Tina Segura

Tina Segura

Terranea Beach Sea Cave

06/25/15

Couldn't find the caves! :( Tiffany, take me with you next time you go! I timed the trip with the low tide, and read the directions and "beginner" rating, figured I'd pull right up and see "Point Vicente Trail" marked, but didn't. Following these directions as carefully as I could, this was my adventure: So, I parked at Pelican Cove Park parking lot (yes, plenty of free parking) Facing the ocean in the lot, there are two trail heads. one to your right, one to your left. The one to the left is called Terranea trail, not Point Vicente trail. The trail to the right forks off into two trails: the Tovemore trail down to the beach, and the unmarked trail following the highway that goes straight toward the lighthouse. Thinking the unmarked trail parallel to the highway must be the aforementioned "Point Vicente trail," I followed that. Seemed logical, since that trail seemed to be heading in the direction of the Point Vicente lighthouse. I walked down the Tovemore trail just to be sure, but down there, I didn't see any resort or restaurant to walk through, as described, so I went back up and tried the unmarked trail. As I followed this unmarked trail, it again forked after a couple minutes: go straight or up that hill? I walked up the hill, only for it to lead me back to the same straight path. Now I'm heading straight on this unmarked trail parallel to the road, and I get to the Point Vicente Interpretive Center. I read the directions carefully again, and realized I must be in the wrong place. Nice views, but if there was any beach access, the Terranea Resort wouldn't be in its path, and now the tide was rising, so I headed back determined to find this "Point Vicente trail." I got back to the parking lot where I started and came to the conclusion that there is no Point Vicente trail. Maybe this adventure was written before, when there was a Point Vicente Trail. But today, there is none. At least not in Palos Verdes, at the Pelican Cove Parking lot or at the Terranea Resort. I still got a workout in, got some sun, saw a little gopher prairie dog thingy with long teeth, and climbed on some rocks down at the beach, but didn't find the caves. Maybe on another low tide day off, I'll go explore. Note: bring water shoes, cuz if you're gonna explore, climbing all over rocks is required, and they are slippery. Also, be careful if you go at low tide and come back lots later, you could lose your beach access. Doesn't make it a difficult walk down to the beach on the Tovemore trail, but something to be aware of. :)

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