Scripps Beach

Located near the University of California San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Scripps Beach is a beach with light brown sand. A large concrete pier named Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier (also known as Scripps Pier) is present on the beach. This pier is generally closed to the public as it is primarily used by the researchers in Scripps Institute of Oceanography for scientific purposes. However, the institution of oceanography campus north side open to the public during specific events, offers unique access to certain areas like the pier. Scripps Beach is not to be confused with another separate beach named La Jolla Shores Beach, which is present to the immediate south of Scripps Beach.

While Scripps Beach has lifeguards, it does not have any other amenities, so plan your trip accordingly. The beach allows dogs on a leash before 9 am and after 6 pm between April and October. Between November and March, the beach allows dogs before 9 am and after 4 pm.

Scripps Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, swimming, surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, boogie boarding, bodysurfing, kayaking, canoeing, boating, parasailing, scuba diving, and wildlife watching. If you are planning to go into the water near Scripps Beach, we recommend being careful as the water near this beach is known to have rip currents. In addition, the presence of sharks has also been reported in the water here. It is important to note that the designated area for surfers in the water near Scripps Beach is situated to the north of Scripps Pier, while the water to the south of Scripps Pier is designated for swimmers and kayakers only. Depending on the time of the year, you can see many kinds of marine mammals in the water near Scripps Beach including seals, sea lions, and migrating grey whales. Scuba divers can also explore the vibrant marine life forms present along the underwater portions of the concrete pilings of the Scripps Pier. However, if you are planning to scuba dive here, we recommend only doing so when the water conditions are relatively calm, as strong waves and currents can make scuba diving here difficult and unsafe. If you are looking for a quiet beach experience, this beach is ideal for you as it sees fewer visitors than other nearby La Jolla beaches.

The Birch Aquarium (which is a part of the Scripps Institute of Oceanography) occasionally opens Scripps Pier to public access as a part of an exciting event known as the Full Moon Pier Walk. This event offers visitors a memorable chance to explore the Scripps Pier. The Full Moon Pier Walk event also offers amazing Instagram-worthy views of the sunset which you can enjoy from Scripps Pier. Docents present on Scripps Pier also offer interesting information regarding the pier’s crucial value in the research work carried out by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. In addition, engaging activity tables are also present on the pier which offer a unique insight into the local marine biodiversity. The Full Moon Pier Walk is conducted by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography twice a month between June and October. If you are interested in participating in this event, you can visit the Birch Aquarium’s website for more information regarding dates and registration fees. The Birch Aquarium also has interesting exhibits highlighting the vibrant marine life of the Pacific Ocean and it also hosts many other interesting events including summer camps for kids, academic lectures, and onsite tidepool tours.

Getting to Scripps Beach is easy - the stairway to the beach is located near the intersection between La Jolla Shores Drive and El Paseo Grande. You need to turn west towards El Paseo Grande from this intersection and park on the street to get to this stairway, which is located near the last house at the bend in El Paseo Grande. Alternatively, you can also access the northern part of the Scripps Beach by parking at El Paseo Grande and then walking through the Scripps Institution of Oceanography to reach the entrance of the Scripps Pier (situated at 8650 Kennel Way). There is a small accessway near the pier entrance that leads to the northern part of Scripps Beach.  

There are many attractions near Scripps Beach. Athenaeum Music & Arts Library has an extensive collection of art books, music books, periodicals, librettos, CDs, DVDs and also hosts many concerts, lectures, exhibitions, and cultural performances throughout the year while also offering art classes. If you like shopping, the downtown area of La Jolla offers many designers and branded stores, boutique shops, spas, and restaurants. If you are looking for another attraction near Scripps Beach, Legends Gallery displays artworks made by renowned illustrators and artists including Tom Everhart, Mackenzie Thorpe, and Dr. Seuss (the acclaimed author of How the Grinch Stole Christmas and The Cat in the Hat).

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Scripps Beach. Nine-Ten Restaurant and Bar offers excellent California Coastal cuisine and has been praised by a variety of publications including the MICHELIN Guide. Public House La Jolla offers excellent breakfast dishes, tacos, sandwiches, fries, seafood, and salads. In addition, this restaurant is extremely famous for its outstanding variety of burgers. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Scripps Beach, the modestly priced Deli-icious offers excellent soups, breakfast dishes, salads, and sandwiches.

If you are looking for a hotel near Scripps Beach, there are many great nearby options. The 5-Star The Lodge at Torrey Pines offers many amenities including two restaurants, a pool, a hot tub, a spa, and a golf course. As another upscale option, the 4-Star Grande Colonial offers many amenities including a pool, a restaurant, and access to a nearby health club. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Empress Hotel La Jolla which offers many amenities including an Italian restaurant, a gym, and complimentary breakfast. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Scripps Beach, the 2-Star La Jolla Biltmore Motel has a snack bar and is located conveniently close to some of the major attractions in the city of San Diego.