La Jolla Cove
La Jolla Cove is one of the most photographed beaches in Southern California due to its extraordinary beauty.
At the northeast end of Ellen Browning Scripps Park, La Jolla Cove is a small beach flanked by sandstone cliffs along Coast Boulevard. The north-facing shoreline provides shade at the back of the sand and overlooks seven sea caves in the rocky cliffs. Children's Pool adds wildlife, with pelicans on the cliffs and seals on the sand.
La Jolla Cove's Protected Marine Reserves
La Jolla Cove faces north, so the back of the beach stays shaded while a rocky point blocks most of the westerly swells. The offshore water is protected as the La Jolla Underwater Park and the Matlahuayl State Marine Reserve, and the cove itself lies within the San Diego La Jolla Underwater Park Ecological Reserve, which keeps marine life plentiful. Fishing and the removal of objects are prohibited in the area, and possession of game is unlawful.
Best Photo Spots
Five La Jolla Cove photo spots: Ellen Browning Scripps Park, Children's Pool Beach, Point La Jolla, Shell Beach Green Hut, Lookout Point.
Ellen Browning Scripps Park
Photographs of This Location
Wildlife and Caves of La Jolla Cove
La Jolla Cove sits within the 6,000-acre La Jolla Underwater Park and Ecological Reserve, where abundant marine life fills the surrounding waters. The coastline includes seven sea caves, among them Sunny Jim Cave, which was discovered in 1902. In July 2022, two male sea lions at the cove drew attention for chasing swimmers, a behavior experts attributed to mating activity. The concentration of marine wildlife and sea caves provides varied subjects for both above-water and underwater photography.
Common Questions
Lifeguards staff a fixed tower daily from around 9 a.m. to sunset, and are present at the cove year-round.
La Jolla Cove is the best spot for family photos in San Diego, with many options along the rocks overlooking the ocean and sunset as a backdrop.
La Jolla Cove offers snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming, birdwatching, and wildlife watching.
La Jolla has lots of sunshine, making it great for photos in any season.
Proposed Access Changes at La Jolla Cove
La Jolla Cove is sheltered by a rocky point that blocks incoming westerly waves, creating calm conditions for swimming and shoreline photography. A low wall runs along the public walkway, keeping visitors at a distance from the sea lion colony that occupies Point La Jolla. The adjacent coastline includes sea caves accessible by kayak, and a village lies within easy reach on foot. To reduce conflicts between people and wildlife, the La Jolla Cove Access Working Group has proposed better signage and a park ranger with fining authority.
Practical Information
1160 Coast Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037; Interstate 5, La Jolla Pkwy exit
Free; $45/day; Parking is available nearby at La Jolla Cove, making it convenient for photographers and clients.
permanent lifeguard station; Before 9am and after 6pm (Apr-Oct); after 4pm (Nov-Mar); The cove has lifeguard service, restrooms, showers, benches, picnic tables, grass park, paved paths, a tunnel, and tide pools.
No tickets or permits are required to visit La Jolla Cove; it is free and open to the public.; Sea lion colonies at the cove's bluffs are wild and require visitors to keep distance rather than seek a permit for closer access.; The La Jolla Cove Access Working Group has proposed an acoustic sound system to deter sea lions from coming ashore at La Jolla Cove.
Tipps fürs Shooting
- Bluffs above the cove are seasonally closed to protect newborn sea lion pups.
- Arrive early because the cove is very popular on sunny days and you may not get a spot due to its small size.
- Snorkeling at La Jolla Cove is fantastic thanks to the underwater visibility provided by the cove.
- Photographers should bring a zoom lens to safely capture sea lions from the boardwalk rather than approaching them.
- Bring a zoom lens and stay at least 50 feet away from sea lions at La Jolla Cove to photograph them safely.
Was anziehen
- Visitors to La Jolla Cove should pack a light sweater for coastal breezes.
When to Shoot
Best Time to Photograph
1:20 PM - 1:44 PM
1:44 PM - 2:44 PM
12:30 AM - 1:30 AM
1:30 AM - 1:55 AM
Beste Jahreszeit
August
Vermeiden
June 1 to Sept. 15
| Monat | Sonnenaufgang | Sonnenuntergang | Tageslicht |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 06:51 | 17:05 | 10h 14m |
| Feb | 06:32 | 17:34 | 11h 2m |
| Mar | 06:59 | 18:57 | 11h 58m |
| Apr | 06:19 | 19:19 | 13h 0m |
| May | 05:49 | 19:41 | 13h 51m |
| Jun | 05:40 | 19:58 | 14h 18m |
| Jul | 05:51 | 19:58 | 14h 6m |
| Aug | 06:12 | 19:33 | 13h 21m |
| Sep | 06:32 | 18:55 | 12h 22m |
| Oct | 06:53 | 18:15 | 11h 22m |
| Nov | 06:19 | 16:47 | 10h 28m |
| Dec | 06:44 | 16:44 | 10h 0m |
What to Expect During Your Session
Early afternoon is the best time to shoot at La Jolla Cove, as the morning coastal fog typically burns off by then, though May and June bring persistent "May Gray" and "June Gloom" conditions. Photographers should arrive early due to the cove's small size and popularity, and bring a zoom lens to capture sea lions from the boardwalk while staying at least 50 feet away, especially since the bluffs are seasonally closed to protect newborn pups. August offers chances to photograph leopard sharks in the shallows, and summer generally brings small surf with water visibility that can exceed 30 feet.
Photo sessions at La Jolla Cove are offered in 30-minute, 60-minute, 100-minute, and custom lengths.
Getting There
Access & Transit
- Barrierefrei
- Showers and public restrooms are located on the bluffs at La Jolla Cove, accessible from the boardwalk.
- Parken
- Parking near Scripps Park is difficult; visitors can drive along Coast Boulevard looking for a spot or park on Prospect Street.
- Öffentliche Verkehrsmittel
- 1100 Coast Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037; Public Transportation available
- Fußläufig
- Two sets of stairs lead down to the beach from Ellen Browning Scripps Park above.
- Fahrradfreundlich
- The Fay Avenue Bike Path runs from Fay Avenue and Nautilus Streets to La Jolla Hermosa Ave, passing through and around La Jolla Cove.