Peak 93 - Point Loma - Views of San Diego from the Bayside Trail
Point Loma
Elevation: 400’
Mileage: 2-3
Trailhead: Cabrillo National Monument Parking Lot
Agency: Cabrillo National Monument
Dates Hiked: 2003, 2012, 11/15/2008, 10/5/2022
Peakbagger.com Page
Old Point Loma Lighthouse, from 2022
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10/05/2022
I had been to this “peak” several times, but I hadn’t hiked the Bayside Trail, so my wife and I headed out on an early fall weekday morning. It was sunny at our house, but the marine layer persisted by the coast.
We pulled up to the guard gate at Cabrillo National Monument and showed our annual pass. I like getting my money’s worth.
We parked in the parking lot and crossed the rows, following signs to the Bayside Trail. Our intent was to hike the trail all the way down, and hike back up, getting to the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, the highpoint of the Point Loma peninsula.
Starting on the Bayside Trail, next to the Old Point Loma Lighthouse
We enjoyed the cooler temperature of the overcast skies as we descended on the Bayside Trail on the paved road. We could see down to the entrance channel to San Diego Bay.
The view down to North Island and Ballast Point
Before long, we turned left, following the signs for the Bayside Trail, the trail itself becoming a wide gravel road.
The upper paved portion of the Bayside Trail
The trail turns into dirt and gravel
The trail drops to the shoreline
We passed some installations and signs relating to some of the World War II historical items along the trail, such as a shed for holding a large light meant to illuminate enemy warships in the channel. We also passed another building that held the generator that powered the light.
The shed that held the light for enemy watercraft
The shed that held the generator
We could hear the boats below, as well as the occasional sea lion. It was a hazy, overcast day, so we couldn’t see the mountains beyond, but could make out the North Island Naval airstrip of Coronado Island.
It was very pleasant and we got to the bottom of the trail. It appears the trail used to proceed farther, but there was a sign that clearly indicated we were at the end of the trail. We could see Ballast Point ahead, where Cabrillo had made his landing with his crew in 1542, changing the landscape forever.
Panoramic from the end of the Bayside Trail (Click to enlarge)
We headed back up the trail, when we started to hear a loud sound. We looked for a large boat and then a helicopter. The sound got louder until the large black shape of a cargo plane appeared from the clouds and landed on the airstrip.
We hiked up to the Old Point Loma Lighthouse and strolled around the grounds. The lighthouse was only in use for 36 years, when another lighthouse was built below due to the fog obscuring the upper lighthouse.
We decided to stroll over the Whale Overlook and the Cabrillo statue, but the clouds kept all the good views at bay.
The Cabrillo Statue from 2003
We made it back to our car, making our exploration of Point Loma around 3 miles in total. It was a nice day in the fresh air, but it was time for lunch and Mitch’s Seafood hit the spot.
Point Loma Trail Map (Click to Enlarge)
Selfie of Sophia and me, from 2008, taken with my Blackberry
Another selfie of Sophia and me, from 2008
The view to downtown San Diego and Cuyamaca Peak in the distance, in 2003
Point Loma Light, from 2003
