La Jolla Trail

A short but incredibly beautiful and extremely dangerous trail. It seemed like the edge of the mountain could collapse at any moment. The trail runs right along the very edge. At the same time, there are stunning views of the ocean, mountains, and city. You can descend to the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

Super thing! not a trail lol. Fun and a bit dangerous!!

BEAUTIFUL!!!! The trail down is amazing and breathtaking. Wish it was longer but it definitely is not short. Not kid friendly not sandal friendly and if your afraid of heights or get dizzy easy I would not attempt. If your not looking to get dirty then this is not the trail. Very slippery in spots, can fall easy, tight spots to fit through. We only went down and did not come back up which I would of loved it but my friend did not want to 😢. To finish to the bottom you must use the rope to propel backwards over a slippery slope that at times has running water, if you know how slippery wet clay or ice is, this is like that no traction. The beach is beautiful and the cliffs are awesome!!! Definitely recommend it if you like hiking but not if your out looking for an easy walk.

Amazing trail. We went with a tour guide and it was very worth it. Plenty of views from cliffs and stories of the history and more from the tour guide. The hike was fairly difficult and I would strongly recommend bringing some type of durable gloves for climbing around the slots and sliding down them (yes there is a slide that has been built from the worn-down sandstone). Set aside at least 2 hours to truly experience everything this trail has to offer!

What a view! What a VIEW! Any one of those houses/mansions overlooking that trail is my dream house. A little bit of hills, little bit of valley, a little bit of beach, and a whole lot of ocean. Sunsets here are simply spectacular! My 11 year old and I tried to hike down to the beach but it was too late to get all the way down. There are some serious drops and places where you have to "kiss the wall" to keep moving down the trail and after about 30 minutes we had to turn back. Go before 3 on if you want to get to the beach spend some time and return with natural light. There is also a treck to the top of a hill overlooking the ocean. It seems easier although steep. Most people do it in their flip flops. Be prepared to get mud dusty on either trail.

This is a really cool hike! It can be a bit challenging at times, and also slippery on the route to the beach... So come prepared. The views from the top are amazing!! We hiked to the top then went along the ridge to the Black Beach overlook and took the trail down to the beach from there. Beware there are naked dudes-just so you know-but they're just chilling. We walked the beach back down south and took the Hi Chi Minh trail back up. This hike is a solid 5 stars!

This was an amazing little trip during midday. Finding the entrance through the neighborhood street was slightly difficult as there are no signs, so you kinda have to really look, and I also had to point people in the right direction as they had the same issues. When you walk through the opening of the brown fence with a graffitied trashcan in front, you will make your way through small walkways and will have to watch your step as parts get pretty steep and there is a lot of sand. You can enter through this way to go to the beach or you can go to the top of the cliff! If you find yourself walking on boards that stretch across small dried up ravines, you are going towards the beach and the pathway gets tight with shrubbery! Stay to the right and get up to the top to get a beautiful view of hangliders, multimillion dollar homes, and the pier at La Jolla! Definitely worth the trip!!

This is a VERY dangerous trail. It feels like a real life Tomb Raider challenge. It's easy to fall and cut yourself. At the other end of the street there is a paved asphalt path that I used to return to my car. If you want to visit Black's Beach take that path instead.

Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone--And Into a New Chapter This weekend, I challenged myself to hike the Ho Chi Minh Trail in La Jolla. It's known to be steep, rugged, and unpredictable. When I arrived, I felt unprepared--others seemed more equipped, more confident. I considered backing out. But I didn't. I stuck with it. Step by step, I pushed through the discomfort and self-doubt. And when I reached the end, I wasn't just relieved--I felt alive. That quiet sense of accomplishment reminded me that growth doesn't happen in certainty; it happens in motion. #PersonalGrowth #ChallengeAccepted On my drive home, I spotted two butterflies--one a monarch, the other yellow. To me, they weren't just beautiful--they were symbolic. A monarch represents transformation. A yellow butterfly, joy and renewal. It felt like the universe's way of saying: "You're on the right path. Keep going." #Transformation #Joy After years of living in San Diego without truly connecting to it, I've decided: it's time I lived here for a change. This city has so much to offer--if I'm willing to explore it with fresh eyes and an open heart. #RediscoverSanDiego #ExploreMore As I move into a quieter season work-wise, I plan to fill that space with more meaningful experiences like this one. Nature. Movement. Presence. Rediscovery. #Mindfulness #NatureLover Because we don't always need a big shift to change our lives--sometimes, all it takes is a trail, a choice, and the courage to begin. #CourageToBegin #SmallSteps #successfultaxseason2025 #enjoyingthefruitsoflabor #beautyofnatureinSanDiego #Rebirth #meaningfulexperiences #lifeisbeautiful #utilizingfullyoffseasonfunactivities Just show my fitness I put myself through is working!!! #healthyfitnessinprogress. #12 walk - Ho Chi Man Trail

I had heard a lot about the "Ho Chi Minh Trail" and finally tried it over a recent weekend. I am not sure who discovered or developed this hike, but it felt like, "Hey, let's follow the natural erosion of the land and create a shortcut to Black's Beach from the residences in La Jolla Farms." The number of people who were either barefooted or were wearing flip flops to make this trek really surprised me. I was wearing hiking shoes and was fortunate to only pick up a couple of minor scrapes along the way. The views of the canyons, the bluffs, and the hang gliders overhead were very beautiful so there were plenty of photo opportunities. I felt the hassle to descend towards the beach was not worth the short journey. The path was only about 3/4 mile in distance one way which I completed in about 20 minutes. Trekking poles were not at all useful, and they became a hindrance in a few areas. This was a hike in which you should NOT bring children or dogs. If you have a fear of heights, then you may also want to think twice before trying this trail. There were at least two or three very treacherous spots in which a slip could lead to a nasty fall with a concussion, sprain, fracture, or even death as an outcome. There are many other hiking locations in San Diego County that are more rewarding than the La Jolla Trail.

Full disclosure...I have not been to Vietnam. Hahaha, just kidding. When asked if I'd ever hiked this, that was my response. True story. So I was curious and love new adventures. My friend and I walked the beach in search of the trail's start (or end). Couldn't find it. Saw a lifeguard. He showed us where and we saw people on the ropes. He cautioned against it. He told us there are rescues at least once a week. I'm not a risk taker or adrenaline junkie, so it was an easy NO GO. I've since met someone who lives across the street from the upper entrance to the trail. They watch helicopter recuses with regularity.

Well Haven't Been Hiking for awhile so back on the trail I go with my family and I was thinking of what trails to go on so La Jolla Trails came to mind . Off we went the parking you have to park on the side street and walk in between a house and the path takes you to La Jolla Trails , So we walk in and let me tell you this Trail has two ways up or down . We took the trail down then up and I have to tell you that you have to walk under some trees and bushes and walk on Little Rocks across some streaming water paths plus you have to grab the roots from trees and make your way down and keep your balance as you slowly slide down hanging from the root of a tree . As you get towards the end it gets a little more difficult because there are boulders of huge rocks you have to get down and it is kind of steep so Be Careful !! But the difficulty level is Moderate to hard and there is a nice View of the Beach at the end . Overall it's a great Trail to hike and prepare to get a little dirty and your shoes will get muddy as you go across the streams of water !! Next time I will try the other way I heard it is dryer and not as wet .But I do Suggest you give La Jolla Trails a hike and enjoy the views at the end .

This trail is kind of lame as it is located in a residential area of La Jolla and the trail head was located by googlemap. The Saigon Trail starts off as a decent down a hill in a culvert that leads to the beach after walking about 1/2 mile if that. That's about it, nothing much to this, turn around walk up the hill, marvel at this beautiful mansion overlooking the ocean and we are done here. Street parking in the residential neighborhood, make sure you don't park in the painted red zone. I did not take any trails and the one trailhead I was able to find took me behind a house along a path which lead to a cliff and then some not so safe looking decent down to a trail I guess. I did not venture further because it did not look safe and there is a hazardous cliff erosion sign. I drove about 1/4 mile and found this other trail head to the beach.

Let me start with this: I think this place could easily be a death trap (or injury trap). I came with my boyfriend at the time who had done this short (40ish minute) hike before a few times years prior and he assured me it would be fine, just maybe a bit rugged. He said it was called "Ho Chi Minh trail by some folks in part for the terrain. Needless to say: the weather had eroded a lot of the trail itself so there were some REALLY narrow and downright DICEY areas where it was hard to keep your footing and if you were to slip, it would be a TERRIBLE fall down into the canyon, sometimes 10-20 feet down. You could really get hurt! I ended up sitting down and even scooting my butt along some parts toward the end of the trail because I was so scared of losing my footing and getting hurt. That said - the beach you are hiking to (Black's beach) looks pretty cool, and has great waves. Some serious daredevils were even making this hike carrying their surfboards on their heads AND MADE IT!! Super crazy to me because I felt like it was so hazardous, and there were branches sticking out at parts too that could scratch up your legs. Overall - I would absolutely NOT hike this trail again because it was so unsafe. But I'm really glad I did it the one time because the views along the way were superb!

It's been a minute since I've written a Yelp review. Bad Elite Shay ! Blame coronavirus I've been stuck at home like most people. When places started opening up, I was dying to go outside and enjoy the beauty of my San Diego hometown. This hike was extra special since it was my brother's birthday ! I had to get some fam bam quality time with the old man. Thanks to him for introducing me to this hike. It's a hidden gem and already one of my favs ! Parking was on the street with a 2 hour limit on a weekday. Everything was picturesque ! Lots of different trails you can take and near Black's Beach if you want to get real adventurous. The trail we took was a bit steep and tricky. Some parts were slippery due to the sand beneath you. Make sure to invest in good hiking shoes with excellent tread. This will help. Trust me. You will experience bouldering, walking on jagged rocks, crossing wooden planks, and rock climbing to get through. Felt like an obstacle course at times. Fun ! You should be in fairly decent shape if you want to try the more challenging trails. The views are worth it though. Absolutely breathtaking and peaceful ! Expect to get dirty from all the sand and the narrow paths make it difficult to maneuver easily. Fortunately, it wasn't crowded so we were able to take our time and take a few Instagram shots. You know to make it official. LOL. There's some cool spots especially the infamous mushroom house at the bottom on the beachside. Perfect hideout for a zombie apocalypse. Overall, it was a pretty short hike, but I still got a good workout in, especially on the way back to our car. The uphill pavement got me huffing and puffing. The booty burn is real. If you're looking for a quick, scenic, and not so crowded hike this is the spot for you !

Thank you, Yelpers for all the reviews and awesome photos of La Jolla Trail. We were going to be in La Jolla and I wanted to find a mellow hike to do. This hike not only had amazing views, but a really cool slot canyon in the middle of the hike. The entrance to the hike is easy to find, just use the address provided by Yelp and you can't miss it. The entrance is between two houses and there is plenty of street parking. The hike itself is pretty easy. There are just a few parts that look sketchy, but when you're actually there it's not bad at all. You need to walk across a plank, but that wasn't too bad. The slot canyon can be a bit slippery, but you just need to use your arms against the walls and you're fine. The last part of the hike was the part I found to be the most difficult. The side of the canyon is slippery, but some locals suggested that going barefoot on this part is easier. Anyways it's all worth it once you get down to the beach. If you're in La Jolla, definitely check out this hike.

I really had fun hiking this trail, I hiked down to the beach wit one my friends and made it n time for the sunset, if you walk down the beach there is a staircase which is kinda nice still a lot of stairs, good

This is a great place to hike. The inclines are great and will provide a great workout. The beach views are also a great reward. It's great for dogs, kids and everyone can have a great time.

Super nice hike. Plenty of trails to easily get lost. Right next to the beach. Definitely worth a visit!

Parking: You can park on the street and walk to the entrance(between two private properties). Parking is free but there are street signs say two hours only. Trail: The trail is short BUT not easy. You will need to go though rocks and some parts are very very steep. Make sure you wear shoes that good for climbing and sometimes you will need to use hands. Definitely not recommend for kids and seniors, I personally feel the climbing might be too risky for them. Beach: I brought my two dogs with me. The trail is ok BUT the beach doesn't allow dogs from 9am to 6pm, besides that period you can bring dogs to the beach (with leash).

Not sure how to fairly review this place. Yes, parts of it is cool, I liked the mini slot canyon section, but parts of it are really dangerous and despite my spiderman like reflexes, I still managed to land in a ravine and ended up a muddy mess that looked like I took a serious poo in my pants.

We tried the Saigon trail & it was a lot of fun! It was an intermediate hike that included balancing on a board to cross over the run off water/creek and scaling down the side of a cliff with a rope to reach the beach.

STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE! My wife and I went hiking here and I had a pretty traumatic experience . Very slippery all throughout and there are some steep falls. Long story short, someone started slipping and I tried to grab them and we both went tumbling down about 10 or 15 feet onto the rocks. I ended up in the hospital and got 10 stitches but thankfully didn't break anything. In my opinion this place should be shut down. Lifeguards and paramedics told me they get 3 or 4 cases per day of people falling and hurting themselves. Please be careful if you decide to go here! Or even better choose somewhere safer like Torrey Pines.

Took the kids out today to watch the paragliders and hang gliders :) these people are CRAZY it's super cool but they literally kinda run down a cliff an just jump. Insanity - they make it look so easy lol!

There are actually 2 different trails here: 1. La Jolla Trail - trailhead off of Torrey Pines Scenic Dr. This trail actually ends in an overlook above Black's Beach. You can access the beach by taking the Gliderport Trail. 2. Saigon Trail - trailhead off of La Jolla Farms Rd. This trail is the one most people here are actually reviewing. This trail ends directly at Black's Beach. Unfortunately the two trails don't connect anymore. It looks like they used to, but the rain washed away the path between the two. It's still possible to get from one to the other, but it would involve climbing over dirt & rocks. Both trails are great, but obviously the more fun one is the Saigon Trail. This one involves climbing into a mini slot canyon that can only fit one person at a time. I would recommend that you wear shoes for this trail. During some parts of it, there was sand on top of rock, and I saw a couple of people slip & fall. But this is definitely a trail to hike at least once!

i hiked the saigon trail (ho chi minh trail) on 6/18/22! i made a y0utube video with a hiking vlog, tips and info so you can be prepared! search "Nikko Gandia Travels" or find a link to my y0utube on my profile. i did a loop and explored the salk institute and canyon peaks. easy 2 mile loop with a few moderately difficult obstacles. free 2 hour street parking.

After reading a bunch of mixed reviews ranging from pure enjoyment to complete regret...my friend and I decided to give it a try during these unprecedented times. We easily found free parking in the residential areas. Though both of us didn't own hiking shoes at the time, our running shoes had enough traction to make it through. This trail isn't difficult in terms of length, but has tricky parts. Some areas are a bit dangerous, but thankfully, none of us were hurt. My flexibility unexpectedly helped me get good footing in the slippery, sandy slopes. Like all the other reviews said, it was like maneuvering through an obstacle course. Since beaches were closed at the time, we couldn't use the rope to get down to Black's Beach. Still, we got a beautiful, serene view! If you're looking for a mini challenge, this is your trail. If you're on the fence about going, you've got to come in bold to make it through. If you don't want to get your hands, clothes, and shoes dirty while potentially risking injuries, there are plenty of other beach trails in SD. Overall, I had fun and hope to come back with better shoes! No matter how experienced you are, be careful and respect other visitors' spaces!

It was difficult for me to decide how many stars to give this. In the end, I chose one star to hopefully get someone to read it and understand how difficult and dangerous this hike is. My first clue should have been the narrow plank towards the beginning. I'm a fairly fit middle aged woman and was honk with my teen and tween. After successfully crossing the plank, it became more and more difficult. It's very slippery in parts and the wind would kick up blowing sand in our eyes. Towards the end it was very slippery with little to hold onto. I ended up slipping as I was trying to pass someone who was frozen with fear. I slipped over the edge of a cliff and fell about 15'. To say it was scary for me, my kids and witnesses is an understatement. I was very lucky I didn't hit my head. I was injured and thankful for the kindness of strangers helping me and my kids get down to the beach and go get help. The only way out was hike back (wasn't going to happen), ambulance or wait an hour and a half in pain on the beach for lifeguards to get off duty to drive us to the top. I chose the last option and sat on the beach in excruciating pain. I ended up breaking my knee cap, injuring my hand and elbow and I have scrapes and bruises everywhere. I'm thankful it wasn't worse and that my kids were okay. While it was beautiful and challenging, only do this if you have experience with difficult hikes and are fit. This is definitely not a hike for kids. I saw a family out there with probably a four year old and can't imagine how scary that would have been.

Beautiful trail. Beautiful view. Amazing beach but stay cautious please! They have many trails to get onto the sand. None are super safe, but they do have one paved path closest to the Shores; and it's by far the safest. Just very steep hills. Tough walk back. The beach doesn't have restrooms or anything sold

Leads to the beach above La Jolla shores. A safe pathway to good boogie boarding surf

I feel like I have to review this hike but only because we SURVIVED it?! Full disclosure: we are not teens but in decent physical shape. Every time we got to a challenge, and made it, the next one was even more so! And then at the bottom, surprise! Whatever rope was there to scale to the beach is gone as of July 2023. Bottom line: I sat down and scooted a lot and feared for my life on one cliff. The views were awesome but never been more happy to feel the sandy beach under my feet! Wear hiking shoes! This is not just a walk in the park! Fortunately, we found the paved road back up which is to your left once you get on the beach.

Looking for danger yet rewarding experience? This hike will give you that and much more. I'm still perplexed how this trail earned its name but regardless, it's one of the best and most adventurous routes down to Black's beach. Your adventure will begin by finding the entrance to this trail. Most of the time people will miss it so be sure to plug directions to your GPS for this one. You'll be weaving in and out of various paths, be wedging your feet into the sandstone and descend down to a cave-like canal. It sounds harder than it actually looks but do watch as the trails are slippery and narrow. The final path will lead you to the ocean where you'll find a man-made rope tied against a rock to guide you into a nude beach! This is a must do adventure if you're into unique trails and views. I promise it won't disappoint.

I went here on Monday with a friend and it was my first time hiking. Definitely a challenge, we went on a day where the mud was wet so it was turning like clay and we kept slipping. But dirt don't hurt nobody. I recommend this for anyone to be honest, yes it's a very challenging hike but what's life without taking any risk you know? As long as you have a friend or a group who has done this before to help you through it then it's enough to conquer this challenge. This hiking trail definitely needs some foot technique and a lot of determination, so just keep that in mind. As you head down at the end of the trail, you get to Black Beach (nude beach). To exit the beach, you would have to take the stairs going up and let me tell you that was a workout. Another thing I would recommend is to wear clothes and shoes you are not afraid of getting dirty. When i got home, I immediately washed my clothes. I'll insert a picture of how dirty I got. This hiking trail made me love the outdoors even more and I hope to go on more hiking trips because I love the solitude and concentration feels during a hike. I will definitely invest in nice quality hiking shoes.

Went here on a rainy day and basically slid and fell off a cliff multiple times but I would totally recommend this hike! What's a hike without a little danger,eh? It definitely was a great work out and the trail itself was very scenic. Definitely come here with at least one person so they can help you navigate some rough patches..or call a medic if you fall. I'm a novice and a klutz so it's not really that difficult and I'm over exaggerating but seriously it's no Torrey Pines but it's actually will I or will I not fall off a cliff kind of hike.

This is such a cool trail. I didn't realize how far below the beach was until I walked to the edge and looked down. Before the hike I read a lot of reviews about how dangerous it is and almost didn't do it. I'm so glad I checked out for myself. I think the dangerous part would be if it was wet as I could better understand how it could be dangerous if it were muddy. There are make-shift steps and many are very tall (good for the glutes!). Upon reaching the bottom you arrive at Blacks Beach which is a nude beach. Not too many people were there. There were kids on this hike so be fair warned about the nude folks on the beach! I would recommend this hike to most anyone but it is steep. Wear good shoes - although I did see people wearing flip flops and I don't thats a good idea. Parking is available in a dirt lot in front of the La Jolla Hang Glider port which is also a super fun thing to check out while you're there. There's also a good shack that has great salads and sandwiches with tables and some shade. It can get really hot in the summer so get an early start and bring water.

Views that will you make cry! Well, not cry cry just figuratively speaking of course, but maybe I did tear up a little bit. We'll never know..... Ho Chi Minh Trail is a must see, must do and must hike kinda place. I love what San Diego already has to offer but this trail made me love this city even more. Most hikes I've done are mainly going up just to see awesome views. This trail is a hike going down and it is not easy. The beginning of the trail is like whoa and questionable; what's down there, where are we going? Is there a bat cave? Watch out for snakes! Oh lawd, did you hear that? Who's there? All these things were running through my mind as we hike down the trail. Then we had to cross a bridge, oh wait, it's actually a 2 x 4. Just kidding it was a plank. My knees were shaking but I made it just fine. After the forest the fun begins! Start holding on to your dear life. I'm not scared of heights but I am scared of falling down. Then you have to climb down using a rope that's wrapped around a small tree. It's okay guys, the small tree looks strong enough. It was actually easier climbing down facing forward. As soon as I got down, I realized something. Welcome to Blacks Beach! I acted normal of course, said Hi to anybody regardless of their clothes situation. Stayed a while, took tons of pictures and did it all over again. If you want to keep going, you can walk north and take the stairs up to glider point. By the way, my hubby hiked this with me carrying our 2 year old in a baby carrier. The entrance is hidden in a residential area and the rich folks that lives here are cool as a cucumber. They don't mind people parking on their street, and no one has given us bad vibes like were trespassing. I'll be back soon!

This was a neat trail full of many sorts of surprises!! First off, no joke this trail is difficult because of questionable places to step (narrow, often muddy, sandy). But the challenge is fun and it's really nice to be in a non-standard hike that is really quite short. By "challenge" I mean walking across a wooden beam, using a rope to climb down a hill, and shuffling in between tight rocks. It's not like a typical hike, although it is very fun! Parking: park on the street right in front of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. You don't have to park super far lol there will be parking. Tip: bring grippy shoes Tip: bring flip flops and beachwear for when you arrive at black's beach Tip: for a more challenging hike, also take the trial the right of the mountain (where the paragliders seem to be coming from!)

This trail is pretty cool. Came here for the first time around February and it was a nice hike. I'll get to the point: PROS: Amazing views and scenery. Lots of different "ways" to go. At the bottom, you reach the beach and some amazing views while getting close to black beach. CONS: Lots of people and no free parking available. When we got there, paid $20 for parking for only a few hours (Closes around 5, got there around 3) It was a hike to get to the hike. Steep road to get to the main hike trail. Part of the beach is covered in stones. If you walk north, there's a section of the beach that is littered in stones and makes walking uncomfortable. I felt 4 stars was generous, but the $20 parking was a huge disappointment for me, it's not Disneyland where I'll be parking for more than 12 hours. The scenery made the trip worth it, not sure if I'll be back though.

This is a super fun little hike - however it's not one where you can easily determine a difficulty level or for whom it will be easy or more challenging. I am 5'4" and used to be a 6x/week training competitive athlete. I haven't done that for 7 years and had a pretty sedentary winter/spring in rainy Seattle this year. This is my second hike of 2017. That being said I thought the hike was fine, but I watched several others struggle in bikinis. Another twenty something in-shape couple warned my friend and I to turn back because they got to the viewpoint and determined it was too slippery to continue. The female was in those toe-separated shoes that have thin flexible soles and not much support while her bf was in tennis shoes. You will be hiking over sand and limestone erosion!! It will be slippery - often. Some of the reviews recommend going barefoot, but again it depends on your skill level while barefoot. I am useless hiking without shoes. Moral of the story - wear shoes with good tread for gripping rocks with a dusting of sand on them! I wore my Keen shoes and felt very secure. If at any point the route looks too dangerous, go another way or try again another day. Don't risk falling and getting hurt! There are no trail markings as this is not a real trail - be a keen observer and if you can go down rather than up on a path that will almost always be the better choice. Get out there and have fun! I would definitely come back and do this again!

Beautiful spot for a quick easy hike. You get to go off trail and be close to the ocean and really relax yourself. The trail was only .5 miles long right now as the other .5 is doing some road construction, not sure how long that's lasting. The trail is dog friendly however, you must park down below if you're with your dog. You CANNOT park up where the visitors center is and walk with your dog down. When we got there we had to wait 20min for them to open the bottom trail parking lot. I believe they do this for covid & traffic reasoning.

Ignore all bad reviews and go on this hike doesn't matter if your a beginner there are "dangerous and difficult" parts just remain calm and go slow! I personally came back up the same way I came up a lot of ppl tend to get scared and go around I had on sneakers I can see how hiking boots or even barefoot has it's advantages but nevertheless worth the struggle!

I came to this trail yesterday, and I'm honestly thankful I'm alive. If you want to walk down this trail, I suggest doing it in the summer when (maybe) it's dry and not slippery. It's best to not use shoes, and go barefoot. Wear clothes that are comfortable and you're not afraid to get soaked and mudded. Also, don't bring anything to carry with you because you will be using all hands and feet!! The beginning of the trail was easy to find thanks to fellow yelpers and the path started out simple and easy. As we kept going, the path only got worse. We were having to cling to the edges of the cliffs and hoped that we weren't going to slip down the side into the watery, even more slippery bottom of the canyon. There were points where I opted to just slide down the mud instead of taking my chances of walking and slipping down into the canyon. In order to hike UP and not down to the beach, you have to kind of find your own way. There wasn't really a clear path, but at one point we were practically rock climbing. Once at the top, It was a beautiful view even though it was very windy and sand was blowing everywhere. We couldn't enjoy the lunch we packed so I suggest saving any snack breaks for the beach! Finally we reached the rope part of the excursion and my boyfriend slipped down into the canyon, the only thing holding him to the cliff still was the rope.

Short adventure full of variety. You will climb, scoot on ur butt, walk a plank, squeeze through crevices, and have a slight rappel down to the beach. Not for the extra large, the claustrophobic, or unsure of foot. Im fairly adventurous but there was 1-2 parts where i was a bit nervous about sliding off the cliff, as it is very narrow, very angled, and very sandy. Going down is much easier than coming back up however, which certainly gets you a mini workout going. Fun, glad I did it, if i did it again i would bring a walking stick/pole for bracing myself from sliding. Do not wear flips or shitty sneaks, you need some traction.

This trail is tricky to find for me and I always think I'm being suspicious walking behind these millionaire houses but I found the way! No matter how busy it gets it's worth it! I recommend bringing stuff for the beach and hanging out for the day before hiking back to your car. The hike can be difficult for some so the relaxing beach at the end makes it even better!

Residential parking was easy enough to find! I was pretty nervous due to some of the reviews stating how dangerous it is. I would say with proper caution this short trail can be done with little experience. I think the best tip is to go with someone who is familiar with this trail! If not, it is doable for most, you just need to go slow and watch your step. There is a plank to walk across for about 6ft, but the drop is short and you get over it quickly. The slot canyons were fun and like said from others if your not afraid to use your hands it will be pretty simple. Seems to me there are many ways to go through but we stayed to the left at the edges, with no difficulty finding purchase and I did not find it slippery enough to be concerned. The end portion was probably the most daunting as it is wet and slick going down (I didn't see a rope!) but still take your time and it will be over fast. Leads to blacks beach, which, on a Saturday morning at 9am there is a good amount of people. Keep in mind it is a nude beach so clothing is optional. We did not go back the way we came and went up using some steep stairs that felt a little like stair climber. The view was totally worth it!

Can confirm, if you misstep you will die or end up stuck or severely injured. When the trail subtlety splits Take the path to the top NOT the bottom! There is only one plank you have to make your way across and that's the steepest/scariest part. It's not bad from there. You'll get dirty and def do not attempt in sandals! Gorgeous views!! I mean so gorgeous it's worth the risk.

HELL HELL HELL HELLLLLLL OMG I read all the reviews carefully and said "eh no big deal" My mistake... as soon as we parked on the street next to all these nice houses, we were trying to find out where the actual hike starts. It's literally inside of a small green fence. Immediately as we entered, my friend and I agreed that this was not a good idea. Just buy over looking the upcoming trail ahead and the fact that it was not even a hike, it looked more like an obstacle course. As we proceeded to continue the hike, the first uncomfortable encounter was the long see saw you had to walk across. It is pretty shakey, so it took us a minute or two to build up the courage to actually walk across it. After we got through that, then came the underground rocks. Clearly we didn't know that we're not supposed to go in there and we realize that about halfway in because we couldn't fit through anymore. We had people basically guide us to go back and come back up and go a different way. So don't make that mistake if we decide to come here. It was painful squeezing between all these rocks! Omg As we kept going we got to the rocks above the waterfall, it felt like rock climbing. My friend began having an anxiety attack because the rocks were narrow and one wrong move could cause a slip and fall. My friend had people helping her and cheering her on to just finish the hike, it was awful. Lol After 30 minutes of this nightmare and her crying real tears screaming she found the courage to get across the rocks and we were basically at the finish line. Only thing left was the rope. Looks so easy, however it wasn't. Lol I ended up giving up and sliding down. We finally made it to the beach. Ok wooo! Now time to go back... except how? Cause we're not going back the same way we just came. We heard about going through the beach than stairs. As we're walking across the beach, I see fully naked old men... omg I guess this is a nude beach. I didn't know!!!! So disgusting! Eewww We finally get to the stairs... loooks like here is the real workout tbh That was challenging. Ok now we're at the parking lot for the beach. As i try to navigate how to get back to car, it's a 45 minute walk. OMG So f it. Uber to the rescue. Needless to say, never ever coming back here. So dumb. Views were pointless. So over rated. I did it for the gram. Lol

Best trail by far!!! So beautiful!!! It's a bit of a hike up but nothing super intense. Just a little incline. Then after that, it's smooth sailing down to the bottom. Such a beautiful walk back on the beach, or you have options of doing separate trails which I like as well. Some have a look out point or lead you down to more beautiful scenery.

Would have given it 5 stars if it wasn't sneakily dangerous! People say to walk through cave but DO NOT! Once again I repeat DO NOT ENTER THE CAVE AREA!!! Only walk through the top part. The cave area while beautiful is incredibly dangerous!!!

Very breathtaking view and a Gem in Southern California. I would say this trail is for intermediate hikers . Perfect place for great pictures and beautiful rock back drops. We ended at the black beach all the way at the bottom. Excellent for those people who want to make it a day with your special someone, they will be impressed you found and picked this trail also known as the Ho Chin Minh trail. The entrance is quite hidden between two brown wooden fences. Just follow the crowd ! Free Street parking !

Before I came to do this hike I read reviews that said it was dangerous and I didn't believe them. But it was true, you've been warned. My only complaint would be that this hike was SO HARD to find! No one mentioned that! It took me thirty minutes to find the trail. It is in between to houses in La Jolla. When I finally did find it I was scared that someone would think I was going into their backyard or something because that's exactly what it looks like. The actual hike wasn't difficult, just scary and dangerous. There were multiple times that I almost fell and couldn't been seriously injured. So be careful and wear shoes with a good grip for sure, you'll need them. It took my friend and I about an hour to go both ways on the hike. It's beautiful but dangerous so if you're not very coordinated or have good balance I wouldn't recommend this one for you. It's no normal hike. You're literally climbing through bushes, walking a balance beam over a small body of water, etc. it can get slippery as well

La vista bonita. Air is fresh. View is clear. Salt air. Good trail. Peaceful. Would return at a moments chance when passing through.

This is probably the most exciting route to get down to Black's Beach. You basically start off in the backyard of multi-million dollar homes and then take an aesthetically pleasing hike down the hill. My girlfriend and I made the hike down in about 45-60 minutes with multiple stops for photos. We are both from flat land and consider ourselves amateur hikers. This was not very difficult of a hike. If your fitness level is a 3 or lower (out of 10) or if you are excessively heavyset (due to narrow paths), then you might consider this difficult.

Awesome views of the beach and the cliffs behind Blacks Beach, I highly recommend coming around sunset. Watching the sun go down on a clear day, the sky is beautiful and the water turns from blue to green to pink as the sun fades! It's a little precarious to get to the top, so bring shoes with good grip, but when you're at the top, you'll forget whatever was on your mind and have your breath taken away by the awesome view.

My sister was in town for the weekend and we decided to do a hike a day. This hike was definitely the easiest, but most fun hike we did. The yelp address will get you to the general area that you want to be at. The entrance for the beginning of the hike is hidden but its gonna be in between the brown fence (near house #9882). Like I said, the hike is extremely easy and short but instead of taking the top left route to the beach, we went down right and it was more challenging. You'll have to climb over large rocks or go into the water below and climb back up but I rather choose the fun route than the easy route. Then you're on your way to Black Beach aka nude beach. ;) If you aren't feeling like hiking back up, you can go all the way left and find yourself a simple walk back to your car.

I slid, scratched my skin, walked plank, and got so dirty! It was a one short crazy hike! But overall I had fun, it's something different to experience. The photos and videos doesn't tell how crazy it can be. Please don't take any kids on this trail. It can be dangerous because it can be muddy. Please please use your hiking shoes! It's a life saver!

I would say it is 5 stars in terms of beauty and thrills but I wouldn't fully recommend it because it is VERY DANGEROUS. Like everyone else has mentioned the second half down the cliff after the slot canyon it is very slippery, muddy, dusted with sand, and there is absolutely nowhere to hold on to while maneuvering around corners of slopped mud (right next to a huge crevice). I made the mistake of trying the hike after there was a morning rain a few hours earlier. At one point I slipped and was on all 4's and was slowly sliding into the 20 foot rock drop below. It took 4 minutes of slow crawling and gripping mud to get myself to safety. My forearms and fingers are still burning as I type this. Yeah not really worth it in my opinion. This trail was created by locals, however with the popularity of the hike, the eventual human caused trail destruction, and natural erosion I'm not really sure it is safe anymore. Yes you can make it if conditions are nice or have great balance but I don't think a majority of users checking Yelp will always have that luck. Even taking the trail to the right to go up is a bit dangerous and you have to climb a sand cliff just to get there. There is only about a half foot of space to slide your body along and a fall there would get you injured for sure. Check this out at your own risk and be prepared with really grippy shoes/boots.