Ellwood Beach Trail

Starting at the end of the Ellwood Beach Connector, on sandy Ellwood Beach, this trail heads up the coast. After hiking a short distance you'll pass by piles of wood pilings and supports on the beach, which are the result of damage caused by a Japanese World War II attack on the Pacific Coast Highway bridge over the Southern Pacific railroad tracks. Continuing for another mile along the beach you'll reach an old oil-drilling pier that is now known as Pelican Point since it is home to a series of roosts for brown pelicans. Hiking another 1/2 of a mile along the coast you'll pass below the Sandpiper Golf Course, which sits on the cliffs above, before reaching Haskell's Beach. At this point the Ellwood Beach Trail ends and you can hike back along the same route to Ellwood Beach or continue onto Haskell's Beach Trail to extend your hike. Thanks to John McKinney, The Trailmaster, for sharing this trail description. To learn more about trails in California, check out his guides at The Trailmaster Store.