The San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park spans 6,000 acres of ocean bottom and tidelands to the north of La Jolla. The Underwater Park contains two conservation zones within it, the La Jolla Ecological Reserve and the La Jolla Marine Life Refuge. You get the idea, it’s a protected area. The park has several marine habitats (rocky reef, kelp bed, sand flats, and submarine canyon) and lots of sea life. And is a poplar spot for kayakers, snorkelers, and scuba divers.

Enzo snorkeling in the La Jolla cove kelp forest about 1/2 mile offshore

Details

Address: Boat Launch – 2053 Avenida De La Playa La Jolla, CA 92037
More Info: 858.454.5718, La Jolla Village Information Center, 1162 Prospect St, La Jolla, CA 92037
Cost: No fees to use the boat launch. Kayak rental fees variable.
Kayak Rental: We did not rent a kayak, but there are several operators in Ja Jolla that go to the caves. Check out Everyday California 858.454-6195 for group tours, private tours, and rentals.
Drive Time: 1.5-2 hours, one-way

Highlights

Ocean kayaking, sea caves, kelp forest, snorkeling, seals and seabirds, and sometime dolphins

What To Bring or Rent

Kayak, snorkeling stuff, dry bag, lunch, UW camera

La Jolla Cove Ecological Reserve satellite image showing the path we paddled

Itinerary

We launched our kayak around 1PM, paddled to the caves then up to the point below Scrips Park, headed out offshore to the outer edge of the kelp forest, then back to the boat launch beach. We were back at the beach around 5PM. Ideally we would have gotten and earlier start, but we got lucky with a perfect day and no afternoon wind.

Yes, I agree that a day trip from Los Angeles to La Jolla and back in one day is a bit of a haul, especially if you’ve spent the day kayaking your kids around in La Jolla Cove for 4-5 hours. If it’s too much, then get a hotel for the night. La Jolla is great, and if you live in Los Angeles, you have to go spend some time there.

The boat launch at the end of Avenida De La Playa. All the rental companies stage their tour groups on the beach to the right of the launch

Kayak set up and ready to launch

It’s a lot easier to eat lunch in the kayak when it’s sitting on the beach

Kayaking

We have a kayak, so I had to deal with launching it, finding parking after (ugh), and then picking it up. It was tough doing it all that on my own, especially on a weekend with many tours company operating at the boat launch. If you’re renting, there are two options: you join a tour and go out for a set amount of time following a guide, or you rent a kayak and do whatever you want. I’m not sure which companies allow unguided kayak rentals, but pretty sure Everyday California does. If you’re not super confident about pulling it off, join a tour or get a private guide. The tour groups all looked like they were having fun.

Getting close to the La Jolla cove cliff and sea caves

Approaching the La Jolla sea caves

On a calm day, you can paddle and swim right into to the La Jolla cove sea caves

Sea Caves and Cliffs

Once you make it to cliffs where the sea caves are, you really should snorkel around if the conditions are calm. My son was in the water for a while and saw a lot of fish including some small sharks. Along the cliffs are many sea lions trying to get some rest despite the tourists. I think you’re supposed to stay 50 feet from them. There are many sea birds as well. If its calm, you can swim right into the caves.

Snorkeling around the caves, Enzo saw lots of leopard sharks and garibaldi

There are many cormorants and sea lions along the La Jolla Cove cliffs

Couldn’t keep him out of the water

Bathroom break

You can almost hear his teeth chattering. I-I-I-I-‘m n-n-n-n-o-t-t-t c-c-c-o-l-d-d-d

Kelp Forest

A large kelp forest extends out off the point, filling most of La Jolla Cove. If you can, paddle out on to the kelp away from the tour groups. During the summer, the kelp is thick and growing along the surface, and it’s great to grab a piece of kelp as an anchor and just sit there. There are seals floating around sleeping, fish swimming below, and pods of dolphins nearby. It’s a magic spot.

Emi testing the polarized sunglasses to see below the surface

There were many seals laying around in the kelp canopy

Too cold to jump back in but still exploring

Seals and dolphins were all around us once we got away from the crowds near the cliffs

Not quite ready to snorkel but Emi wanted in on the action, so she jumped overboard

Fishing

Fishing is not allowed within the conservation zone, but just outside the park, you’ll see small boats and kayaks fishing. We brought a fishing rod, and did a bit of casting and trolling on our way back to the boat launch with no luck.

A view of the kelp canopy underwater

“Slimy” was the verdict on the kelp

Buying a Kayak

I finally got tired of being restricted to kayaking only where kayaks are available for rent in Southern California, so I bought one. Actually the morning before this day trip. Drove from LA to SD, bought the kayak, waited for it to be rigged up, put it on the truck, then back up to La Jolla, then launched it, paddled around for 4-5 hours, back on the truck, dinner, sunset, then back to LA. No problem. Anyway, I got a double MalibuKayak from OEX Mission Bay, 1010 Santa Clara Pl, San Diego, CA 92109 619.866.6129. I called all over SoCal, and these guys were really the only place that had the kayak I wanted in stock. There’s also a great kayak fishing supply shop there which I needed to get away from before spending more money. They outfitted my boat quickly with the package I needed. They also sell SUPs.

Family selfie!

On the way out of town, we pulled over by Scripps to watch the sun go down. Perfect end to a perfect day.

Directions

Once you’re out of Los Angeles, you’ll take the 5 South to La Jolla. The boat launch address is 2053 Avenida De La Playa La Jolla, CA 92037. All the kayak tour places are on that same street.