Posted by Reed Bowman on October 3, 2009 at 4:13 PM
I'll be in San Diego on business (giving a talk at the zoo) Nov 9-10. I'll have a rental car and dawn and dusks free. Any good landscapes that are within a 1 hour drive (maybe longer if I stay another day...). I'm up for coastal shots or mountians and hills or deserts...anything.
Thanks, Reed
Posted by David Page on October 3, 2009 at 8:34 PM
Hey Reed,
Some great coastal shots about 20 -30 minutes from downtown San Diego.
Sunset Beach just before Cabrillo National Monument - nice sandstone erosion.
Cabrillo National Monument - the rocky shore at the tip of Point Loma has a lot to offer at a good low minus tide.
Ocean Beach - a small San Diego tide pool area is at the foot of Newport Avenue under the Ocean Beach Pier.
Tourmaline Surfing Park - many tide pools are nestled in the sandstone west of La Jolla Boulevard at the north end of Pacific Beach.
Shell Beach - fairly good San Diego tide pool area at low tide at the south end of Ellen Browning Scripps Park in La Jolla.
Dike Rock - a rocky area just to the north of Scripps Pier in La Jolla. Located on UCSD property and part of the La Jolla Underwater Park marine reserve.
Flat Rock - great views from San Diego tide pools that have been etched into this erosion-resistant slab of rock protruding out to sea at the base of Torrey Pine State Reserve. Walk south along the beach from Torrey Pines State Beach or take the trail down to the beach from the top of Torrey Pines Road.
Cardiff State Beach - a nice tide pool area is by the bluffs at the south end of the parking lot.
Swami's - can be identified by the gold domes on the Self Realization Center in Encinitas. Access is by a set of wooded stairs that lead to the tide pools on an extensive flat area.
These are all great places, although the low tide prediction for 11/8 is 8:26PM and 11/9 is 9:30PM with the sun setting way before these times. Usually when the tide is not ideal for coastal shots, but I still want to get out and catch the sunset with my camera I usually pick the La Jolla Cove area which runs along Coast Blvd just off the La Jolla downtown area. Parking is free along Coast Blvd or the many side streets along the way. Gets pretty crowded on the weekends. A lot of sandstone to stand on when the tide is high. I usually go toward the southern portion of this long stretch of coastline past Marine Street Beach.
Inland, your best and closet bet is Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. About an hour and 20 minutes from downtown. The landscape is pretty dry this time of year with no rain all summer, but you could see some fall colors around the town of Julian which sits a little over 4,000 feet in elevation. Take 8 East to 79 (Cuyamaca Hwy) north towards Lake Cuyamaca and this is where you should start seeing some Fall colors. Continue until you come to the town of Julian and from there you can continue on the 78 west through Whispering Springs to Banner Road. Go left on Wynola Rd. Should see some color along that road as well as Farmer Road. I believe most of the color is concentrated in that area. Call the Julian Chamber of Commerce for more specifics - they will know better than me.
Palomar Mtn, about 2 hours drive with an elevation of 6,000 feet has some color along the Scott's Cabin hiking trail. I haven't seen it but plan on going November 1st. Also, Palomar Mtn has a great lookout area at the peak just before Palomar Mtn state park entrance.
The desert is over 2 hours away. Anza Borrego State park is usually best during the Spring months when water is abundant and plants are in full bloom. November it will be pretty dry and baron and probably a little too far for the few days you are here. Next time schedule your business trip in the Spring to see Anza Borrego at it's best.
Hope this helps. I probably gave you more than you need, but San Diego is where I live and learn and it has some wonderful nature to explore. Enjoy.
- DMP
Posted by Bill Brennan on October 4, 2009 at 1:16 PM
Dave covered the "waterfront" very well. If you are going up toward Cardiff, you might consider stopping into Fletcher's Cove at Solana Beach and wandering on the beach if tide permits especially at sunset.
Bill Brennan
Posted by Reed Bowman on October 5, 2009 at 8:25 PM
David and Bill...thanks so much for the really detailed suggestions. I used Google Earth to check of Point Loma and the sandstone formations look great. Given my time constraints and the proximity to downtown, I'll probably hit there. If the tide isn't right, at least I can get nice sunrise and sunset shots..I'll bring my ND filters... David, I really appreciate the time you spent compiling all the info...Even the tides during the dates of my visit! If you ever want to shoot central Florida just give me a shout
Posted by David Page on October 9, 2009 at 3:44 PM
No problem at all. Point Loma/Sunset Park is an excellent choice. Enjoy your visit.
Discussion
4 repliesThanks, Reed
Some great coastal shots about 20 -30 minutes from downtown San Diego.
Sunset Beach just before Cabrillo National Monument - nice sandstone erosion.
Cabrillo National Monument - the rocky shore at the tip of Point Loma has a lot to offer at a good low minus tide.
Ocean Beach - a small San Diego tide pool area is at the foot of Newport Avenue under the Ocean Beach Pier.
Tourmaline Surfing Park - many tide pools are nestled in the sandstone west of La Jolla Boulevard at the north end of Pacific Beach.
Shell Beach - fairly good San Diego tide pool area at low tide at the south end of Ellen Browning Scripps Park in La Jolla.
Dike Rock - a rocky area just to the north of Scripps Pier in La Jolla. Located on UCSD property and part of the La Jolla Underwater Park marine reserve.
Flat Rock - great views from San Diego tide pools that have been etched into this erosion-resistant slab of rock protruding out to sea at the base of Torrey Pine State Reserve. Walk south along the beach from Torrey Pines State Beach or take the trail down to the beach from the top of Torrey Pines Road.
Cardiff State Beach - a nice tide pool area is by the bluffs at the south end of the parking lot.
Swami's - can be identified by the gold domes on the Self Realization Center in Encinitas. Access is by a set of wooded stairs that lead to the tide pools on an extensive flat area.
These are all great places, although the low tide prediction for 11/8 is 8:26PM and 11/9 is 9:30PM with the sun setting way before these times. Usually when the tide is not ideal for coastal shots, but I still want to get out and catch the sunset with my camera I usually pick the La Jolla Cove area which runs along Coast Blvd just off the La Jolla downtown area. Parking is free along Coast Blvd or the many side streets along the way. Gets pretty crowded on the weekends. A lot of sandstone to stand on when the tide is high. I usually go toward the southern portion of this long stretch of coastline past Marine Street Beach.
Inland, your best and closet bet is Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. About an hour and 20 minutes from downtown. The landscape is pretty dry this time of year with no rain all summer, but you could see some fall colors around the town of Julian which sits a little over 4,000 feet in elevation. Take 8 East to 79 (Cuyamaca Hwy) north towards Lake Cuyamaca and this is where you should start seeing some Fall colors. Continue until you come to the town of Julian and from there you can continue on the 78 west through Whispering Springs to Banner Road. Go left on Wynola Rd. Should see some color along that road as well as Farmer Road. I believe most of the color is concentrated in that area. Call the Julian Chamber of Commerce for more specifics - they will know better than me.
Palomar Mtn, about 2 hours drive with an elevation of 6,000 feet has some color along the Scott's Cabin hiking trail. I haven't seen it but plan on going November 1st. Also, Palomar Mtn has a great lookout area at the peak just before Palomar Mtn state park entrance.
The desert is over 2 hours away. Anza Borrego State park is usually best during the Spring months when water is abundant and plants are in full bloom. November it will be pretty dry and baron and probably a little too far for the few days you are here. Next time schedule your business trip in the Spring to see Anza Borrego at it's best.
Hope this helps. I probably gave you more than you need, but San Diego is where I live and learn and it has some wonderful nature to explore. Enjoy.
- DMP
Bill Brennan
- DMP