The trail starts off between homes in the wealthy neighborhood of La Jolla Farms. A true paradise for nudists and clothing wearers alike! Find a hike that is moderately difficult and familiarize yourself with it. Ho Chi Minh Trail was has been used by surfers to access the world-class surf breaks of Blacks Beach since the 1960s. Print/PDF map. [] For more information on this hike, we highly recommend you go to Ho Chi Minh Trail San Diego [], [] About Ho Chi Minh Trail San Diego. Clairmont Loop Trail is a 5-mile loop trail located in Claremont Hills Wilderness Park in the foothills of the Los Angeles National Forest. In fact, this hike is the best part of Blacks Beach. San Diego has many beautiful beaches, one of which is Blacks Beach, located in La Jolla. Torrey Pines reserve to the north has wonderful cliffside hikes and a staircase that can take hikers down to the beach as well. 2 hours is plenty of time to hike Ho Chi Minh Trail, however, you wont have a lot of time for the beach. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. The sandstone gets extra slippery when wet so make sure to avoid doing this hike after recent rain. San Diego Hikes: Ho Chi Minh Trail to Black's Beach Hello everyone! Beautiful challenging hike . Third, I would not recommend bringing a water bottle because at times you will need both hands to help balance yourself while either going down or back up the hike. Well love you forever! The Ho Chi Minh Trail: A Hidden San Diego Gem - Foodie Loves Fitness We emphasize again that cotton should be avoided. Youll take the steep, rutted route down the canyon. It is also very slippery, more so on the way down. Always good to bring some snacks with you. It is short, challenging, yet super fun and beautiful. These are our favorite hiking shoes. The canyon got narrower when crossing the board. Starting Point: 9882 La Jolla Farms Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037 Length: 1.6 miles Elevation: about 300 ft gain and loss Type: Loop The first thing to note is that Black's Beach is San Diego's official nude beach. "use strict";(function(){var insertion=document.getElementById("citation-access-date");var date=new Date().toLocaleDateString(undefined,{month:"long",day:"numeric",year:"numeric"});insertion.parentElement.replaceChild(document.createTextNode(date),insertion)})(); FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. In 1965, more than 30 U.S. Air Force jets struck targets along the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos. Just as you reach the bottom, youll encounter a bridge made of a board, and its time to employ your balance beam skills. How to Hike the Secret Ho Chi Minh Trail San Diego Read More:7 Best San Diego Hikes You MUST Explore! When you walk or do any sort of exercise, you usually need to eat more food and drink more water than usual. On this hike youll descend narrow sandstone passages, walk across a plank (you can avoid this if chicken), and use a rope for the final drop. The trail takes its name from the infamous jungle trail the Viet Cong used during the Vietnam War, a reference to the secretive nature of the La Jolla trail or maybe its challenging and jungle-like features. Once you get down near the bottom of the canyon, make sure to go left to follow the. The Ho Chi Minh Trail is a one-of-a-kind trek from La Jolla's northern areas to Blacks Beach that cuts through the forest and passes by cactus gardens. Ho Chi Minh Trail Guide - San Diego | Outdoor SoCal It is never safe to explore this trail after a rainfall as the sandstone becomes far weaker and is more likely to come apart. You should be able to use the address or the coordinates above to map your way there. Warnings aside, the trail travels through a dramatic canyon on La Jollas Torrey Pines Mesa and has long been used by surfers to get to the waves at Blacks Beach. Some of the popular activities here are camping, hiking, biking, climbing, and fishing. Soon, we came up to the major obstacle of. The trailhead can be easy to miss if youre not looking for it. After weeks of training at the Victoria Skating Rink with his friends, Montreal resident James Creighton advertised in the March 3 edition of the Montreal Gazette that A game of hockey will be played read more, On March 3, 1877, Rutherford B. Hayes is sworn in as the 19th president of the United States in the Red Room of the White House. This is a friendly reminder that any of these fun places we may visit, we are a guest at. adventures and follow local regulations. This trail leads down through Box Canyon to Black's Beach. Details. Ho Chi Minh Trail The Ho Chi Minh Trail was a military supply route running from North Vietnam through Laos and Cambodia to South Vietnam. If you walk toward the north, you may visit Blacks Beachs clothing-optional section. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. For colder weather, we love our packable Patagonia Puff Jackets! When you reach the canyon floor, youll come across the infamous plank. I would request to change the name to something else. Fun, can be dangerous - Ho Chi Minh Trail - Tripadvisor This 0.7-mile loop in La Jolla, California is such a popular destination, youre likely to meet other hikers while exploring. This information will help you pack and dress correctly, allowing you to alter your plans if necessary. This is a really fun really quick hike in La Jolla that overlooks blacks beach. Just follow others and tKe your time. Peter, go hide in your safe space. Wear close-toe shoes with GRIP or you're going to slip and fall down. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. The photogenic part of the hike is when you get to the sandstone slot that the trail goes through. I definitely suggest going barefoot, since the dirt can get a little slippery underfoot. height:100% !important; The route begins at a tiny alleyway between homes in the La Jolla neighborhood, with warning signs in front of it. One thing Im known for when I travel is how I always plan where we eat on our adventures FIRST, before anything else! #canyoneer, Amazing Secret Seaside Pools Along The California, Hiking the iconic Potato Chip Rock in San Diego Blacks Beach is a famous clothing-optional beach below a gliderport parking area on Torrey Pines Mesa. Weve seen it referred to as the Secret Surf Trail, La Jolla Trail, and the Saigon Trail. Across the canyon on the top of the bluff to the north is Torrey Pines Glider Port, where paragliders fly using the updrafts from the tall bluffs. There is a viewpoint up here, overlooking the beautiful ocean below. However, that is not where you will be going. 2023 A&E Television Networks, LLC. Be sure to arrive on scene at least an hour before sunset. Learn more about us here and dont forget to subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content. if (typeof aiReadyCallbacks === 'undefined') { Trailhead. Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, which is one of the top 5 travel blogs in the US. One of my boys is not very coordinated and this hike was a little difficult for him. Still a worthwhile hike with great views of Blacks Beach below. Ho Chi Minh Trail San Diego: Waterfall & Slot Canyons Parts of the trail can lead to serious injuries so perhaps not worth the risk for some. HI!! As a result, the trail in places is high enough above the creek bed that a fall could cause injury. Blacks is famous amongst surfers for big Park at the Torrey Pines Gliderport, which is conveniently empty before sunrise. This hike is not for a beginner or a tourist. The trail begins in a quiet neighborhood via a small dirt alley between private properties. I hit this trail with my wife and (2) younger boys. To the south you can see La Jolla Shores and La Jolla cove. It is used by locals to access one of the only clothing optional beaches in the San Diego area. Although the rough geographical outlines of much of the American West were known by 1879, the government still had astonishingly read more, Director D.W. Griffiths controversial Civil War epic The Birth of a Nation opens in New York City on March 3, 1915, a few weeks after its West Coast premiere in Los Angeles. Dont forget to check out ourRecommended Gear section as well. z-index:9000 !important; In fact, this hike is the best part of Blacks Beach. Thank you! 91% of travelers recommend this experience. I decided to try out this hike myself last week and let me just say, you werent joking about the treachery! Also, make sure to wear hiking shoes with great traction, and put those sandals away until you get down to the beach. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. is named after the infamous jungle trail the Viet Cong used during Vietnam War. The trail starts at a small alleyway, between the homes in the neighborhood of La Jolla, with warning signs in front of it. It's our lifestyle. Super hidden local gem that gives you an amazing hike and view of the surf at Black's Beach. This trail is not ideal for dogs and especially children. Please make sure to proceed with caution. 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. 4 2. On March 3, 1875, indoor ice hockey makes its public debut in Montreal, Quebec. We decided to make our way down to the Mushroom House for sunset. 192. Manage Settings Ho Chi Minh Trail: A Unique Hike to the Beach in La Jolla - YouTube This was just one part of several American ground and air strikes against villages and roads along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. What we did was follow the smooth steps carved out by past hikers, then press our hands and bodies against the sides as we carefully slid down to the bottom. In the center, the board becomes somewhat springy, but its not difficult to traverse across. CAHikingAdventures.com assumes no liability or responsibility for the use and misuse of the information and data provided. We are ATLiens who explore a new city every year. I encourage hikers and beachgoers to consider alternative routes to help preserve this beautiful and fragile canyon: Black's Beach can be accessed via the paved road (with restrooms!)