Wilburby the waves Book

West-facing coast

Where to watch the sunset

The whole coast here faces west, which means the sun goes down over the water every night of the year. These are the places we go, from a short stroll to a proper drive.

The map

Markers run from Sunset Cliffs in the south to Windansea in the north. The numbers match the cards below.

Map from Sunset Cliffs north to Windansea, showing the house and the places to watch the sun go down The house is marked in dark teal. Numbered markers show the vantage points, from the sand at Tourmaline and Crystal Pier to the high ground at Kate Sessions Park and Mount Soledad, and Sunset Cliffs down on Point Loma. PACIFIC OCEAN 11. Tourmaline Surfing Park 22. Crystal Pier 33. Kate Sessions Park 44. Mount Soledad 55. Windansea Beach 66. Sunset Cliffs The house THE HOUSE
The house Sunset spots
Streets, coastline and parks drawn from OpenStreetMap data. Every marker is a real coordinate, so the distances shown are the distances you actually travel.

Where we go to watch it

Closest first. The last one is a proper drive, and worth it.

  1. The beach and Crystal Pier under a pink and orange sunset sky

    Tourmaline Surfing Park

    • Closest
    • Park at the bottom
    • On the sand

    The nearest place to the house where you can stand on sand with nothing between you and the horizon, and the car park is right at the bottom of the hill.

    Why we like itLeast effort of anything on this page. You can decide to go fifteen minutes before and still make it.

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  2. Crystal Pier at sunset, the sky reflected in the wet sand The beach at sunset with the pier in silhouette

    Crystal Pier

    • Walkable
    • The classic shot
    • Busy

    The pier in silhouette with the sun going down behind it is the photograph everyone takes in Pacific Beach, and for good reason. The pier closes at dusk, but the beach either side of it does not.

    Why we like itWorth timing a walk down for. Go on a falling tide and the wet sand mirrors the whole sky.

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  3. High ground, with the bay and the city below

    Kate Sessions Park

    • High ground
    • Picnic
    • Over the bay

    From the hillside lawn the sun goes down over Mission Bay and the ocean beyond it, with the city lights coming on to the south. Room to spread a blanket and stay a while.

    Why we like itThe one to make an evening of rather than a quick look. Bring dinner and a jumper, it cools off fast once the sun is down.

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  4. The view from the top of Mount Soledad

    Photo by Z3lvs, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.

    Mount Soledad

    • Highest
    • Drive up
    • 360 degrees

    Highest ground anywhere near the house, with a car park at the top. Ocean to the west, mountains inland, and the whole city turning on its lights as the sun drops.

    Why we like itBest on a clear evening after rain, when you can see the mountains. Exposed and windy, so take a layer.

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  5. The sandstone and surf at Windansea Beach

    Photo by RightCowLeftCoast, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

    Windansea Beach

    • Most scenic
    • Sandstone
    • Surf shack

    The sandstone reef breaks the water up into something worth photographing, and the palm surf shack gives the shot a foreground. Street parking, so arrive before the light goes.

    Why we like itThe most photogenic sunset on this list. Fifteen minutes in the car and you are somewhere that looks nothing like Pacific Beach.

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  6. The sun going down over the water at Sunset Cliffs

    Photo by dany13, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

    Sunset Cliffs

    • Worth the drive
    • Cliffs
    • No railings

    Sandstone cliffs along the western edge of Point Loma, named for exactly this. A road runs along the top with pull-outs, and paths lead out toward the edge. There are no railings and the sandstone crumbles, so keep well back and keep hold of children.

    Why we like itThe one people mean when they talk about a San Diego sunset. It is a proper drive rather than a walk, so make an evening of it.

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