Our Mission Silver Strand N

Silver Strand Our Mission Named for the

State Beach The mission of California State Parks is delicate tracery of tiny,
to provide for the health, inspiration and silvery seashells that
education of the people of California by helping line its white sands,
to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological
diversity, protecting its most valued natural and the strand offers
cultural resources, and creating opportunities stunning views of both
for high-quality outdoor recreation. gentle San Diego Bay
and the more turbulent
California State Parks supports equal access.
Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who ocean surf.
need assistance should contact the park
at (619) 435-5184. This publication can be
made available in alternate formats. Contact
[email protected] or call (916) 654-2249.

CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS
P.O. Box 942896

Sacramento, CA 94296-0001
For information call: (800) 777-0369

(916) 653-6995, outside the U.S.
711, TTY relay service

www.parks.ca.gov

Discover the many states of California.™

Silver Strand State Beach

5000 Highway 75
Coronado, CA 92118

(619) 435-5184

© 2006 California State Parks (Rev. 2014)

S ilver Strand These groups were (Coronado Island) and the mainland, and
in 1846 Pedro C. Carrillo received it as part
State Beach, hunter-gatherers who also of a land grant. In 1885 its resort potential
was first noted. E.S. Babcock and H.L. Story
though only about processed acorns from bought the land, established the Coronado
Beach Company, and built a road and a rail
15 minutes south several species of oaks for line over the peninsula. Three years later,
Babcock and Story sold the land to John D.
of downtown nourishment. They obtained and Adolph B. Spreckels.

San Diego, has some foods and obsidian by In 1931 the Spreckels holding companies
presented 42 acres of the peninsula
a rather wild, trading with native groups between the U.S. Naval Amphibian Base and
the U.S. Naval Communication Station to the
solitary beauty. to the east, and the Tipai State Park Commission, establishing Silver
Strand Beach State Park (now Silver Strand
The generally people quickly learned to State Beach).

flat beach of this incorporate Spanish crops, Natural History
The type of vegetation here is called coastal
coastal strand A typical day at Silver Strand State Beach livestock and tools into strand, though much of it has disappeared
due to development. Coastal strand consists
area, a sand spit their way of life. of bare, wind- and spray-whipped sand
and an inland section with only sparse
that connects Coronado with Imperial Beach, The arrival of Europeans and Americans growth. East of this area, along the highway,
scattered vegetation includes golden bush,
stretches for miles. Views from the level ended the native people’s way of life. lemonadeberry and sage.

of the beach or alongside San Diego Bay Access to traditional lands and sources of Coastal strand habitat is home to Brandt’s
cormorants, gulls, terns, sanderlings
include Coronado Island, Point Loma, the food was soon restricted or totally lost to and loons. The ocean beach and the
bay mudflats are rich feeding areas for
Coronado Bridge and the Naval shipyards. them. Over ensuing years some Indians were shorebirds and other water-oriented birds.

The weather at Silver Strand is “relocated” to several inland reservations

characterized by warm, dry summers and established around 1875, but thousands

cool winters. Summer fog is part of the more died from European-introduced

Mediterranean climate here. Extremes of diseases to which they had no immunity.

heat or cold are rare, with average maximum Today’s  Kumeyaay  Nation — extending

temperatures ranging from near 65 degrees from San Diego and Imperial Counties to

in January to nearly 78 degrees in August. 60 miles south of the California-Mexico

PARK HISTORY border — shares their ancestral heritage
Native People through community outreach and education.
It is believed that humans first came to the
San Diego coast as far back as 20,000 years, The Strand
and to inland areas about 12,000 years ago. The Spanish and Mexicans in San Diego
The native people were known by many had little interest in the narrow strip of sand
between what they called “San Diego Island”

names, some bestowed by the Europeans,

who called them Diegueños or Mission
Indians. The names preferred by the people Silver Strand’s
east-facing
themselves included Kumeyaay (the inland
beaches offer
group), Ipai (the northern group), and Tipai
stunning views of
(the southern group).
San Diego Bay.

Swimming/Sailing — The calmer and Accessibility is continually improving. For
current accessibility details, call the park or
slightly warmer water in the bay is ideal for visit http://access.parks.ca.gov.
swimming and sailing.
Please Remember
Kiteboarding — The wind speed here is
higher than at other San Diego area beaches. • The front gate opens year round at 8 a.m.

Intermediate to advanced kiteboarders • The gate is always locked for the night.
Observe re-entry times on posted signs.
find the best riding from October to January.
• Camping is available for self-contained
Beachfront RV camping is very popular. Kiteboarding is permitted only at parking vehicles only.

The southern end of the bay is a perfect lot #1 — the southernmost open parking • Call ahead regarding operating hours,
bird-watching area; hundreds of thousands lot — downwind of people on the beach or fees and conditions, which can change.
of birds feed, nest or just rest up here for in the water, and north of the Silver Strand
the next leg of their migrations. Natural Preserve. • There is a seasonal alcohol ban. Contact
the park for details.
Offshore, California sea lions and an Picnicking — Ramadas and tables are
occasional school of porpoises may be seen. available at the beach and bay side picnic • Glass bottles are never permitted.
On the strand, mammals include striped areas, with fire rings on the beach during
skunks, brush rabbits and California ground summer. Pedestrian tunnels under the • Dogs are allowed only in the parking
squirrels. Worms, bivalves and sand crabs freeway allow access to the bay side picnic lots, on a leash no longer than six feet.
are among beach species. area and views of San Diego Bay.
• Except for service animals, pets are not
Aquatic Center — On the bay side of the allowed on the beach, in the tunnels or
on the bay side of the park.
RECREATION beach, Crown Cove Aquatic Center is a
collaborative effort between California State • Fires are allowed only in designated
RV Camping — Campsites can be reserved Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways beach fire rings.
year round by calling (800) 444-7275 or and Southwestern Community College.
visiting www.parks.ca.gov. All RV campsites See the Center’s aquatic and safety-related • Stingrays sometimes rest atop the sand
have water and electric hookups. in the surf zone. To help avoid being
A sanitation station is nearby. class list at www.swccd.edu/index. stung, shuffle your feet as you wade into
aspx?page=105 the water.
Fishing — Perch, corbina and yellow-fin
Nearby State Parks
croakers are prolific here, and during Marbled godwit Accessible Features • Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
the summer, spawning grunion may Shaded picnic areas, the
be caught on the sand. Anglers restrooms, outdoor rinsing Taylor and Calhoun Streets
age 16 and over must carry a valid showers, and the paved San Diego 92110 (619) 220-5422
California sport fishing license. pedestrian path along the • Border Field State Park
bay are all accessible. 1500 Monument Road, San Diego 92173
Surfing — The two miles of beach (619) 575-3613
break with white sandy beaches Beach wheelchairs may • Tijuana River National Estuarine Research
are best at medium to high tide on Reserve, 300 Caspian Way
a mixed swell. Surfers should stay be available for loan. Call Imperial Beach 91932 (619) 575-3613
north or south of the swimming area.
(619) 435-0126 or check at the

entrance for details.

CORONADO Silver Strand CORONADO
State Beach
75 Crown
Cove
San San

Crown Diego P Diego
Cove Bay
Legend Bay

Lot 4 Freeway P Parking see P
Picnic Area detail
Kiosk Ranger Station map
P Restrooms
Aquatic Center Major Road RV Camping
Showers
Pedestrian Paved Road Surfing P
Tunnel #3 Swimming 75
P
Accessible Path

Lot 3 Accessible Feature
P
75 Fishing
Ranger and
Lifeguard Office Pedestrian Food Services
Tunnel #2

Lifeguard Station Park
Entrance
Lighthouse
S I LV E R
Lot 2 Pedestrian
P Tunnel
#1
Mission Rd S I LV E R
Bay Park 8 BlvdLa 8 STRAND
Sea World Friars 805 15 El Cajon
Mesa S TAT E
Pacific Ocean Old
Ocean Lot 1 Beach Town 163 San Diego BEACH 75
P San Diego SHP Zoo Lemon
Balboa 94 Grove Pacific
San Diego Int’l Airport Ocean STRAND
Park
PETCO
Park San Diego
209 North Island
NAS BCroirdogneado 15
75
0 500 Feet Coronado 805
0 150 Meters CORONADO
Cabrillo NM BroadwayNational54
San Diego Bay City N AT U R A L San
75 Diego
Bay
Silver Strand SB E St

Pacific Sweetwater Chula
Ocean Marsh Vista
NWR
805
5 0 0.25 Miles
0 0.2 0.4 Kilometers PRESERVE
Main St

Palm Ave
Imperial Beach Blvd

Tijuana River NERR Imperial 905
Beach
0 1 234 5 Miles San USA
0 246 8 Kilometers Border Ysidro MEX
Field SP
Tijuana
Two miles of beach break are ideal for surfing.
© 2011 California State Parks (Rev. 2014)
Map by Eureka Cartography, Berkeley, CA