T-Street Beach and Pier, San Clemente

T-Street Beach in San Clemente is a long strip of sand with a pier at the end. The water is a vibrant aquamarine- truly impressive! You can park in the parking lot near the pier, but an even nicer way to enter the beach is to park along the road at 2004 Calle De Los Alamos and walk the steep stairs down to the beach. From here you have a bird's eye view of the beach and the fun scene below, framed by flowers.

In late summer the water is warm enough for a cold swim. The long, wooden pier is wonderful for a stroll surrounded by the endless blue. Come here at sunset for magical views. The view of the distant hills covered in homes, the rows of tall palms, and the golden cliffs is pretty as you walk back along the pier.
The scene can get quite wild here on holidays such as July 4. When we visited, there were about 15 policemen trying to keep the throbbing crowd in check.
The railroad track runs along the beach, behind a tall pile of rocks. Behind it is a trail of hard-packed dirt called the San Clemente Beach Trail. The dirt trail goes south from the pier all the way to Calafia State Beach. The trail is ADA accessible further north, from the pier to Linda Lane, and then a short distance later, from Mariposa to North Beach. You can walk for 2.5 miles one way, past flowers and cliffs, with the calming ocean always at your side.
At the base of the pier are some cute cafes, across the street from the beach, with outdoor seating and colorful umbrellas, including Bear Coast Coffee, Caterino's Gelato and Smoothies, La Galette Creperie, and Pierside Kitchen.
On the pier is Fisherman's Restaurant, with tables and blue umbrellas right over the water.
After, take your kids on the mini train at Outlets at San Clemente Mall. It is a seven minute drive north.
A nice hike to do early in the morning or at sunset is Sea Summit Trail, with winding staircases through the fragrant sagebrush and stunning views of the coastline.

Directions

T-Street Beach runs for a long time from the pier and then south. You can park near the pier in diagonal parking spots along the road at 399 West Paseo De Cristobal. If you want to walk a long staircase down to the beach, with stunning views, park along the road at 2004 Calle De Los Alamos.

Click on map for interactive view