San Onofre State Beach: San Mateo Campground to Trestles Beach (Blog Hike #994)

Trails: Panhe Nature and Trestles Beach Trails
Hike Location: San Onofre State Beach
Geographic Location: south side of San Clemente, CA (33.40605, -117.58513)
Length: 3.3 miles
Difficulty: 5/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: February 2024
Overview: An out-and-back to a famous surfing beach.
Park Information: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=647
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=956108
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming February 21, 2025)

Directions to the trailhead: Between Los Angeles and San Diego, take I-5 to Cristianitos Road (exit 72).  Exit and go east on Cristianitos Rd.  Drive Cristianitos Rd. east 1 mile to the signed entrance for the state beach's San Mateo Campground on the right.  Turn right to enter the campground, pay the day-use entrance fee, then turn right 3 times to reach the trailhead parking lot.

The hike: Consisting of 3000 acres leased from the United States Marine Corps, San Onofre State Beach protects a 3.5 mile beach that is one of the longest undeveloped stretches of oceanfront in southern California.  The state beach's land sits adjacent to Marine Corps Camp Pendleton, which was established in 1942.  The state beach came to be in 1971 when Governor Ronald Reagan signed the lease, and the lease is in the process of being renewed as I write this Trail Journal entry.  The beach was named by Catholic missionaries for the 4th century Egyptian hermit St. Onuphrius, but it has no obvious connection to him.

            A surfing camp has existed on this site since the 1920's, and surfing remains the beach's main attraction today.  In fact over 2.5 million visitors come to this beach each year, making it one of the most popular state parks in California.  The state beach contains 4 main surfing areas: Trestles, Church, Surf Beach, and Trails from north to south.  The state beach also offers 2 campgrounds: the Bluffs Campground located on the bluffs overlooking the ocean and the San Mateo Campground located further inland on old US 101.

            In terms of trails, the state beach offers several short trails that connect the bluffs to the beach, and it offers a system of trails through hilly terrain further inland.  Splitting the difference between those two options are the Panhe Nature and Trestles Beach Trails described here.  The Panhe Nature Trail starts inland at the San Mateo Campground, but it connects with the Trestles Beach Trail to lead to Trestles Beach, which many regard as this area's best surfing beach.  Thus, this hike lets you sample everything San Onofre State Beach has to offer.

San Mateo Campground trailhead

            The San Mateo Campground trailhead is marked with an information kiosk and a brown metal sign that says "Beach Trail."  The wide gravel/dirt trail starts winding its way uphill on a gradual grade.  The sunny hillside features a dense shrubby ground cover, but some eucalyptus trees appear as you near the top of the hill.

View from highest point

            Just past 0.4 miles, you pass the highest elevation on this hike as you come alongside Cristianitos Road, which is the road you drove in on and old US 101.  The rest of the hike can be seen from here, including I-5 and the Pacific Ocean.  Next the trail begins descending gradually, and you pass an interpretive sign that describes the ancient village of Panhe.  Panhe means "place by the water" in the Acjachemen language.  Indeed, the village sat beside San Mateo Creek, which runs through the ravine to the east.

Descending toward San Mateo Creek

            At 0.9 miles, you pass the access trail that exits right to the Trestles Beach parking area before beginning the steepest part of the hike.  The difference between maximum and minimum elevation on this hike is just under 200 feet, so the steep area is over pretty quick.  Next the trail curves right to begin following San Mateo Creek as it passes under I-5.  You are now officially on the Trestles Beach Trail, but there are no signs or discernable changes in trail conditions.

Old Pacific Coast Highway

            1.2 miles into the hike, you cross the old Pacific Coast Highway, which is now a bike trail.  Continue straight to keep heading for Trestles Beach.  Now the trail flattens out as it passes between a wetland on the left and a low bluff on the right.  I did some good bird viewing on this section of trail, and I had a rabbit bound across the trail in front of me.

Entrance to Trestles Beach

            Just past 1.5 miles, you reach the iron and concrete railroad trestle that guards the entrance to Trestles Beach.  Trains do use this railroad, so going under the trestle is preferable to climbing over the railroad tracks.  Mind your head as you walk under the trestle, then climb over the sand dunes to reach the trail's end at Trestles Beach.

Trestles Beach

            Known for its consistent and perfect surfing waves, at least 10 surfers were in the water when I came here, but the lack of close parking keeps the crowds away.  Take some time to watch the surfers and enjoy the relatively isolated setting.  When you are ready, retrace your steps to the San Mateo Campground to complete the hike.