Discover Imperial Beach

Imperial Beach pairs a long sandy beach with big waves, a local surfing history, and natural experiences at the Tijuana Estuary. Your stay can focus on different things: swimming and the coast, art and surfing history, or birdwatching and trails in the wetlands. Parks, sports options, and a recurring August event series also offer concrete points to consider when choosing this destination.

Beach, Waves, and Surfing History

Imperial Beach has 3.5 miles of mostly uncrowded white-sand beaches; big waves also define the coastline. The beaches are suitable for swimming. This puts both a classic beach activity and a wave-swept coastal landscape at the center of your visit, without limiting you to just one kind of beach experience.

Imperial Beach’s surfing history began at the Tijuana Sloughs: in 1937, Dempsey Holder was the first to surf the big waves there. At Portwood Pier Plaza, surfboard-shaped benches with plaques commemorate Imperial Beach’s big-wave surfing pioneers from 1937 through the 1950s. Surfhenge, a colorful public art monument devoted to surfing, also stands at the plaza. Together, the history and art show different aspects of Imperial Beach’s connection to surfing.

At the Imperial Beach Pier, you can fish at sunrise; at sunset, it offers panoramic views. This gives you two distinct options at different times of day: an early fishing activity and a later scenic outlook.

Tijuana Estuary: Wetlands and Trails

At the Tijuana River National Estuary in Imperial Beach, the freshwater of the Tijuana River mixes with the salt water of the Pacific Ocean. Because of its important bird habitat, the Tijuana Estuary is designated a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. It attracts birdwatchers and wildlife photographers from around the world. The birdlife and wetlands offer nature enthusiasts a different focus from the beach and surfing history.

Several easy-to-walk hiking and biking trails pass through the Tijuana Estuary: North McCoy Trail, South McCoy Trail, River Mouth Loop, and Seacoast Trail. If you prefer to explore the area on foot or by bike, you’ll find several named trails here. A docent-led tour of native plants is also offered at the Tijuana Estuary. Check the schedule before your visit.

The Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center is at the corner of 3rd Street and Caspian Way in Imperial Beach. It offers practical, interactive activities for all ages. The visitor center complements the trails and nature watching with its own hands-on activities.

Parks, Sports, and Events

Dunes Park on Seacoast Drive offers ocean views and beach access. The Sports and Skate Park has a skate park and five ball fields. The Sports Park Recreation Center offers classes and activities for all ages; open gym activities include basketball, pickleball, and volleyball. Since operating details can change, check the latest information before visiting.

The Music in the Park event series takes place every Friday in August at Veterans Park. Admission is free, and food vendors are on site. Annual details may change; check the dates and vendor information for your travel year.

Near Imperial Beach, Border Field State Park offers another natural setting: sand dunes and salt marshes provide important wildlife habitat. Trails run along a 1.5-mile stretch of coastline and inland areas. In this way, dunes, marshland, and wildlife habitat complement the destination’s beach and wetlands themes.

Discover more destinations: Encinitas, Julian, Ranchita, Lakeside, Solana Beach, Poway, Alpine, Descanso

For the main travel overview: San Diego.