Читать книгу 101 Hikes in Southern California - Jerry Schad - Страница 25

HIKE 12

Malaga Cove to Bluff Cove

Location: Palos Verdes Peninsula

Highlights: Boulder-hopping beneath sea cliffs and past small tidepools

Distance: 2.0 miles (loop)

Total Elevation Gain/Loss: 200'/200'

Hiking Time: 2 hours

Optional Map: USGS 7.5-minute Redondo Beach

Best Times: All year

Agency: PVESP

Difficulty: Moderate

Trail Use: Good for kids

When the tide is not too high, curious hikers can thread their way along a narrow strip of rocks between the ocean and the sea cliffs at the northern end of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Watch for sea life in small tidepools and debris from an old shipwreck. While young children may love this trip, folks uncomfortable hopping along slippery rocks will prefer exploring elsewhere.

Near Bluff Cove

To Reach the Trailhead: From the 110 Freeway, exit west on the Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1). In 0.6 mile, turn left on Normandie. Then in 0.5 mile, veer right onto Palos Verdes Drive North. Follow this scenic winding road for 6.7 miles, then keep left onto Palos Verdes Drive West. In 0.2 mile, turn right onto Via Almar. In 0.5 mile, turn right again onto Via Arroyo, and in 0.1 mile, turn right yet again onto Paseo del Mar, where you will find a large parking area.

Description: Walk to the east end of the parking area, where you will see a trail just beyond a gazebo overlooking the Pacific. Follow the trail down to Malaga Cove. This hike leads left (southwest) along the rocks beneath the sea cliffs. If the tide looks too high or the surf is excessive, consider diverting right instead and taking a stroll along Torrance Beach.

Otherwise, pick a path over the sedimentary rocks. Surfers flock to the cove to test their skills on the waves. Look carefully for small sea anemones, snails, and hermit crabs in the tidepools. In 0.3 mile, watch and sniff for a natural mineral spring emerging from the rocks near the ocean’s edge. Continuing along the rocks, watch for rusted metal debris from an unknown wreck. The famous 1961 wreck of the Dominator freighter is located south on the peninsula near Rocky Point.

After a slow mile of picking your way through the rocks, reach Flat Rock Point, another popular spot to view tidepools. Bluff Cove lies on the far side of the point. Your goal is to reach Paseo del Mar above. An extremely steep and potentially hazardous trail leads straight up from Flat Rock Point. A safer choice is to continue along the cove to find a graded path on the left. In either event, once you reach Paseo del Mar, turn left and walk a half mile back to your vehicle, enjoying the elaborately landscaped mansions along the way.