Trestles
Beach, Southern California
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Trestles
Beach attracts surfers from all over the world to
experience the perfect wave. The 3½-mile-long beach
has several separate surf breaks: Uppers, Middles and Lowers.
Trestles is named after the old railroad bridge near the entrance
to the beach. To get to the beach you will have to walk about
a mile from the parking lot down a winding paved trail. Visitors
will enjoy some of the last undeveloped coastal area in Southern
california. San Mateo creek lagoon is directly behind the
beach and during winter rains washes sand and rocks out to
sea helping to create the perfect surf break. There are trails
along the bluff where you can take in wonderful views of the
coastline. Trains run frequently along the track so take great
caution when crossing. Portable bathrooms are available but
anything else you might need will have to be carried in. Trestles
is a fun place to surf, sun or just hike along the beach or
bluffs.
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Trestles Beach
has a reputation as a locals only beach. Some surfers are
very territorial but for the most part everyone is very
friendly. During the year several surfing contests are
held here and there is usually a shuttle bus to take you
to the grand stands. There is no parking near the beach
which keeps a lot of people from visiting Trestles. You
are going to have to hike about a mile down a hill to
the beach and back up the hill on the return journey. Some
of the best surfing spots are even further away. The main
trail ends at the train trestle and from there you walk
along the beach to your destination. Surfers are quite
innovative carrying their boards on bikes with racks or
skate boards for a quick trip down to the beach. On a big
surf day the trestles can attract a large crowd and surfers
are going to have to share the waves with hundreds of others
at the best breaks. If your going for a hike then you will
probably have the trail along the bluff to yourself with
the occasional runner of mountain bike rider to say hello
to. The hike down the trail is defiantly worth the trip
and you will be rewarded by one of the last unspoiled (except
for the train track) stretches of accessible Southern California
coast.
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| The original 1946 wooden
Trestle bridge (official named bridge 2070.6) is scheduled to
be replaced. Starting fall 2009, almost seven million dollars
will be spent to rebuild the landmark bridge with a new concrete
structure. Construction is expected to take a little over a year
and save $250,000 dollars a year in upkeep. The new bridge will
still be a trestle, just not made of wood. Trestles will still
be the same wonderful surfing beach but a little bit of Southern
California surfing history will be lost. |
San
Onofre State Beach is is three miles south of San Clemente
on I-5 (Basilone Road.) Parking for Trestles is located
just off Christainitos Road. There is a parking lot and
street parking available. Parking lot fills up fast so
arrive early on weekends. Walk across the freeway bridge,
turn left down the trail and
then right
to the
beach. There
is no overnight camping at San Onofre Beach but there
is a state camp grounds, San
Mateo Campground, which has a trail
connects the campground to Trestles Beach.
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