Hike to the beach at Border Field State Park

The beach at Border Field State Park is southernmost beach in California. This beach begins (on US Maps) at the Mexican border and continues north to the mouth of the Tijuana River. The State Park shares its land with the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve which are both operated by the state of California.

Be mindful that due to the low elevation of the park, the park is sometimes closed to flash floods, especially in winter. If the gates are closed you are still able to park near the gates and hike a bit further during the daylight hours. It is about a mile to the beach from the entrance gate. Be sure to stay on maintained trails. Border Security is heavy here and will stop you if you are off the beaten path.

The sand dunes and salt marshes along the trail give refuge to threatened and endangered birds. The Park does not recommend swimming or wading due to hazardous conditions of contaminated runoff, inshore holes, and rip currents. There is also no life guard at the beach.

For more information on this park and the surrounding area that the state of California manages, the visitor center website is a great place to start.