La Jolla Shores

Kayakers launching at low tide. Note the low waves, these are typical here.
Kayakers launching at low tide. Note the low waves, these are typical here.
Low tide at La Jolla Shores.
Low tide at La Jolla Shores.

Location: end of Avenida De La Playa, La Jolla

Parking: Free, mostly on-street with a parking lot to the north

La Jolla Shores is a nice beach launch, with some waves. You can drive your car onto the beach, but only to launch or retrieve your boat. Watch for sometimes soft sand at the end of the pavement, use low gears. Things can get crowded when rental fleets are around, so be careful. High tide shrinks the launch area quite a bit as well. The water is usually quite clear and the waves usually calm. From here, you can paddle down to Torrey Pines Beach, Mission Bay, or just out to the sea caves.

Your Resource For Highways, Geology, Railroads, History, Bicycling, And More Throughout Southern California Since 1995.