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Carlsbad State Beach
A beach that reflects community pride and passion.
Carlsbad began as a rural agricultural community and Santa Fe Railroad whistle stop, a place people passed through on their way to points north or south. In recent years, farms and flower fields have given way to corporate headquarters, and the Legoland theme park draws visitors from around the world. In spite of all the new activity east of the freeway, Carlsbad's beaches remain one of San Diego's best kept secrets, which is just fine with the locals. The north half of the Carlsbad coast is composed of a series of small beaches divided by sea walls. The cliffs here are relatively low and in most places the Coast Highway passes right next to the shore, offering an unobstructed view of the sea and open access to the beach. As much the engineers of Carlsbad's dramatic buildup as the products of it, the locals have gone to great lengths to beautify their downtown businesses, homes and beaches. Well-designed walkways, attractive sea walls and all kinds of facilities have been added to make the beaches as pleasing to the eye as they are accommodating to users.
Carlsbad State Beach is all nice, but spots like
Tamarack (near its namesake street),
Warm Water Jetty (by the large Electric Power Plant) and
Terramar (near the lagoon) are most popular with surfers, and therefore usually the most crowded. If you think you're likely to get the urge for a bite to eat during your day at the beach, stick close to the north end by Carlsbad Village Drive; it's all residential and park land for many miles to the south. The brackish Agua Hedionda Lagoon north of Cannon Road is home to a YMCA water sports camp, a private waterskiing concession and an experimental fish farming program.
Directions
From the 5 FWY take Cannon Road, Tamarack Avenue or Carlsbad Village Drive west to Pacific Coast Hwy. Parking is a mixed bag of small beach lots and standard roadside spots. Be careful and deliberate when pulling in or out since the traffic moves at a steady clip as you get down near the Power Plant. The same precautions apply when crossing the highway here on foot.
Offerings
Lifeguards, bathrooms, picnic areas, and a long, wide pedestrian walkway ideal for jogging or strolling with a baby carriage. Leashed dogs are allowed on the upper pathways but prohibited on the beach and beach boardwalk. For more information call 760-438-3143. There are quite a few hotels and eateries in Carlsbad, and for kids, Legoland is just east of the freeway on Cannon Road.
Considerations
This is an exposed beach, and there's not much in the way of grass or shade. The wind is predominantly onshore and blows steadily most afternoons. The sea walls, also known as groins, serve an important function in keeping sand on the beaches, but they aren't much to look at and can present a hazard for swimmers. Keep a healthy distance from them as well as the fenced outfall at Warm Water Jetty.
Rating: 
South Carlsbad State Beach
Where happy campers call the beach home.
It's easy for San Diegans to take their beautiful beaches and access for granted. But since the last oceanfront lots were sold years ago, we've come to appreciate the city, county, and state organizations that designated places like South Carlsbad State Beach as park lands that will allow future generations of locals and visitors to enjoy the satisfaction of beachside camping. Children love to ride their bikes around the campground and boogie board on the uncrowded beach below. Sadly, most visitors only discover the campground by accident, when it is too late to include it in their itinerary, but for those in the know who plan and reserve ahead, it can be among the most rewarding memories of a visit to San Diego.
Between Cannon Road and Batiquitos Lagoon, the bluffs are tall and steep, offering few safe routes to the beach. You can expect to find trails where clusters of cars are parked on the small turnouts along the highway. The southernmost end of
South Carlsbad State Beach (better known as
Ponto) has more well-defined peaks for surfing than the faster-closing beachbreaks on the main stretch. Sections of beach here are swept clean of sand by seasonal swells at times, leaving toe-bruising cobblestones on shore and in the water. Sturdy shoes or booties are advised for walking over cobblestones and are also helpful for the rough trails on the bluffs and around the campground.
Directions
Taking the Poinsettia exit west from the 5 FWY will deposit you right at the campground gates. Head north or south on Carlsbad Boulevard/Pacific Coast Hwy. to find alternative parking and beach access.
Offerings
The campground offers 220 sites for tents and RVs on the bluffs overlooking the beach, with restrooms, water taps, fire rings, and picnic tables. There is a small convenience store and a group campfire center, and the rangers are more than happy to answer questions about the park and the neighboring community. Restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores and other amenities are all within close range by car, and the Legoland Theme Park is just across the freeway on Cannon Road. A series of stairs lead down from the campground to the beach below. For campground info, call 760-438-3143. For reservations, call 800-444-7275.
Considerations
Unless you arrive in the middle of the week or the middle of the winter, don't expect to find a vacancy. Reserve well in advance. Anyone can use the beach, but there is no accommodation for day-use parking. Only registered guests can bring vehicles into the campground (a maximum of three per site), but you can walk in on foot and use the stairways to access the beach. Better yet, park in the turnouts at the north or south ends of the campground and walk up or down the beach if you want to take advantage of the lifeguard service. Otherwise the coast is all essentially the same here. WARNING: Use only established stairways and marked trails to access the beach. At high tide the water can flood the beach all the way to the base of the cliffs. Make sure you don't get cut off from a safe route back.
Rating: 
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San Diego Beach Guide - San Diego's Best Beaches
