquitos River Valley east of the highway, one of the last salt marsh estuaries in San Diego, and the Underwater Ecological Reserve offshore.

A Reserve is not a ‘park,’ but an assigned area of importance and commonly contains threatened plants, animal habitats, or unique geological formations.

Over 300 birds and native plant species are threatened or endangered within the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. The Torrey Pine, the Reserve’s namesake, is a scarce endangered pine tree- the rarest pine tree in the United States, but more on that later.

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Touring 10 Beaches-North County San Diego

North County San Diego

Living in Southern California, I have photographed many North County San Diego beaches. But I have not gotten even close to shooting every one of them!

So, it has been my mission this year to shoot every beach on the 70 miles of the San Diego coastline.

 Ok, let’s get going!

 Beaches of North County San Diego

On Jan 11, 2018, my daughter and I quickly rode to North County, San Diego, to photograph a few beaches.

—>The Beaches of San Diego County<—

Before leaving, I mapped out the ten shores we would be conquering. Our primary objective was to start at Wisconsin Street Beach in Oceanside, followed by the beaches of Carlsbad, and finally, end at Grandview Beach in Encinitas.

Oceanside Carlsbad Google Map North County San Diego
11.4 miles of coast covered

All in all, we covered 11.4 miles of San Diego’s 70 miles of coastline.

If there is one thing I have learned on the adventure, all these beaches listed below are best to visit on a mid to low-tide day, especially the beaches in Oceanside.

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San Diego Lagoons and Nature Centers

Agua Hedionda Lagoon San Diego Lagoons

I have prepared a list of all San Diego lagoons and nature centers along the coastline and linked each site to its appropriate website.

Explore, have fun, and learn at the same time!

Nature Centers and San Diego Lagoons

San Diego doesn’t just have the best beaches in the country; we also have some of the most significant coastal wetlands.

With over 70 miles of coast to discover in San Diego, there are also several coastal lagoons to visit. If you are in the mood for a hike or are interested in the area’s natural history, you cannot go wrong!

I will start the list at the most northern location, Oceanside, and make my way South, finally ending at the Mexican Border.

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The Beaches of San Diego County-Updated 2020

Stonesteps Beach Beaches of San Diego County

Here I would like to set up a comprehensive list of the beaches of San Diego County, beginning with the most northern shore and making my way down the coast until the most southern Beach sharing its border with Mexico.

For all those living in San Diego, we are incredibly fortunate to live in this gorgeous city. With an average daytime temperature of 69.8` F, what is not to love?

San Diego County has over 70 miles of unique coastline to appreciate and explore!

Experience San Diego Like a Local!

Having been fortunate enough to live in this area for over 30 years, I have explored almost every mile, except on the military beaches (San Diego has three of them. But I got a few pictures from the outside looking in, and I am grateful for that.

About two years ago, I made a pact to document as many of the beaches of San Diego County as I could. To make things as easy as possible, I will be listing each Beach and including the following criteria-

  • Map
  • Activities Available
  • Restrooms
  • Parking
  • Points of Interest
  • My Rating (1-5, with five being the highest)
  • Additional Information

(As you can see, restroom availability is a critical metric!)

I have written previously on many of these locations, so  I will also link each relevant post under Additional Information.

(Please look and share it with those you love.)

Whether you go to the Beach for the sun, water, or to walk on the sand, the beaches of San Diego County have something for everyone.

Let’s have a look!

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Beaches of Encinitas-A Photo Tour

beaches of encinitas

Beacon's Beach Beaches of Encinitas

I have been visiting Encinitas’s beaches for over thirty years, and I have many pictures to prove it! If I had to pick my favorite stretch of beaches on the 70 miles of coast in San Diego, it would have to be the beaches of Encinitas.

Would you like to join me on tour?

Let’s Go!

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For the Love of San Diego Beaches

San Diego Beaches

At the beach, life is different Time doesn’t move from hour to hour but mood to moment. We live by the currents, plan by the tides, and follow the sun. Anonymous

little girl on sand
I have always loved the beach!

Discovering San Diego Beaches

 Sometime back, I remember reading that San Diego beaches are considered some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. So it was only logical that when I moved down here from Los Angeles to go to college, it was my mission to see if this theory was correct. Are the beaches of San Diego such a big deal?

Though I had been to San Diego only once as a child,  the one thing I remember is Mission Beach. Well, when I finally went out to explore the San Diego coastline, I was not let down, not by a long shot! That was as far as my association with San Diego beaches went, flat and sandy.

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Top 5 Spots to View a San Diego Sunset

Mission Bay San Diego Sunset
Mission Bay, San Diego

If I can put one touch of rosy sunset into the life of any man or woman, I shall feel that I have worked with God– G.K Chesterton

Encountering a San Diego sunset on the coast is something you will never forget. With San Diego having over 70 miles of coast,  where are the best places to experience a San Diego sunset?

Few things touch my soul more than a sunset. Something magical happens when the sun’s rays hit the ocean water, and it is as if the entire surroundings are shining from within.

I am pleased to share my top 5 spots where I think you can see that exceptional San Diego sunset in all its glory and more!

Under each listing, I have included one fun fact, or in other words, a secret.

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Swami’s State Beach-Hidden Paradise

Sunset at Swami's State Beach

Swami's State Beach Sunset

As I have said many, many times, San Diego has some of the best beaches in the country. Most are well known and are almost always busy, but there are a few that not many know about. Today I would like to concentrate on one of my favorites, Swami’s State Beach.

This hidden beach oasis is situated toward the southern end of Encinitas, California, about 25 miles north of Downtown San Diego.

Would you like to come and join me for a tour?

Let’s go!

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Oceanside Beach CA- Let’s Go!

Big winter waves off Oceanside Pier

Oceanside Beach, CA, is 30 min north of Downtown San Diego in North County San Diego. Did you know that the city of Oceanside is best known for being the home of the Marine Military Base Camp Pendleton?

Join me for a mini-tour of Oceanside Pier a day after a winter storm!

View on Oceanside Pier CA, looking North
View from toward the middle of the  Oceanside Pier

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Discovering Oceanside Pier CA

Oceanside Pier CA

Oceanside Pier

May 17, 2015- Oceanside Pier

Oceanside Pier is one of the largest piers in the State of California; measuring the length of 1954 feet.

This pier was first built in 1888 but was ultimately wiped out by a storm in 1890.

Eventually, it was again rebuilt in 1893 and additionally restored four more times due to heavy storms. The original location was at what is now Wisconsin Ave Beach.

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Getting to Know San Onofre State Beach

san onofre state beach

San Onofre State Beach is over 3000 acres of sandy and rocky beaches, weathered bluffs, and coastal wetlands located on the northernmost border of San Diego County and 3 miles south of the city of San Clemente in Orange County. 

My family and I love to explore this area!

San Onofre State Beach

Over 2.5 million people frequent San Onofre State Beach every year, making it one of the top five most visited state parks in California.

Come and join me for a tour!

Fun Fact- “Onofre” in Spanish means defender of peace.

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