Avila Beach, CA is a hidden gem of a beach!
If you ever find yourself on the west coast of America and you want to explore a beautiful, hidden gem of a beach, come to Avila Beach.
Avila Beach is located about 3 hours north of LAX off Highway 101. It makes a lovely side trip if you are driving from Los Angeles to San Francisco and has much to offer- a dog beach, cafes, stores, walking/biking paths, golf, concerts, local hotels, and of course a spectacular beach.
This beach is for all ages- and there is something for everyone. I want to highlight my favorite parts of a visit to this beach:
1) Bob Jones Trail- is located on Ontario Road, right off Highway 1. There is a convenient parking lot with a rustic bathroom. The path ends in downtown Avila Beach and travels 3 miles of very flat, smooth and easily traversed paths. It follows the San Luis Obispo Creek and you can often hear frogs singing to one another! It has several benches and areas of interest along the way, including a small cafe one can rest and get a sandwich. Another point of interest is the uplifted Shale deposits, huge California Coastal oaks providing shade, and several small, but sturdy bridges. This path is 100% ADA friendly and we have brought our friend in a wheelchair here several times, in addition to small children and pets on leashes.
Here is more information: https://www.traillink.com/trail/bob-jones-city-to-the-sea-trail/
2) Avila Beach Dog Beach- Located at 50 San Juan St, Avila Beach, California 93424. If you continue north past the regular beach, you will come to the dog beach. It is an absolutely delightful beach!. The road is on a small cliff above the beach, which provides a beautiful view of the bay. There is free parking along both sides of the road, clean, well-kept bathrooms and both a staircase and a boat ramp for access to the beach. In terms of being ADA-friendly, there are a few options: use the boat ramp to access the beach, or hang out at the small cliff above the beach. Many people do this, bringing not only chairs or umbrellas, but sometimes their RV!
This is the most relaxed beach you will come across. Many people bring chairs, blankets or umbrellas and spend the day here, enjoying the dogs, children and ocean breezes.
Dogs love this beach to frolic, and owners do too, because it is contained on both ends with small hills. Dogs cannot escape this beach unless they go up the boat ramp or climb stairs- but every dog I’ve ever met was having such a merry time, they did not want to leave!
It can get hot and there are no restaurants or cafes nearby (maybe a 1/2 down the road at the regular beach), so bring drinks and snacks if you wish. It can occasionally get windy/chilly, so bring a jacket also.
Any questions, please email me and I can provide more information or special points of interest! I live nearby and love this beach. I want to invite you to come enjoy it with me.
Have a wonderful time at our local beach!