San Onofre State Beach is nestled along the southern Orange County border in Southern California. It is a sweeping coastal escape where sandstone bluffs meet legendary surf breaks. This area is tucked within a wild, undeveloped landscape shaped by Native heritage, military stewardship, and California surf culture.
What Makes This Park Unique
Spanning some 3,000 acres, San Onofre State Beach preserves dramatic cliffs, rolling coastal bluffs, and 3.5 miles of natural shoreline. It’s also home to the ancient Acjachemen village of Panhe—now a sacred cultural site with over 8,000 years of history. Since the 1930s, it’s been a surf mecca, nurturing iconic breaks like Trestles, Old Man’s, and Trails, and sheltering rare wildlife amid its coastal sage scrub and tidal wetlands.
Top Activities and Amenities
Beach Access & Surfing
The park is divided into three main sections. These are San Onofre Surf Beach (including Old Man’s), San Onofre Bluffs, and San Mateo Campground with access to Trestles. Surf Beach offers easy parking, lifeguarded swimming, and beginner-friendly waves. Trestles is internationally celebrated for consistent, high-performance surf—especially at Lowers—while Old Man’s offers softer, nostalgic long-board waves in a tailgate-friendly setting.
Camping & Campfire Amenities
San Onofre Bluffs Campground stretches along old Highway 101 atop beach cliffs. It offers tent and RV sites (up to ~36 ft), fire rings, picnic tables, and cold outdoor showers. There is drinking water and an RV dump station, but no hookups. The inland San Mateo Campground sits near marshlands and creek riparian zones, providing full-hookup RV sites as well as tent options, hot indoor showers, flush restrooms, and scenic nature trail access.
Picnicking, Interpretive Programs & Wildlife Viewing
Bluff-top trails and picnic spots offer ocean vistas, spring wildflowers, and birdwatching over wetlands. Interpretive displays at San Mateo introduce visitors to the area’s cultural legacy, ecology, and beginnings of California surf culture.
Restrooms, Showers & Drinking Water
Both campgrounds feature restrooms and showers. There are outdoor cold showers at the Bluffs. San Mateo has hot showers. Potable water is supplied throughout. Trails from bluff sites lead to secluded beach access points—but paths are natural and rugged.
Hiking, Nature Trails & Biking
Six steep dirt trails provide beach access from the bluffs to the shore below. A 1.5-mile nature trail from San Mateo Campground leads to Trestles Beach and wetlands. Though no official bike trail exists, riders can reach Surf Beach and nearby areas via paved coastal roads.
Fishing, Swimming & Lifeguards
Surf fishing is popular along the sandy beach stretches. Lifeguards are on duty at Surf Beach seasonally, making swimming safer there than other, more remote parts of the coastline.
Accessibility Features
Accessible parking, restrooms, and select campsites are available at both Bluffs and San Mateo Campgrounds. Beach wheelchair service can be reserved during summer months.
Practical Visitor Tips
- Day-use parking typically costs $15; expect higher rates on holidays and weekends.
- Camping reservations for both Bluffs and San Mateo are highly recommended through ReserveCalifornia—they often fill months ahead.
- No beach fires, alcohol, dogs, or smoking allowed anywhere on the beach or trails.
- Clothing-optional use at the “Trails” section is no longer permitted and now actively enforced.
- Steep bluff trails are scenic but strenuous—wear sturdy footwear and carry water; they may be closed during storm damage.
- Respect the sensitive Acjachemen village site at Panhe—observe signage and minimize noise in the area.
- Surf with care—Trestles can be crowded and challenging; Old Man’s is better for beginners but still requires attention to ocean conditions.
Local insight: Experience serene magic by strolling down Trail 6 early in the morning. You will catch soft light across the tide pools and sandstone cliffs. In spring, soak in wildflowers atop the bluff. Then, make your way down to the warm surf at Old Man’s for a mellow session. Rounded off with a sunset bonfire under the stars at the campground, San Onofre blends timeless surf culture with coastal calm—perfectly Californian and wholly unforgettable.