A very Long walk on a combination trail: The walk/hike to the beach is 1 mile + The terrain changes from pavement, packed earth, & sand.... So I wouldn't take children who are unable/unwilling to walk. Taking a stroller will be difficult on the sand. The beach was actually pretty clean and it was alive: Sand Crabs, Clams, Seashells, Snowy & Great Egrets, Pelicans, Terns, Plovers, Cormorants, & DOLPHINS! You Need To Bring Water! read more

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We went on a Monday but the gate was closed. Kinda sketchy feeling in the parking lot. Wasn't sure if we could walk to the beach since the gate was closed. read more

While visiting San Diego, you must take the time to visit Border Field State Park. Not only is it cool to say you have been to the furthest southwest corner of the USA, you can also see this beautiful beach that feels very "remote" despite being so close to a major metropolitan area. But the most important reason to visit is to experience the humanity of it all, realize Mexico is our friend and ally and just over that wall. It's sad how militarized the wall is on our side - we can't get anywhere near it while on the Mexico side they are enjoying life and walking right up to it. It really helps give you perspective! read more

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I took the hike out to the beach and "southwestern most point" on an overcast day in May. Incidentally - while these "extreme" points are somewhat ceremonial- I've been fortunate to now have visited all 4 corners of the continental US. SW most here, southernmost in Key West, NE most at Quoddy Head Maine and NW most at Neah Bay Washington. There should be some effort required to reach the extreme of anything and Border Field fits the bill. The walk out to the wall and border is a mile ++ of pavement, horse-trails, deep-soft sand and then a beach-walk to the border. Expect the border patrol to be interested in your activities, but also say hi and thank these guys for protecting our border and protecting US citizens. Plenty of folks on the Mexico-side taking pictures of me / taking pictures of them. The Friendship area and most of the state-park seems neglected of maintenance and significantly overgrown. Regardless - this is a beautiful corner of the world and well worth the extra effort to visit. read more

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This is a unique stop while visiting San Diego. We were lucky that the gate was open on the weekend, so we paid $7 to park near the beach in the park. Most days it's a 1.5 mile walk each way. At the top there are picnic areas and restrooms. It was interesting to see people on the Mexico side enjoying the beach. The fence goes a pretty good distance into the water, and there's border patrol all around. You can walk along the beach but it was quite smelly when we went. I don't recommend getting into the water due to the pollution. read more

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Don't know why people think this is the Southwestern-most corner of the USA. Hawaii is about 2500 miles more southwestern. Take a look at any map or globe to fact-check. C'mon people. What you mean is this is the southwestern-most corner of the CONTINENTAL United States. With that aside, this is a pretty interesting location along the USA-Mexico border. Not something your average San Diego tourist would have thought to see but definitely worthwhile. read more

This park sits along the US-Mexico border, and includes the beach that hugs the old border wall. Several years ago, there was only one border wall, and you were allowed to walk right by it. Now that the new border wall has been erected, walking toward the old wall is prohibited, and there is constant vigilance from the Border Patrol agents that patrol the area. To get to the beach, you have to drive on a narrow road quite a ways from the 5 and 805 freeways. Access to the park is usually $5, and gets you to the parking area. There are restrooms there, as well as barbeque pits. The beach is pretty nice. There were quite a few people there that day. Looking south, I saw many people enjoying their day on Tijuana beach. I was also able to see the bull-fighting stadium, as well as the many businesses that line the beachfront of Playas de Tijuana. After spending some time enjoying the sun and the surf, my buddies and I made our way to the SD area. This is a nice stop in the southwest corner of the US. The Border Patrol agents won't bug you unless you're up to something shady. Just don't wander into the restricted area, and you're fine. And here is an interesting fact. There are several times a year where folks on the US side of the border are allowed to approach the old border gate and speak with loved ones on the Mexico side. This is done under BP surveillance. I haven't been here for that, so I am not sure exactly which days that takes place. read more

Border Field State Park - Parks Near Me - San Diego, California

I remember the first time that I visited the park which was last year when the whale washed up on shore. Since then, I have wanted to go back and had that chance recently when my wife wanted to go hiking one afternoon. We parked in a small parking lot outside the park and hiked a couple of miles to the beach. It was a great walk but there were a TON of mosquitoes flying around and both of us got nailed with mosquito bites. On the way back, I nearly stepped on a rattlesnake. If you plan on hiking here, bring water, wear comfortable shoes, please wear some kind of insect repellent, keep an eye out for snakes, and bring a snake bite kit for emergencies! Also, keep an eye out for Border Patrol agents on ATVs as they can be seen around the park and on the beach near the border fence. If you look up on the hill towards Mexico, you might see one or two vehicles patrolling and watching you with binoculars. Despite the mosquitoes and close call with the snake (which had nothing to do with park staff!), I look forward to returning! read more

Border Field State Park - Be careful of rattlesnakes on the trail! - Parks Near Me - San Diego, California

UPDATED 04-10-2008: We went again recently and they've barricaded the pathway so you can't drive all the way in to the water like we were able to before. ----------------------------------------- Call me naive, call me ignorant, but hubby thought I'd get a kick out of this when he drove us out to this state park. Following the signs to Border Field State Park, we drove until we could no longer drive anymore to Beach Playa. From there we made it on foot to where the fence which separates the US from Mexico runs into the water. I guess I must've had that deer in the headlight look because I looked like I was in shock. There were a whole bunch of Mexicans partying on the other side of the fence and from where we stood it was just amazing that on the other side, it was a whole other country. Then, I noticed that these guys weren't on their side of the fence anymore. I was like "huh"???? Hubby goes "yeah they do that, they come through and then go back again". I was like "WHATEVER". But then when I looked closer, they were seriously doing that. It just blew my mind. read more

Border Field State Park - Lil guy running towards the border fence (the BEFORE SHOT) - Parks Near Me - San Diego, California

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Border Field State is one of California's best kept secrets, at least that's how the California State Park treats it budget wise. The park is a last stance wildlife and ecological preserve against development and human impact. In my opinion, the State Park has really underserved and miss managed the park. Other than the staff member at the park entrance, I rarely ever see any State Park employees, especially Park Rangers. Border Patrol agents are the only law enforcement. The visitors facilities along the border are in deplorable condition as supported by attached photographs. The visitors center near Imperial Beach is well cared for as well the surrounding park north of the Tijuana River. Border Field State Park is an ecological life preserver in need up help.. Both the State of California and the Federal government need to respond. So off my soapbox, the reason I gave a five star rating was not for the State Park but more for the land itself and all those individuals, including someState Park, National/ State Wildlife employees, contractors and volunteers who have dedicate their time and efforts towards the preservation of the park. If you have an opportunity, go and see the restored wetlands and marshes. Walk on the beach or ride a horse on the beach. Check out all the awesome trails. Bird watching is on top of the list too. Border Field State Park belongs to all of us, go and see what you've been missing. read more

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This is the park that we see alot on the news. It's were the fence that divides U.S. and Mexico is located...the fence that runs into the ocean. You can hike, bike or take your horses out for a ride. read more

Many historical items surrounding by this place, there were many difficult paths when you walked inside. Beside me, there were one other car that parked at the designated area ( they later left without the trace.) You can see the borderline between the Mexico and USA inside this park, but certain areas needed the big make over. read more

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Border Field State Park is on the very southwestern corner of the United States and 15 miles south of San Diego is also located in the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve. To get in it costs $5 per vehicle, but vehicles are only allowed to drive in on the weekends. If you come Monday - Friday then you will need to park in the lot near the gate and walk in to get to the park. The walk is about 1.5 miles and dogs are not allowed however horses are allowed on the trail. Since it was the weekend when I visited, I was able to drive in and my dog was allowed since we'd be driving up towards the park instead of walking along the trail. Keep in mind that dogs are allowed up at the park, so if you plan on bringing your fur baby then make sure it's on a weekend so they can drive in with you. With all the rattlesnake warning signs I was glad we'd be driving in instead of walking lol. There was plenty of parking in the lot up at the park. I had a nice time walking around at first reading some of the posted signs telling about the area and the possible wildlife I could see. It's even possible to rent (or bring your own) a horse to ride along the beach and trails! The park as restrooms, picnic areas, BBQ's and a nice grassy area. Swimming isn't recommended because of hazardous conditions. The water on the U.S. side was empty however the Mexico side had a decent amount of people in the water. I did see some people riding their horses along the beach which was cool. You can access Friendship Park to see the Border Monument through the fence on weekends only from 10 am - 2 pm and they only allow a certain amount of people in at once. You may be asked to show your U.S. ID and dogs can't go into this area. My husband and I took turns staying with our fur baby so we each could go inside and take a look. Border Patrol was very friendly and didn't bother us one bit except to ask us the normal questions before entering Friendship Park. Remember the main gate is currently closed Mon - Fri (so you'll have to walk in on those days) and sometimes even on the weekend it's closed if there has been flooding in the area. There are times when the main gate is closed for several days and even may not allow hikers on the trail due to dangerous conditions, so it's always best to check the day you are going to be sure what you are getting into. read more

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I enjoy visiting parks on the weekends. My kids do as well. Border FIELD IS IN THE MIDDKE OF THE RIAD AND HAS SEVERAL GOOD FEATURES, PARKING BEING ONE IF THEM. IT IS OUT OF THE WAY BUT KIND OF WIRTH THE TRIP. sorry about the caps. Anyway, the grass was well tended but not as much as I would have liked. The area was a bit sketchy. It was clean and interesting. Would make another trip in the future. read more

Border Field State Park - Parks Near Me - San Diego, California

I could give this a five-star, but I felt there were plenty of things missing from this park. Actually, I really wouldn't even call it a "state park", but just a beach with a trail and that's pretty much it. It was a thrill being real close to the Southwestern-most tip of the United States, that's for sure. But as a Midwesterner that rarely sees a beach (well, a real one...), this was straight-up awesome. It was very hot the day me and a friend of mine went towards the beach and the border. The walk seemed like a drag, as you go from pavement to sand to beach sand. There were people riding horses (not really sure where they got them from, but oh well) as we walked from the parking lot to the beach. I wish there could have been more signs leading to the border spot, but we were able to self-guide our way. Once we hit the beach it was smooth sailing, although there were some uneven parts on the beach (my friend chose to walk in the water part). There really wasn't much going on the United States side, except there were at least two border guards on ATVs. They didn't do anything, as we weren't trying to be that close. On a personal note, this was the closest I had ever been to a foreign country, as I've never left the United States! It was cool to see parts of Tijuana, as I saw some people behind the tall fence. The fence went all the way to some point in the water. It was a cool thing to see an actual real border, even though I am aware some people don't like how the wall/fence divides things. It seemed kind of dull as far as standing on the U.S. side, but listening to the waves (again, something I don't ever hear back home) was great. Another downer was that Friendship Park wasn't open, as we went during the week. In fact, it is only open on the weekends (booooo). If I do go back, I for sure would love to check it out. I wish I did live close to the area, as I've become more attached to beaches. Its like living a movie. I'd be there every day, enjoying those cool moments! (or at least once or twice a week ;) ) read more

Wife and I visited in the fall to see this iconic place Was beautiful beaches and vistas from the park overlook. Picnic benches and clean RR's with paths right up to the fence. Typical unwelcomed $10? fee at the State park entry, but friendly staff. With all the political BS lately, was a wonderful sounds of hearing Mexican families playing and pick-nicking on the beach yards away, yet was abandoned on the US side. Great time for beach play. Was lucky enough for my family to land on the opportunity side of the border, but any of our lives could have been different. No 'bad hombres' here, just people being themselves wherever they live. We need to be compassionate about those striving to improve their lot by relocating to opportunity. What would you do to improve you or your family's life? Peace to all! read more

3.5 stars Came here on a whim after my BF came here on a whim (see by accident) years ago. He spoke of it being a beautiful oasis. I think he was lying to me. Way out in the boonies, mere seconds from Mexico is Border Park. I was actually surprised to see so many people parked there. The gate is closed so we hoofed the trail all the way to the beach. On the way we experienced mounds of horse dung, a vulture, (pleasant) a dead rabbit with it's head missing, a squished frog (I felt bad for him) stones assembled in such a way that it looked like some sort of ritual site and a couple Border Patrol agents on four wheelers. The trail itself was OK and I was disappointed not to find drug money on the ground. Damn I looked so hard for it. Along the way were occasional flowers sprouting up. You could also hear Mexican music playing in the bushes. I felt it was going to be a Latino version of Deliverance. Squeal like a Cerdo The beach itself was marked by signs to let you know, 'hey don't get in the water, trust me'...There was a cool and creepy factor to the fact we were almost quite literally the only ones on the beach..and it was a warm day. The good thing about no one around was I found a couple awesome shells that I wouldn't normally see on popular beaches...and well it was nice to be alone Not sure if I would go to the park again but I am glad I got to go to something I didn't even know existed up until that point I think there are places much closer that are better, but if you want to try something new why not **plus the beach didn't smell at all. It actually smelled better than most beaches I have been to read more

My wife and I came here for a quick outing. The gate was closed so we hiked out to the beach. I know people had been saying it was over a mile; I checked my phones pedometer and it was 4980 steps to the beach by the park. It was all fairly level, so it was an easy hike. It was very pretty; I'll post some photos. There was a bit of trash along the road, but overall it was a very nice walk with an interesting beach at the end. The border patrol didn't bother us, and everyone we came across was very nice. Seeing Mexico through the fence is a fairly usual site for me as I live in IB; but it was still interesting looking across the fence. I would recommended this as a place for a hike; but I can't imagine really doing a picnic there, unless you go to the park up top and have someone to see through the border. We didn't; so we took some pictures and came back to the car. read more

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Pretty scary getting here. I'm not sure if I took the wrong way, but I followed yelp with the GPS. We saw people on their ranch, people on horses, and even people with guns... We got there when it closed so we were unable to get in, but we tried again the following day. It's crazy how nations are divided by a damn fence. It's sad the way it is, but that's life. I like that this park nice and relaxing. It's $5 to enter and they open until 7pm read more

This is where you can visit the SW corner of the United States; it's a 25 minute walk to the point where the US, Mexico, and Pacific Ocean intersect. On our walk we spotted grey foxes, roadrunners, and various other wildlife. It's not the prettiest park you'll visit but you will appreciate the walk. read more

Border Field State Park - Parks Near Me - San Diego, California

It is a place with mixed feeling seeing during the weekend the families that visit their loved ones through a fence. It's a nice hike with a preserve on it and you get to see part of the 16 miles or border fence and the effects it has a nature and on families that visit it. You can see one beach ape rated by a fence a man made border affects the landscape of it. It's about 4 miles you walk on flat land. read more

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I feel bad giving a state park any less than 5 stars, but Border Field kind of sucks. Due to budget cuts, the entrance gate is closed, so it's about a 1.5 mile walk to the beach from the parking lot, which is no biggie considering we specifically came here to walk. We hopscotched around horse dung until we got down to the sad beach which had a dead seal on it. Then we came back. The only people we saw during the two hours we spent walking around here were border patrol guards. One of them asked us what we were doing there. We said we heard it was nice. He replied "It's not." read more

This is an interesting place to go to. I agree with Stacey C. that this is a must if you are visiting SD or even live in SD. You get to learn a lot about lots of stuff - international/border politics, environmental pollution, nature conservancy, law enforcement, culture, etc, etc. Its all very fascinating. I grew up nearby and this a part of San Diego that a lot of people don't ever really get to see and it is very different from the rest of the SD that is depicted (unless they live/grow up in southtown). I would encourage people who live in SD to visit this park, especially if they rarely go to Chula Vista, or even anywhere south of downtown. Yes, it is not very clean and seems very polluted. Maybe it's not very safe feeling to be here. Yes, there are border patrol agents visibly going about their enforcement activities. Yes, even the seagulls are nasty. All the cons and negative reviews are probably right, but in my opinion that is exactly why you should visit. This isn't the forum to discuss politics and socio-economic issues but there are people who live in this community and deal with the "gross" and the "ugly" stuff going on here on a daily basis. Lots of food for though here to be had! Check it out! read more

For starters... GO! IT IS FREE! On the surface it is really nice to sit there and look at a stretch of beach untouched by progress and watch people on horseback gallop up and down the beach. Then there is the obvious huge steel fence which separates the United States from Mexico. It was a sobering experience to sit there and talk with a Mexican citizen through a chain link fence. The conversation started with my Mexican counterpart saying "this (the fence) sucks unh?" We then had a conversation about how much nicer the streets of TJ were on this particular afternoon as the La Policia were not out writing tickets as they had been disarmed by the military police. We traded stories about our personal run ins with the federalies and then parted ways. Regardless of where you sit on the political pendulum, it is a sobering experience to sit there and watch people cross the border take a look around and walk back knowing you're a product of privilege and another group of people is not. You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave. Four stars. Everyone should go down there and check it out. The park is only open during the day on weekends, but you can walk past the signs and gates whenever you please. If you're lucky you may be able to purchase some grilled corn on the cob or some mangos through the fence, for a premium I'm sure. :) Admission is free. read more

This park is quirky and unusual for a state park. It's not always open--I've had good luck on weekends and I think it's normally closed during week days, but you may want to check the website before going. It's $5 to get in if you're in a car. The park itself is surreal. The beach borders right on Mexico, and the Mexican side is packed, while the U.S. side is almost empty. Sometimes people go to talk to their families and friends across the fence while t he border patrol watches. You can hear firecrackers going off fairly regularly on the Mexican side. Some people go horseback riding here. I find this park to be an *outstanding* place to go birdwatching. If you want to see shorebirds on a large beach relatively undisturbed by people, this is the place to go. I haven't seen anything rare here, but I have seen many species of sandpiper closer than I have ever been able to approach them elsewhere, and I have counted larger numbers than I have anywhere else. If you want to see the best birds, I'd park in the lot near the beach. You will see a ton right there, usually, but then go on the beach and walk north, to the mouth of the Tijuana river. Right behind the beach there's a small inlet and that area is absolutely packed with Pelicans, Terns, Cormorants, and all types of Sandpipers. On the other side of the river is Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge, which is free, and is accessible from Imperial Beach. Downsides? Prepare to have your car searched on the way out. Don't try to smuggle any Mexicans across the border! I find it highly amusing that the border patrol always have heavy foreign accents. They are friendly though! read more

Some updated info from my trip 6/12/2016 to see friendship circle, where you also see the fence on the beach. The road leading to friendship circle is closed (website makes it seem like it's been closed since late 2015), but not a big deal. If it wasn't closed, this would be where you pay the $5. Instead, you park for free at the sign for "Border Field State Park" where there is dirt parking for about 30 cars and a port-a-potty. From there you walk/bike/horse about 2 miles along a paved road. Very scenic and nice. On a Sunday 10AM-2PM, you should see another person once about every 5 minutes, so you feel a bit safer. Keep following the trail (there's some forks but I had reception with Cricket Wireless so I just used Google maps to find my way). Then you see this tree on a hill and that's where friendship circle is. Walk up this hill and there's a nice area with a bathroom and some benches overlooking the ocean. You'll see a small crowd and that's friendship circle, open Sat/Sun 10AM-2PM. You talk through the open gate and can get close enough to touch the border fence. Border guard is there to make sure you're not passing cash and drugs across, just use common sense as it's an international border. You'll see some touristy ppl like yourself and off to the side you'll see families reconnecting with friends. The combination of beautiful scenery and long fence lets you think about what it all means. When I went there was a dual prayer, with one person on each side. read more

Regardless of where you stand on border security and immigration policy, a visit to Border Field State park is both interesting and enlightening. Due to budget cuts, you can only drive up to the trail head which is a mile and half from where the border meets the sea. If you're up for the hike, this is a great place to see the stark contrast of two countries meeting in one point. Compared to the fence-less Friendship Arch on the US-Canada border at the end of I-5, this feels more like the edge of a military compound. Start your hike by walking about a mile west to the ocean. Turn south, and walk another half mile to Monument Mesa. Here you can see where the Mexico-US border meets the sea and the fence that runs right into the ocean. There are actually two fences at the border, with a stern looking border patrol agent at watch. He will let you walk up to the larger fence, closest to the border, as long as you stay in the ropes. I asked him if he worked with Art and JJ (from the Amazing Race 20), but said he didn't know what I was talking about. When I got up the fence, I could see a very lively Mexican side of the fence, very unlike the American side with only a handful of people. People were out and enjoying their Sunday afternoon, going to the beach and buying snacks from street vendors. Through the fence I could also see Monument 258, which was the first border monument set up by land surveyors after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Before they built the new fence in 2009, the fence used to run directly through the 15-foot tall monument which was a cool sight. It now sits solely on the Mexico side, which is disappointing. Nonetheless, its was cool because I started up a conversation with several Mexican sightseers who lived in Tijuana. They asked me if the fence was a tourist attraction. I told them that not many people come here, except for hikers visiting the wetlands and those interested history and politics. We shared a few laughs about the new fence, and how the holes are so tiny, the only thing you can sneak across, is Coca-Cola through a straw. read more

Border Field State Park - Border Field State Park Monument - Parks Near Me - San Diego, California

You'll see people on horse and people walking. Some parts of the trails near here don't allow dogs. Nice walk to the beach.. read more

You used to be able to walk up to the border monument that straddles the international boundary. Now there is a heavy steel fence that is 60 feet from the actual border. Visitors must remain on the US side of the new fence. The distance between the actual border and the new fence is a no mans land used by the US Border Patrol to police the border. The park itself is a dry wasteland with a bathroom and some picnic tables. There are no trees. Hopefully some will be planted. The park is only open on weekends and there is a $5 entrance fee per vehicle. During the week access is by foot. If there is any rain at all the park and road is closed to everyone. The Tijuana River that flows into the US is a highly polluted stream that turns Border Field into a hazardous danger zone. read more

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It is indeed intense either side you look at it. Nature as seen does not permit a stronger fence and it has been like that for quite some time. There is actually the park if you walk up the hill from the water, than in the late 1800's was supposed to be a park with no fences or borders, just the park itself for people from both ends to sit and enjoy the park. It is indeed not happening though. As it appears in the image there was an art installation which to me is the most fantaastic instalation I have seen, the artist is Valeska Soares for the insite festival from 2000 (http://insite05.org/) which is a festival that brings artists together around the US-MX border. I believe she did a fantastic work with making you feel with mirrors, what it could be a fence with spaces to go through and back, which people do anyways, and engraved in the mirror there was a segment from Italo Calvino's 'invisible cities'. read more

Border Field State Park - insite2000 instalation (artnexus.com) - Parks Near Me - San Diego, California

This place is pretty jacked up. Don't ever visit in the blazing hot summer, because you will NOT enjoy the long hike to get to the actual park. And you will especially be pissed when you notice you've walked (it felt like two miles) to an unused PARKING LOT. If this parking lot were open, I'd maybe go 4 stars. But the hike alone, especially around the standing water / abandoned school bus swamp was pretty crappy. I noticed a lot of positive feedback from people because you could "see Tijuana right there." Big deal. I can google it too and not have to go on one of the worst hikes in the city just to see a giant dumpster across the fence. read more

The mesa at the extreme southwest portion of Border Field State Park is a craphole. Do not come here. The most frequent visitors are those who have family in Mexico and wish to visit them while having a wire fence between them (WHY would someone NOT go to Mexico and see their family in person, sit down and have lunch/dinner, give hugs et cetera? Methinks its because they are passing illegal documents/drugs through the fence). There is nothing to do here. The top of the mesa has picnic tables. You can see the bullring in Mexico but it's not worth coming all the way out here for that reason. Sometimes you can see dolphins off shore and you can see the San Diego skyline. There used to be flowers and a decent landscaping presentation but due to lack of funds, the top of the mesa is now barren, dry and unsightly. The trails are nice, however, if you ride horses or if you like to birdwatch. There are some brown eagles and hawks in the area. They have swooped on me before - be careful. Rattlesnake season is bad. I see snakesign EVERYWHERE this summer and have personally seen snakes 6-8 feet in length - WOA! There are rabbits everywhere, roadrunners, lizards. A good place if you are into nature. There are extensive trails for walking and horseback riding. Keep an eye out for Border Patrol activity. Definitely not worth the trip unless you want to take a nature walk, birdwatch (birding) or ride a horse. read more

Took a wrong turn but made it to a certain point of the park just not too close. Also go early so sun is still out, it was just a female friend and I and at one point we got nervous since nobody was in sight. Take twenty minutes to reach beach my foot. Nice view.. Definitely a to do if you're in the area read more

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It was flooded the day I went. And according to the website they'll be closed all winter. Booo!!!!! read more

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I managed to visit this park when the road was not flooded, although typically it is flooded 99% of the time. If you have to walk, make sure you are prepared to walk at least 1.5 miles in the heat. The walk is down to the water then take a left all the way to the wall. Parking if the road is open is $5.00 which is more than worth it rather than walking. This is the most empty beach you will see in California although the Mexican side is full of people. There is something about the sewage from Mexico, or something with the sewage discharge in the area which is why the beach on the US side is not as occupied. There have been health signs in the past. Border patrol will not let you go up to the fence unless you are in friendship circle which is the gap between the original fence and the new second layer fence. There are set hours. The monument you have to look through the fence as the fence is actually build on the US side. The actual fence is 21ft high which isn't very high and you can throw anything over it which I'm sure some people have tried to do. I have not seen the other side of the fence from Mexico, but pictures I have seen it appears there is a lot of graffiti and defacing of the fence in Tijuana. The wall also goes into the water a little bit, but I'm not sure what would stop someone from going far out into the ocean and using a boat. Overall, good experience, but I agree 100% with Donald Trump that the wall needs to be rebuilt. The current wall is 3/5 stars, but with Trump's hopefully it will be a 5/5 star wall. read more

Went down here and was kind of shocked about the raw sewage in the ocean signs [see uploaded photos from me]. Yet there are kids on the Mexico side playing in the water. It's kind of desolate and isolated. But it was kind of cool to stand at the very most south west point in the continental US [as far as I know anyway]. It was kind of sad to watch people try to see loved ones through the mesh fence at the meeting area, and is even more sad that due to budget cuts they will close the area on 4-6-13. The area is mostly unmaintained it seems. The road is closed off due to flooding and I was told that it would usually be reopened in late April. There were a couple of people sunbathing but i don't see how with all the small insects that were in and on the sand. I did see a baby sea lion on the beach that scampered back to the ocean when i walked by him. When I was there the bathrooms were unlocked and functional, but I doubt they will be when that area is no longer manned. As I'm told that there are homeless living near the mouth of the Tijuana river where it meets the ocean. I don't know where that is, it's just what I was told by a border patrol agent. The water fountains did work but I would bring my own water just in case. There was a porta potty on the walk in next to the guard shack that now sits abandoned like something out of the Walking Dead. If you do park and walk in due to flooding, walk straight west along the road all the way to the beach and then head south to the monument it will be much easier than trying to go around the muddy areas of the road. read more

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Cool place to check out. It costs $5 per vehicle and you can only drive your vehicle in if it's the weekend. You'll have to walk the trail during the week. Dogs are allowed if you enter by vehicle but are not allowed on the trail. After driving in I found parking with no problem at the park and border patrol waved and gave me no problems during my visit. I was able to walk up to the fence with border patrols permission and check out the border monument through the fence. I took the short walk down to the beach and that was nice but you can't swim in the water and you wouldn't want to if you knew what was in it...not even my dog would go in! The different plant life that came up on shore was cool to see. They have signs throughout the park that tell you about the area and the types of wildlife in it that are worth checking out. If it's your first time here you could easily spend a couple or even few hours walking around and checking everything out. Make sure and wear proper shoes since there are rattlesnakes in the area and are mostly seen on the trails. read more

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This is absolutely a must-see if you are in the San Diego area! If you are a nerd like myself who is interested in Geography/Politics, you will find this park, and the the concept of 2 countries separated by a fence/posts, and being able to look into "another world" so to speak, right in your wheelhouse. Prior posters are right, vehicle access is limited, I went on a Sunday, perfect weather, no flooding, etc, and the vehicle access road gate was closed. No worries, my wife and I came to walk anyways... You walk a mile west to the beach and another 1/2 mile to the border fence. Didn't see anyone swimming at this beach, but there were a few people sunbathing on the sand. The walk is nice and pleasant and I did not experience any of the sewage/smell that others have written about. There were many people jogging and riding horses on the day I went. When you get to the fence its pretty crazy, on the US side its pretty dead and quiet, on the MX side, you hear loud music, kids swimming/running around, people partying it up in general. I heeded warning from prior reviews stating to stay at least 50 feet back from this fence. Border patrol is all over the park, but all the ones we saw on our way were pleasant and cordial and asked how we were doing,etc, and we got no bad vibe from them at all. From the border fence area of the beach, you can walk up a trail to an elevated bluff. There is a guarded gate here which leads to a monument which is on the actual boundary line. We asked the BP officer if we go up to it and he let us in. There was a Mexican man at this monument on the US side who appeared to be having a reunion with his family on the MX side when we entered the monument area. Definitely felt bad the guy and that he had to meet his family in that nature, so we kept our visit to the monument very brief out of respect for the family. The BP officer mentioned that the monument is a very popular spot for such reunions. (Also warning, my phone started going bonkers saying "Welcome to Mexico" when I went to the monument so its a good idea to put your phone in "Airplane Mode" when getting that close to the border.). Afterwards we trekked back the 1.5 miles back to our car. Next time I'll try and bring a bike so I can check out some of the other trails in the park. Overall it was a nice, and somewhat surreal excursion. read more

Pretty cool to see the US-Mex border just disappear into the ocean...There is always a border patrol officer sitting there telling you not to get close to the fence..Not much to do other than just sit on the sand and look at the life south of the border... read more

Dress code !!!! gym clothes, hat and working out shoes . Protect your skin with sunblock and take a water bottle . You will walk about 4 miles . The trail is flat and safe to walk , when you get to the sand part you may get tired walking it lol read more

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