Southern California > San Diego County > Silver Strand State Beach

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Silver Strand State Beach, named for the silvery shells often found there, is midway along the Silver Strand, a seven-mile-long, windswept sand spit that shelters San Diego Bay from the Pacific. It’s just across the bay from downtown San Diego, yet feels remote. People come here to swim, sunbathe, surf, fish, kiteboard, and picnic. The state park’s shoreline...

Silver Strand State Beach, named for the silvery shells often found there, is midway along the Silver Strand, a seven-mile-long, windswept sand spit that shelters San Diego Bay from the Pacific. It’s just across the bay from downtown San Diego, yet feels remote. People come here to swim, sunbathe, surf, fish, kiteboard, and picnic. The state park’s shoreline stretches 2.4 miles along the ocean and half a mile along the bay; the bayside section can be reached via three pedestrian tunnels under Highway 75, which divides the park down the middle. You can borrow one of four beach wheelchairs (two motorized, two manual) to get out onto the sand.

On the ocean side, a small café is between lots 2 and 3; nearby, a concrete platform overlooks the beach, but a 32-inch-high brick wall may obstruct views from a wheelchair. Numerous shaded accessible picnic areas are on both sides of the park. On the bay side, paved roads and sidewalks provide accessible paths of travel throughout, as private vehicles are not allowed and there is little traffic. A short paved trail follows the shore of Crown Cove.