San Onofre State Beach

San Onofre State Beach is a coastal area with three separate beach sections and around 3,000 acres in California. Sandy shorelines alternate with sandstone cliffs, and six trails lead to different spots along the coast.

Governor Ronald Reagan created this recreation area in 1971 on land leased from the military base Camp Pendleton. The beach opened officially to visitors a few months after establishment.

This coast was home to the Acjachemen people, whose village Panhe dates back at least 8,000 years. The site is still visited by descendants for ceremonies and is recognized as sacred ground today.

The beach provides around 380 campsites for tents and recreational vehicles with restrooms, picnic tables, and fire pits. The area works well for day visits and longer stays with overnight camping.

Trestles Beach has five different wave breaks and regularly draws competition surfers. Nearby lies a wetland that attracts many bird watchers and hosts several rare species.

Location: San Diego County

Website: https://parks.ca.gov/?page_id=647

GPS coordinates: 33.37920,-117.57300

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:29