Introduction:
San Clemente State Beach is located along the beautiful coast in South
Orange County, near the south end of the community of San Clemente.
Established in 1934, the 10 acre campground features a popular one mile
beach front. The state beach offers a variety of interpretive programs
during the summer months. Trails lead to a mile of beach that is popular
with surfers, body surfers, swimmers, and divers. Beach activities, from
sunbathing to surfing, are also available year-round. The San Clemente
State Beach entrance is reached off of the I-5, going west on Avenida
Calafia.
Trailer/R.V.. area
Tent camping area
Group area
Hike and Bike area
Summary:
San Clemente State Beach has five bathrooms with flush toilets, sinks,
hot showers and laundry sinks In addition, the park has an R.V.. waste
disposal station. There are two areas with public telephones, a picnic
area and a campfire center with seating for 200.
At the entrance to the campground, there is a mini-museum exhibiting some of the local wildlife. Also, the park has a self-guided nature trail and a transcontinental bicycle path passes the front of the park. During the summer season, interpretive programs are presented at the campfire center. And of course, the mile-long beach offers the opportunity for sunbathing and ocean activities.
Activities in the park and at the beach:
| Park | Beach |
| Junior Rangers | Junior Lifeguard program |
| Campfire interpretive programs | Grunion nights |
| Bicycling | Sunbathing |
| Discovery walks | Swimming/surfing |
| Bird-watching | Fishing |
| Kite-flying | Special events |
| Horseshoe pits | |
| Hiking | |
| Mini-museum | |
| Special events |
Safety:
Visitors are encouraged to exhibit common courtesy while enjoying their stay at San Clemente State Beach. Park Rangers patrol the campground offering assistance and interpretation when appropriate. During the summer season, the one mile beach front is also patroled by state lifeguards. There are six lifeguard stands, a mobile unit plus the headquarters tower on the bluffs.
Self Guided Nature Trail
Welcome to the San
Clemente State Beach Self Guided Nature Trail. This hike will introduce
you to the typical variety of plant communities which are quickly
vanishing from our Southern California Coastal Environment. The trailhead
is located at the N.W. corner of the park office. Numbered posts will
indicate points of interest on the trail as described.
Walking Time: 20 to 30 minutes
Terrain/Skill: Moderate to Steep
Distance:
One Half Mile (.5)
The mission of the California Park Service is to preserve and protect the natural resources of our parks and support habitual diversity. Please stay on the trail and leave the plants and flowers for others to enjoy. The hillside supports many birds and animals by providing them with the food and conditions they require.
Station 1
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus ficifloia)
There are seven different
varieties of Eucalyptus in the park. The Eucalyptus is a native tree of
Australia and introduced into California in the 1800's for lumber for the
Santa Fe Railroad. With over a thousand different types of Eucalyptus in
Australia, the Blue Gum Eucalyptus is too gummy and twisted to be useful
for lumber - and perhaps the reason why we so many of them. These trees
were imported by farmers as wind breaks to keep top soil from blowing away
and by the railroads for railroad ties.
Station 2Aleppo
Pine (Pinus halepensis Mill)
The Aleppo Pine is the most
widespread pine of the Mediterranean region. It is ideally suited to grow
in the Mediterranean climate of California.
Station 3Myoporum
(Myoporum laetum)
A fast growing shrub with purple flowers that bloom
in early spring and can reach heights up to 30 feet. It is resistant to
salt-air and is commonly used in coastal areas for screening in
landscaping.
Station 4California
Sage Brush (Artemisia California)
Fairly common on dry
chaparral slopes. Aromatic plant had many medicinal uses for the Native
Americans. The leaves were rubbed on the body to mask their scent while
hunting. Mostly used in a tea like drink. In early summer, the small
leaves are shed. During the hot months the plant is dormant, appearing
parched and brittle.
Station 5Lemonade
Berry (Rhus integrofolia)
Berries have lemon flavor and were
used by early Californians for a lemonade drink. This shrub is from the
same genus (Rhus) as poison oak yet will not affect you in the same way.
It is found only in Southern California. Native Americans made a strach
out of it and possibly soap.
Station 6Wild
Cucumber (Marah macrocarpus)
Vine-like plant which grows from
a large bulb. The vines dry up in early summer. Tiny seed pod was eaten by
Native Americans. The root was also used as a form of starch and soap. The
root can reach weights up to 20-30 pounds and be several feet wide.
Station 7Bluff
Formation
The bluffs at one time, were ocean floor. Old sea
shells and fossils can be found throughout the trail area. A mastadon bone
was discovered several years ago in the bluff .area.Looking toward the
sea, you can often hear the seals on Seal Rock. Want a tip from the Native
Americans to hear faint sounds? Make a relaxed "O" with your mouth and
breath slowly through your mouth - you may be surprised to realize how quiet
things get without the air working through your nasal passages.
Cholla is another cactus, also called the jumping cactus because it breaks off with the slightest nudge to stick to a hiker's clothes. It's just looking for a ride and brushes off easily with a comb (but not your fingers).
Station 8Prickly-Pear
(Opuntia occidenvalis)
Common cactus found along the coast. Native
Americans and early settlers often ate the "buds" which tasted
and looked much like plums. This indigenous cactus with a brilliant bloom
possible all year but most common in the spring. The early Spainards used the
green part (beaver tail) for cooking and called dishes made from the plant
Noplas.
Between Stations 8 and 9, just behind the bicycle damaged mound, you can find a common annual Southern California plant called Blatterpod. It has a woody stem and a yellowish flower. If you take just a little piece of the stem, you can see how it has adapted to keeping animals from eating it. Take a whiff - it stinks.
The yellow flowers that looks like daisies all over the place. It's real is Brittlebush or Coastal Incelia. There are mountain and dessert varieties and they bloom in spring.
Not quite to Station 9, note the loopin. It's in the peapod family, which you can tell by the seed casings which look just like the pea pods we eat.
Station 9Viewpoint
Locally named "Seal Rock", the small rock island you see is
approximately 1 mile from shore. Marine mammals and birds use it as a
resting area away from human intrusion. Catalina Island is located
slightly to the northwest, and can be seen on a clear day.
10Buckwheat
(Erigonum faciculatum)
It is believed that Native Americans would
sometimes grind the seeds and flowers to make a form of bread or tortilla.
It's not in the grass or wheat family - it has a woody stem with large white
blossoms like big buttons which bloom in late spring or early summer.
11Mule Fat
(Baccharis viminea)
Very common plant in moist places, particularly
along stream banks and in dry stream beds. It is a member of the Willow
Family and common in riparian, watery areas. You will also see Fennel Annas.
Commonly bought in stores, it has a licorice flavor and scent. This plant was
used as a food source. Early California Missionaries used this plant as a
food supplement for their mules and horses, hence the name.
Whjile walking on foggy mornings, look for the intricate spider webs between bushes.
The trail forks on the way to Station 12. Take the right fork with the picture of the ranger wealking up. Soon, you will come upon a yellow flower called Milk Maid. It blooms from late winter to early spring but has a very short bloom cycle. Many people yank it as a common weedbefore they realize how pretty it flowers.
12Chaparral
A Spanish word meaning "a place of Shrub Oak". In
California the term is applied to a specific type of plant community of
dense shrubby growths of evergreen and hard leafed shrubs. However, most
of the shrubs are not oaks. Chaparral occurs in areas with long, dry-hot
summers and wet mild winters. Many of the Chaparral plants overlap with
the Coastal Sage Scrub Ecotenes. Note how both slopes have the same plants
but the leaves are larger on the south-facing slope because they receive more
sun.
Before Station 13 there is the salmon colored Monkey Flower. Varieties range across many shades of red which bloom from early March through the end of May. The Asparagus Fern has fragrant white flowers.
13Toyon
(Heteomeles arbutifolia)
Commonly known as Christmas Berry or
Hollywood because it's berries turn bright red around Christmas. The city
of Hollywood and its surrounding hills were named after this plant which
cover its slopes. It produces red berries from October to February. The
Native Americans ate roasted berries and used them to make cider.
14 Roots
Chaparral plant roots are usually shallow and spread out great
distances. The plants must take advantage of the short rain periods and
collect as much moisture as possible for the long dry season. The roots
are very important in preventing erosion of the hillsides particularly
after the seasonal brush fires after which the Toyon rejuvenates from its roots.
Many seeds germinate in the heat of a brush fire because they know that they
will have all the sun they need after a fire. If you want to see lots of wild
flowers in spring, go to a place that burned the previous fall.
15Sea Fig
(Messembryanthemum sp.)
Commonly misnamed "Ice Plant", this
sprawling succulent plant is not a true ice plant. It is really a Hotog
depending on whether its flowers are yellow or red. It's an imported flower used
for ground cover. True ice plants are found very close to the beach and
form salt crystals on their leaves which resemble small pieces of ice. It
is not good for preventing erosion as it is shallow rooted and very heavy.
With the loop completed, you can reach the parking lot with a small groveof Eucalyptus on your right and a bench that overlooks your hike - great place to gather your thoughts and reminisce for a moment about what you saw. It is also a good place to learn about one of the park's more unusual inhabitants, the Yellow-bellied Sap Sucker.
Look up at the rings of the Eucalyptus trees. These are rows and rows of holes made by the Sap Sucker, a yellow breasted bird about 6 to 8 inches long. The Sap Sucker makes the holes to trick the tree into fearing a bug invasion, which then secretes the dripping sap to drown the bugs. The crafty Sap Sucker comes back, usually days later to the holes it made, and laps up the sap.
R.V.. & trailer hook-ups
| Senior, off-season | $12.00 |
| Regular, in-season | $18.00 |
| Day-use | $6.00 |
Tent site
| Senior, off-season | $18.00 |
| Regular, in-season | $24.00 |
Tent site
| Senior, off-season | $12.00 |
| Regular, in-season | $18.00 |
| Day-use per vehicle | $6.00 |
To enjoy the park facilities and make your stay and enjoyable experience
for everyone,
Please:
Follow these simple safety tips:
T-Street: Metered street parking above the beach. Access from El Camino is down Esplanade.
Pier Area: Metered street and master metered lot parking. Access from El Camino Real is down Del Mar.
Linda Lane: Metered lot parking. Access from El Camino Real is down Palizada.
North Beach: Metered street parking and lot parking for beach and Ole Hansen Beach Club. Access from El Camino Real is on Pico.
Remember, please conserve water...thank you!