Ashland

 

 

If you have ever taken I-5 South From Los Angeles to San Diego, like I did this passed weekend, you have surely passed San Onofre State Beach. San Onofre State Beach is a rare 3,000-acre scenic coastal-canyon park that includes three distinct areas: San Onofre Bluffs, San Onofre Surf Beach, and San Mateo Campground. The San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) rises above the rolling hills as a monument to surfers everywhere. 

San Onofre Bluffs offers camping and day-use parking along Old Highway 101 adjacent to the sandstone bluffs. The beach below is popular with swimmers and surfers with six rugged dirt access trails cut into the bluff above. All campsites include a fire pit and picnic table. The campground offers cold outdoor showers and chemical toilets. No hookups are available however there is a dump-station.

San Onofre Surf Beach offers a world renowned and historical surf break. The beach is strictly available for day-use with no camping.  Chemical toilets and a limited number of fire pits are available. ALCOHOL IS NO LONGER PERMITTED. Get there early for a parking spot. Or, if you know someone in the military, take their car and you should be able to park at the nearby nuclear power-plant parking lot. 

San Onofre – San Mateo Campground lies a short distance inland from the 3.5-miles of sandy beaches within San Onofre State Beach. A 1.5-mile Nature Trail connects the campground to Trestles Beach, a world class surfing site. San Mateo Creek flows just east of the campground outward towards the ocean creating key riparian and wetland habitats which host some rare and even endangered species. All campsites include a fire pit and picnic table. Hookup sites are available with electricity and water. Other ammenities includes a dump-station, hot indoor showers, and flush toliets. Camping is avialable year-round. 

NOTE: At the end of the southern-most Trail 6, you will find the clothing-optional section of San Onofre. 

The San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) provides nearly 20-percent of the power to more than 15-million people in Southern California.  The plant is guarded by US Marines from the nearby Camp Pendleton.

SurfLine provides an internet source of beach weather and surf reports, including live streaming video feeds.

Location-Directions
San Onofre Bluffs and San Onofre Surf Beach are located south of San Clemente on I-5 (Exit Basilone Road)
San Onofre - San Mateo Campground is located on the outer edge of San Clemente 1 mile inland from I-5 (Exit Cristianitos)

This place is epic, and was just saved and preserved from a toll-road that threatened to close most of the park.  So, check it out. You will be glad you did. 

DL