The 2-Mile Beach Bluff Trail Might Just Be The Most Enchanting Hike In Southern California
By Natasha Kayes|Published September 13, 2023
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Natasha Kayes
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I was born and raised in sunny Southern California and will never tire of the West Coast, although I spent several years living in Southeast Asia, about as far from California as you can get. Wherever I am in the world, I love straying from the beaten path, experiencing local life, and discovering hidden gems - camera in hand. The beach is my happy place and when I am not there (or writing), you will usually find me baking, watching movies, and cuddling my pugs. I have traveled around the country and around the world, and it never, ever gets old. Being able to combine my passion for travel and my love of writing is nothing short of a dream.
What makes for a wonderful hiking trail? I would venture to say that there are nearly as many answers to that question as there are hikers. And even serious hikers may prefer different trails at different times and for different reasons. Can any one trail be considered universally appealing? It’s honestly hard to say, but this beautiful beach trail in Palos Verdes, CA, has so much to offer all year long, it just might be the one.
The Portuguese Point Loop, accessed via the Chapel View Trail, is about 2.1 miles out and back around the strikingly beautiful Abalone Cove with its deep blue waters.
There is parking for Abalone Cove Shoreline Park off at the west end of the park along Palos Verdes Drive. You will find the trailhead for the Chapel View Trail at the east end of the parking lot.
As an alternative, you can take the Abalone Cove Trail which winds along a bit lower on the bluff.
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The Chapel View Trail is the highest trail in the park and leads from the parking area to Beach School Trail, which takes you down all the way to the shore. The trail provides a completely different experience based on the time of day, the weather, and the season.
In addition to spectacular views over Abalone Cove, you may find a mist over the cove in fall and winter (and early mornings), lush foliage and gorgeous wildflowers in spring, and epic sunsets in the evenings all year long.
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You will hike along the beach itself to the base of Portuguese Point - which sits between Abalone Cove and Smugglers Cove (also called Sacred Cove) - then take a wide switchback up to the top of the point to the impossibly scenic Portuguese Loop around the point.
From the point, you will see why this hike is so special - views of both coves, much of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, the Channel Islands (including Catalina Island) offshore, migrating whales, dolphins, and more.
Aside from the beach path itself, there are multiple opportunities to climb down and explore the amazing shoreline. The beach and shoreline around Portuguese Point and Smugglers Cove are rocky with tons of tide pools and even caves to explore when the tide is out.
The views and varied landscape of this trail make it a delightful hike, but what make it even more fantastic its that you can choose your own adventure. There are multiple trails that splinter off, that go around Smugglers Cove to Inspiration Point, and even lead up into a huge canyon full of trails that you can access at Portuguese Bend.
This trail, and however you customize it, is nothing short of enchanting. Are you ready to explore it? We would love to hear your thoughts. If you love hiking, we have a list of must-have hiking accessories for every adventurer. Be sure to check it out!
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