Beach Route Fidel

Trail Overview

Starting near the Hotel Mision Santa Maria, this off-road trail takes you over sand dunes, where careful navigation is needed due to soft patches and deep areas, before leading to a firm, hard-packed beach. For the next four miles, you'll enjoy smooth driving along a flat, solid surface, especially near the current tide line, making it suitable for most vehicles. The scenic ride offers views of sea birds and marine life, with the occasional sight of cars and locals heading to favored fishing spots. As you continue, orange cones signal the inland turn at Fidel's El Pabellon RV Park. From here, a winding dirt road passes through the park, small homes, and farms, eventually reconnecting you with Highway 1. Or you may continue for four more miles along the beach to El Socorro.

Photos of Beach Route Fidel

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Difficulty

The primary challenge on this route is navigating the sand dunes to reach the beach, which may require airing down your tires, engaging four-wheel drive, and carefully steering around soft patches. Once on the beach, staying near the high tide line generally provides firm, stable ground. However, during high tide, the drivable area can become limited to soft sand, increasing the difficulty and requiring more precise navigation to avoid getting stuck.

Technical Rating