Seascape Beach

Seascape Beach is the southernmost beach in Solana Beach located along a steep cliffside. To access there are a set of stairs next to the Solana Beach & Tennis Club.

Seascape Surf Beach offers sandy walks along with surfing, swimming and fish-surfing. Parking is free, but you walk down a staircase to access the beach.

By Todd Sarouhan

Last Updated on
Apr 28, 2021

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Why you'll love this beach

Take the Stairs to Seascape Beach and Enjoy Lighter Crowds at this Local Favorite

Seascape Beach

Stay Nearby

Similar Beaches

Highlights

Overview

Surfer Catching a Wave Series 2 of 3 at Cherry Hill Seascape Beach

Beach enthusiasts love the city of Solana Beach with its nearly 2 miles of beaches. One of these gems is Seascape Surf Beach, also known as Cherry Hill. It's in a residential area near the city of Del Mar.

Seascape Surf Beach offers multiple options for free parking. Getting to the beach itself is a bit trickier, requiring a walk down long steps or a walk from the adjacent Del Mar Shores beach (reaching Del Mar Shores from public parking requires a downward trek on stairs, too.) On the plus side, this complicated access means fewer crowds.

Popular activities at Seascape Beach include walking, Frisbee throwing, swimming, surfing and bodyboarding. Lifeguards stay on duty during the summer only, and no public restrooms are available. The best time to surf is during the winter, as summer swells often are not too big. Bask in the Sun and Surf is featured on the Unique Things to Do in San Diego.

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Things to Do

Running

Sunbathing

Swimming

Why Folks Love Seascape Beach

Surfing at Seascape Beach

Surfing is popular at Seascape Beach, but so are plenty of other water activities. The beach is wide and sandy, so visitors enjoy walking, jogging, sunbathing and playing Frisbee in addition to swimming. Bluffs overlook the beach, making for a picturesque spot.

Seascape Beach is nowhere close to being the best surfing beach in the San Diego area, but it does occasionally offer great waves. It gets crowded on weekends, and some surfers prefer to come during the week.

The beach features decent northwest swells in the winter, while summer's southwest swells often close out the waves. Go south of the public access stairs for the best breaking waves. North of the stairs, you can find faster and hollower waves but they don't occur nearly enough to be worth it.

Surfers who live in the Solana Beach area do enjoy the proximity and access to Seascape Beach even if it does not offer the best waves. Think of it as a "residential" surfing beach. You wouldn't expect super-terrific waves from this type of beach, but you love having it so close to home.

Looking for Seclusion?

Seascape Beach in our opinion is on the best beaches in San Diego. It is secluded, beautiful with tons of sand & waves for the kids to play or surf. Stay until sunset and you round out your perfect day at the beach!

Other Activities at Seascape Beach

There's a lot more to like about Seascape Beach such as its surf-fishing and wide expanses of soft sand. Go for sunrise or sunset walks and for the prospect of a whale sighting (yes, they're uncommon, but whale sightings are a great treat).

Last but not least, the stairs make for great training if you want to get in shape. Athletes even use them for running up and down; they're safe stairs! The walk up or down should take less than five minutes.

Stay Nearby & Explore Solana Beach

The Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Del Mar/Solana Beach located in Solana Beach is anything but average. This beachside hotel is located right on Highway 101 is only a five-minute walk from North Seascape Park. Check out this anything but ordinary hotel.

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USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum

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How to Get There & Parking

Free Parking

Lot Parking

Neighborhood Parking

Street Parking

For public access to Seascape Beach, go down the stairway at 501 S. Sierra Avenue. The area is residential with a good amount of free parking on the street. There's also a free beach access parking lot across the street from the staircase.

To find the staircase, look for the Seascape Sur condos and the Solana Beach & Tennis Club on South Sierra Avenue. Next, find the blue beach access sign near the gate to the tennis club. Walk on the path that leads you to the beach stairway.

Seascape Beach is also accessible via Del Mar Shores and Fletcher Cove. Del Mar Shores is closer, being adjacent, but guests still have to descend a staircase to get to Del Mar Shores. Fletcher Cove is about half a mile away (nine minutes) and offers much easier public access.

If you cannot navigate staircases but want to visit Seascape Beach, your best bet is to come over from Fletcher Cove. The beaches in Solana Beach do get crowded, especially Fletcher Cove because of its easy public access. The Seascape Beach staircase can be a pain but does result in smaller crowds.

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Know Before You Go & Tips

Lifeguards

No Alcohol

No Camping

No Glass Containers

No Motorized Vehicles

No Smoking

No Trash Cans

Outdoor Showers

Public Transportation

Shade

Trash Cans Available

Tips and a Few Things to Know Before You Go

Important Things to Know

Here's a list of important things to know before you visit Seascape Beach.

There are no public bathrooms.
Dogs are not allowed here.
Public showers are available above the beach access.
Parking is free.
The beach is most crowded on weekends. It is tame during the week.
Lifeguards protect the beach from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. only during the summer.
You must descend a long stairway to reach the beach.
Activities here include walking, jogging, surfing, longboarding, swimming and bodyboarding.
Winter offers the best surfing.

Visit During Low Tide

If you visit during low tide, you'll get a beautiful, wide and dry stretch of beach. Visit during low tide, and much more of the sand is wet (but that can be even more fun!). The bluffs overlooking the beach protect it from some of the weather elements, wind and noise that sometimes bother beachgoers at neighboring beaches.

Hidden Gem

From one perspective, Seascape Surf Beach is a residential beach. From another perspective, it's a hidden gem (OK, it can be both!).

Great Place to Come

If you're visiting the area and want a less crowded beach, free parking and decent surfing, Seascape Surf Beach fits the bill. More than that, it's a great place to beach walk and enjoy some time in nature.

Seascape Beach

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