Sunset Cliffs Sea Cave in San Diego

Key Takeaways

From the Author: Visiting the Sunset Cliffs Open Ceiling Sea Cave any time other than negative low tide is dangerous. I cannot stress this enough. Respect Mother Nature or you could be literally underwater, and it isn’t safe. Check tide charts before you go and plan to only go during negative tide.

Sunset Cliffs Cave: The Deets.

Known for: Stunning ocean-carved sandstone formations and breathtaking sunset views.

Location: Sunset Cliffs in the Point Loma neighborhood of San Diego near Luscomb’s Point. Enter “Luscomb’s Point” into your navigation.

How to Get There: To reach the Sunset Cliffs Caves, begin at the dirt parking lot above the beach in Sunset Cliffs Natural Park. Multiple routes, including stairs, ropes, and ravines, provide various adventurous paths to the caves. The safest route is the one the surfers are taking. Follow the surfers.

Hours of Operation: Daily — Sunrise to Sunset

Parking: Free street parking is available along Sunset Cliffs Boulevard in Point Loma

Best time to go: Low tide or negative tide. Check tide here

Distance: One mile

Time Requirement: 1 Hour

What is Nearby: Sunset Cliffs Natural Park and Balboa Park

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Sunset Cliffs in San Diego, Ca. — You can park along Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, there are several small lots as well.

Getting to Sunset Cliffs Open Ceiling Sea Cave

As I mentioned above, you can park for free along Sunset Cliff’s Blvd. If there is no parking, there will be plenty of free parking in nearby neighborhoods. Just make sure to read signs when parking.

Sunset Cliffs Cave with waves crashing against it.

You’ll know you are in the right spot — at the Sunset Cliffs Sea Cave — if you see a large fence surrounding the top of the open cave and a gate preventing you from getting too close to the large opening.

A fence with an ocean behind it. — This cave is right below this fence. You can only see a little of the cave when you peek over, if you’re incredibly tall.

You can peek over the top of the fence, view the sea cave from there, and call it a day.

If you’re like me, you’ll want to trek down to the bottom of the cave and go inside.

The Trail to Sunset Cliffs Cave

The safest and easiest path will be the one the surfers are scaling up and down on. It’s a well-worn path at the most Western point at the very end of Luscomb’s Point. Take this path. Trust me.

Seeing surfers on the path indicates you are on the right trail.

Walk down the rough stone steps along the rocks for about 100 yards. This is the easiest path to take and the only one you should attempt.

Rocks on a beach and water. — Walk along this part of the beach toward the sea cave. As you can see, you’ll get wet.

If the path feels difficult and unsafe, you’re on the wrong one.

At about this point, it’s time to get wet. This is when you’ll be grateful for taking my advice at the beginning of this article: to only visit Sunset Cliffs sea cave during the low or negative tide.

Even during a negative foot tide, you will get wet, at least your feet and possibly up to your calves and waist, depending on your height.

A girl stands in the arch of a cave. — We explored the caves for about an hour.

Once out of the water, head south along the rocks to the small cove ahead. You’ll most likely be heading in the direction of where you parked, although way underneath where you parked.

Insider Tip: Please do not attempt to go directly down to the cove from where you parked; it is too steep and dangerous and could result in serious injury. Instead, do as above and look for the well-worn path of the surfers.

Once you hit the cove, you’ll be transversing seaweed-covered boulders that are normally covered by the ocean at a normal tide.

Rocks in the ocean at the bottom of a large cliff. — This is low tide. We highly recommend going during negative tide.

Now, there is a small area where you will be in knee-to-waist-deep water even at -2 tide. This is why I want to stress again about going during a negative tide.

Enjoy the Open Ceiling Sea Cave

Right around the next rock, will be the entrance of the Sunset Cliffs Sea Cave. Enjoy; it’s simply stunning and a great place for unique photography. The cave becomes popular when low tides coincide with sunset, often drawing numerous photographers to the spot.

The cave is massive, even with dozens of people in it.

As a word of caution, you may want to stay in this sweet spot once you experience the cave and how amazing it is, and you should!

However, please know the tide schedule before you go; you don’t want to get into a situation where you are in the cave, and the tide starts to come in quickly.

It won’t be easy to find your way back if the ocean overtakes you. Travel safely, friend. ❤️

Sunset Cliffs Natural Park in San Diego, California.

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