San Diego Tourist Guide

Imperial Beach

Imperial Beach is a community located just south of the island of Coronado. In fact, it is connected to Coronado by the Silver Strand.

The beach at Imperial Beach stretches from Silver Strand all the way down to the Tijuana River Estuary. Imperial Beach was named one of the Top Four Best Beaches by First For Women Magazine in 1997.

Imperial Beach tends to be less crowded than many of San Diego’s more popular beaches due to its accessibility. It’s a little harder to get to but
worth the trip. The beach is home to a pier that’s popular for strolling and fishing. A beach front park, Dunes Park, is a great spot for picnicking, kite flying or playing on the playground equipment. A seven foot tall bronze sculpture, Ocean Riders, by renowned artist Wyland graces the park.

This fantastic beach is home to the annual U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition. Every year, sandcastle enthusiasts from around the world descend on the sandy beach and build sandcastles like you’ve never seen before.

The Pier at Imperial Beach stretches out for over 1500 square feet. You can fish off the pier without a license or enjoy dining at the restaurant at the end of the pier. You’ll get a fantastic view of the ocean all the way from Mexico on up the coast of southern California.

Imperial Beach stretches all the way down to the Tijuana River Estuary which separates the United States from Mexico. This estuary is southern California’s largest salt water marsh. The stream flow here varies from drought years to heavy flooding during wetter years.

On the inland side of the community of Imperial Beach lies the southern part of San Diego Bay known as South Bay. South Bay is home to many endangered species of plants and animals and is a fantastic spot for bird watching as it is an important stop on the Pacific Flyway. A bike path from Imperial Beach to Coronado is a fantastic spot for hiking, bike riding and wildlife viewing.

A motorized beach wheelchair program is an important feature of this beach. In conjunction with the San Diego Unified Port District, the State of California Coastal Conservancy and the City of Imperial Beach, this program was developed to increase accessibility for the disabled to enjoy independent beach access. These Power Beach chairs feature balloon tires and motors which are designed to traverse uneven and unstable ground even sand. The city has two of these chairs available at the Lifeguard Headquarters at the Dempsey Holder Safety Center. These chairs are available at no cost but reservations are a must. Call 619-433-8223 to reserve a Power Beach Chair.

Imperial Beach is a classic southern California Beach with plenty of space and tons of sand!
San Diego, California