Just as you reach the bottom, youll encounter a bridge made of a board, and its time to employ your balance beam skills. Were Esther & Jacob. The cliff is made of unstable sandstone. Getting through the sandstone slot can be a bit tricky. Hello everyone! We cant emphasize enough how crucial it is to drink water before, during, and after your trip. Best of all, its free! As a result, the trail in places is high enough above the creek bed that a fall could cause injury. At the fork, you have to cross over a wooden plank. Some of the links on CAHikingAdventures.com and CAHikingAdventures media are affiliate links with Amazon. The trailhead for Ho Chi Mihn Trail is located off a street in the La Jolla Farms neighborhood of La Jolla, which is across Torrey Pines Road from the University of California San Diego. 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On the south, towards La Jolla Shores, youll have a beautiful view of Scripps Pier and the Scripps Oceanographic Institue. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. All of us made it through with no issue. This marked Congress first use of the Constitutional provision allowing Congressional veto overrides and represented Congress read more, Congress establishes the United States Geological Survey, an organization that played a pivotal role in the exploration and development of the West. Its only two-hour parking all along this road, which is no problem for a round-trip trek, but it restricts beach time considerably. This is a very popular area for hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. Cant say you werent warned now . Ho Chi Minh is a murderer and he is everything against what America stands for. That said, if you are uncomfortable with dangerous exposure and steep hikes (remember that you have to come back up again), then avoid this trail. Warnings aside, the trail travels through a dramatic canyon on La Jollas Torrey Pines Mesa and has long been used by surfers to get to the waves at Blacks Beach. Im the planner, writer, editor, designer, traveler, and adrenaline addict behind That Adventure Life. The weather can change, which is why its critical to check the forecast a few days ahead of time as well as a few hours before your trip. Where Can You Sleep in Your Car in Tustin California? First, wear proper shoes w traction. It was fun, I did have a last, I did look like an annoying tourist and I did need help from a sweet gal hiking the trail. If you see trash on a trail, please do your part to help remove it. Parking is easy, there are tons of random street you can park on just a little walk away. 9883 La Jolla Farms Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037, is located on La Jolla Farms Road, in La Jolla, California. Some links on the site will take you to online retailers such as Amazon.com, and when you make a purchase we may receive a percentage. This is a fairly technical trail that required a lot of rock scrambling and maneuvering through slippery, narrow ledges. It's quite a popular route for surfers and those paying a visit to Black Beach. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. This trail (also known as Saigon Trail) is for only the most adventurous hikers as it requires passing through a narrow slot and delicate footwork on a slippery shelf trail where a fall . While youre at it, gofollow us onInstagramandsubscribe to our Youtube channel! We use eco-friendly, reef-safe sunscreen, Stream2Sea SPF 30. Besides the fact that it is the only clothing-optional beach in San Diego, Blacks Beach is also known for having one of the sketchiest beach accesses in the area. Once you get down near the bottom of the canyon, make sure to go left to follow the. The route begins at a tiny alleyway between homes in the La Jolla neighborhood, with warning signs in front of it. If you fall, youre screwed. My friend slid off of the edge into the ravine below. Russias involvement in World War I alongside its allies, France and Britain, had resulted read more. Mornings for less crowd. This road will bring you back to the top of the bluffs to La Jolla Farms Drive, which you can follow north to the upper trailhead of Ho Chi Minh Trail and your vehicle (if you drove). My current favorite things to do are photography (both for a job and a hobby), mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, and flying racing drones. Clairmont Loop Trail is a 5-mile loop trail located in Claremont Hills Wilderness Park in the foothills of the Los Angeles National Forest. Blacks Beach Surf Spot - GoSurfingSanDiego, Best Hiking Boots For Ankle Support in 2023. Ho Chi Minh Trail, La Jolla: See 90 reviews, articles, and 126 photos of Ho Chi Minh Trail, ranked No.29 on Tripadvisor among 61 attractions in La Jolla. Recently its become extremely overgrown and at times feels like youre walking through a jungle. We love these tinted, organic All Good Organic Sunscreen Butter. This post may contain affiliate links, where we receive a small commission on sales of the products that are linked at no additional cost to you. Once we got down to the bottom of the slot, we follow the narrow trail as it follows along the canyon wall. The formations are other worldly, with the top of the slot canyon looking like a human brain (or maybe its just me). There was also a reaction in non-communist capitals. It's a short trip of about 1 hour, but it can take more time if you decide to spent a moment by the seashore. The more foot traffic it sees the faster it will erode. left:0px !important; The path then meanders through thick vegetation before turning away. The cliff is steep with a drop off of about 20-30 feet. We met up with the other members of our adventure group at the trailhead of Ho Chi Minh Trail (Saigon Trail). 93% of travelers recommend this experience. You can hang out where you came out, head north to the nudes at Blacks Beach, or walk south to the Mushroom House. Just follow others and tKe your time. The Ho Chi Minh Trail (also known as the Saigon Trail or simply La Jolla Trail) is a unique hiking trail that descends from the northern neighborhoods of La Jolla to Blacks Beach. In the center, the board becomes somewhat springy, but its not difficult to traverse across. , also known as the Saigon Trail or La Jolla Trail, is a very challenging, yet wonderful short hike that snakes through a dramatic canyon. Afterwards, we followed a road back up rather than trying to traverse the trail in the dark. The beautiful cliffs above Box Canyon can be accessed by way of the glider port, and there is a well-maintained trail there down to Black's. Please change this awful name for the beautiful San Diego, land of the proud Marines and Navy Seals. THE FULL STORY, Copyright 2023 That Adventure Life | All Rights Reserved, As a San Diegan, Ive spent a lot of my adulthood frequenting its beaches. Adventure is not a hobby. For colder weather, we love our packable Patagonia Puff Jackets! Using those and pressing your hands against the sides, you can squeeze through this neat feature. Parking is available along the shoulder of La Jolla Farms Road. Print/PDF map. Ho Chi Minh Trail, also known as the Saigon Trail or La Jolla Trail, is a very challenging, yet wonderful short hike that snakes through a dramatic canyon. Soon, we came up to the major obstacle of Ho Chi Minh Trail (Saigon Trail), the tight sandstone slot that the trail descends through. Why on EARTH is this trail named after a communist leader? Across the canyon on the top of the bluff to the north is Torrey Pines Glider Port, where paragliders fly using the updrafts from the tall bluffs. Third, I would not recommend bringing a water bottle because at times you will need both hands to help balance yourself while either going down or back up the hike. La Jolla surfers have been using this trail unhindered for years and now it is jam packed with families and other hikers. The trail by the left opens up to a perilous canyon below as soon as you pass the iron fences that fence the properties. When you reach the canyon floor, youll come across the infamous plank. Second, dont do this hike if you dont have good balance. Soon, we came up to the major obstacle of. #canyoneer, Amazing Secret Seaside Pools Along The California, Hiking the iconic Potato Chip Rock in San Diego It gets very muddy towards the end and it becomes very hard to grip the ground. Also, make sure to wear hiking shoes with great traction, and put those sandals away until you get down to the beach. 4 2. There are pretty cool slot canyons here, offering an alternate route to the shore: As a Vietnamese communist refugee from Vietnam. As soon as you pass the iron walls fencing the houses, the trail via left opens up to a steep canyon below. Youll need hiking shoes with good tractions. The poor design of the plane, as well as negligent maintenance, contributed to the disaster. It is never safe to explore this trail after a rainfall as the sandstone becomes far weaker and is more likely to come apart. Rated 4.3 /5 based on 10 reviews 4.3/5 based on 10 reviews Save. When you reach the bottom of the canyon, go to your left to follow the Ho Chi Minh Trail toward the sea. The first part of the trail goes through private property, please make sure to not trespass. Because its so overgrown, this trail has become increasingly difficult over the years. If you plan on staying after sunset, bring a. Definitely a fun trail and not too long, but it's a little tricky. 9883 La Jolla Farms Rd, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92037-1136, $$ - $$$ Italian Pizza Vegetarian Friendly, $$ - $$$ American Vegetarian Friendly, Points of Interest & Landmarks Architectural Buildings. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. Soledad National Veterans Memorial, Hotels near University of California, San Diego, Hotels near Girard Avenue and Prospect Street, Hotels near Sorrento Valley Coaster Station, Hotels near Healing Arts Massage & Wellness Center, Hotels near Design Institute of San Diego, Points of Interest & Landmarks in La Jolla, San Diego Tours, Experiences & Adventures, Mt. The Ho Chi Minh trail (also known as Saigon trailhead) is located within a neighborhood in the town of La Jolla, San Diego. Ho Chi Minh Trailhead:9883 La Jolla Farms Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037. After finding the trailhead, I was excited to see the flora and fauna before I reached the beach and watched the surfers and ocean for most of a morning. On a trip through nature, theres nothing quite like reconnecting with friends or family. Face sunscreen is also important. It has also been used by surfers to get to the surf below since the 1960s. A safer alternative is located just south of here, which leads to South Blacks Beach (this may also be used as a return trip). When you're ready, take the main trail Park at the Torrey Pines Gliderport and walk to the railing over the cliffs. This website is not error-free and using any of the information on our website is completely voluntary and at your own risk. Youll eventually reach the Mushroom House ? It has long been used by local surfers, but in the past decade has become VERY popular from the internet. Hi. If youre caught on the trail wearing the incorrect clothing and footwear, youll be miserable. Visitors can park along the neighborhood streets, though parking is limited to only two hours in certain spots.