Dolphin Bay Resort Walkway, Shell Beach
The 0.3 mile Dolphin Bay Resort walkway is lovely to stroll, especially in April and May when there are flowers galore! The purple flowers look wonderful with the blue-green backdrop of the ocean. The path is in front of Spyglass Inn, Dolphin Bay Resort, and The Cliffs Hotel, so it's fun to see what's going on at the hotels and cafes.
The Dolphin Bay Resort walkway is the nicest place to come at sunset! Here the ocean teems with life: dolphins, seals, and pelicans dive-bombing the water. Avila Bay glows in the most gorgeous way- I still haven't figured out what makes it glow so. Possibly it's because the water is so still, but it glows in the richest most wonderful blue. Come in the early evening and take a walk down the hundred or so coastal access stairs to Shell Beach. There are tide pools galore. Families with curious kids comb the swirling water for finds. Circles of college students chat and soak up the great feeling at the beach. It is absolutely magic to walk the shoreline at sunset with the subdued light hitting the foamy waves. Bliss! The red cliffs have interesting formations and come close to the water, giving the beach a cozy feel. Happy souls sit on the edge of the cliffs at South Palisades Park up above you.
In the daytime this beach is surprisingly warm. The cliffs seem to whisk the cold sea air above and away from you. You can often come dressed for the beach rather than in a sweater and puffer jacket like you usually need to do in Central California.
From the beach stairs you can take a bridge and walk up more stairs to Ebb Tide Park for more amazing views and flowers. At sunset, people gather at Ebb Tide Park to play guitar, hula dance, play singing bowls, or do yoga.
To the east of the hotel there is a fun ship playground you can walk to called Spyglass Park Playground. To walk there, take this shortcut: at the southeast end of the resorts walkway, duck through a gap in the hotel buildings to get to Spyglass Rd.
You can take a long 2.8 mile walk along the cliffs of Shell Beach, with the Dolphin Bay Resort walkway being part of it. From the southeast, start at Spyglass Park and walk along Spyglass Road. Duck through a gap in Spyglass Resort to get to the Dolphin Bay Resort Walkway. When you come to the coastal access stairs, take them down to walk on the beach, or take the path to Shell Beach Rd and then walk to Peyton Court. Both options can lead to South Palisades Park where you can walk the path on the cliffs. At the end of South Palisades Park, take Indio Drive and walk this street (no sidewalks but hardly any cars) past three ocean lookout points until you get to Shell Beach Bluffs Trail. Take it all the way to Smuggler's Cave!
For drinks, check out Lido, in Dolphin Bay Resort, which has a happy hour 2-5pm with an ocean view. You can have a meal on the balcony of Marisol Restaurant in The Cliffs Hotel, while watching the ocean. Both are waiter-service cafes.
The sparkling bay.
Pampas grass by the path that leads to the beach.
The path that leads from the beach stairs to Shell Beach Rd, with fog on the mountains.
Remaining light of the day.
Families enjoy the tide pools at the bottom of the beach stairs.
The yellow flowers in May at Ebb Tide Park! A bench to sit and take in the salt air.
A couple enjoys the bright ocean views at Dolphin Bay Resort.
A seal in a perfect blue-green wave.
View from our room.
A young beachgoer immersed in a paradise of bright greens and blues.
The colors!
Dolphin sculpture at Dolphin Bay Resort.
Aaah, this is the life...
Peyton Court has fishtail palms and magnolia trees, part of a long walk from Spyglass Park to Smuggler's Cave.
Fishtail palms on Peyton Court.
Misty mountains and pine trees on Shell Beach Road.
Shell Beach Road, part of a long walk you can do!
The path along the side of The Cliffs Hotel that leads to the main road.
Waves rolling in.
The walkway with a mountain covered in yellow flowers behind, in May.
Landscaping along the walkway, and the sea behind.
Beautiful plants!
The tree at Ebb Tide Park looks so sweet in the views of the coastline.
I always love a good path down to the beach!
Standing at the stairs that lead down from Ebb Tide Park.
The beach below has many interesting tide pools.
The path down to the beach is very pretty.
Cypress tree, banana trees, and flowers, on the path down to the beach.
Dolphin Bay Resort and its cafe.
The Cliffs Hotel, with strung lights.
The walkway is brick in some places, with wonderful views of the cliffs.
The walkway and the blue sea.
A large lawn where kids can run around.
Plants for a border. It reminds me of Bali for some reason.
Bougainvillea and many colors of blue.
Spyglass Inn.
The cliff is very straight!
The walkway in front of Spyglass Inn.
Purple flowers and the sea!
Purple flowers and the dark blue of the horizon.
Poppies above the waves.
Bench and firepit in front of Spyglass Inn.
The walkway in front of Spyglass Inn and the sea stretching out toward Avila.
Ice plant and Avila Headland in the distance.
The Cliffs Hotel is truly on cliffs!
Poppies and a set of waves.
Multi-colored wildflowers on the cliff.
Yellow flowers and the beautiful cliffs.
Poppies and a wave below.
Banana fronds always look amazing by the sea.
Fragrant flowers and the darker line of blue-green by the horizon.
Bluejay with the sea beyond!
The lilies that grow along the banks of the creek, on the side of The Cliffs Hotel.
Lots of atmosphere at the coastal trail.
View to the southeast toward Pismo Beach from the tide pools.
The cliffs that shelter the beach.
Rock formation by the tide pools.
Outdoor seating at Marisol at the Cliffs.
Adirondack chairs looking out on the ocean in front of The Cliffs Hotel and along the path.
Cliffs and teal-colored water, with headland of Avila in the distance.
The sailor statue in front of Spyglass Inn. The path begins down the stairs and through the alley.
Purple flowers at the beginning of the path, behind Spyglass Inn.
Wonderful views of the cove below.
Stairs to Ebb Tide Park, at the coastal access trail next to The Cliffs Hotel.
Walkway and cypress tree at Ebb Tide Park. You take the coastal access trail and stairs to get there from The Cliffs Hotel.
The end of the path at Ebb Tide Park has a view of the ocean through cypress trees.
Houses on Ebb Tide Park. A colorful scene.
The path at Ebb Tide Park, which is just a staircase away.
Lounge chairs in front of The Cliffs Hotel, and the walking path. What a spot!
Umbrellas and tables in front of The Cliffs Hotel. You walk past these on the path.
Nice spot to have a meal at Marisol at the Cliffs.
Flowers and ferns by the creek.
Purple flowers and Avila headland, from the stairs near Peyton Ct. You see this if you extend your walk to South Palisades Park.
If you walk along Peyton Ct to South Palisades Park, you will see this gorgeous tropical garden.
Walk along Peyton Ct to South Palisades Park, and you pass this garden with a row of tropical palms.
Wonderful garden on Peyton Ct, which you walk past to extend your walk at South Palisades Park.
Ebb Tide Park, which is a short walk away on the coastal access stairs!
Princess flowers, brick path, the sea, and Avila headland.
Two different colors of bougainvillea with the blue sea behind.
See the far stairs that leads down from The Cliffs Hotel and Dolphin Bay Resort to this beach below.
Free summer concerts called Live on the Rocks take place here from 1-5pm on certain days.
There is a public parking lot at 2701 Shell Beach Road, Pismo Beach.
Cross the street. A coastal access trail runs along the north side of The Cliffs Hotel and leads to the beach stairs and to the Dolphin Bay Resort walkway.
You can also park at 2849 Shell Beach Rd, across from Ebb Tide Lane.
Geoff
Wed, 21 Jul 2010
Love that seal in the wave! Cheers
Michelle
Tue, 21 Sep 2010
speechless....
Peg
Thu, 15 Dec 2016
Such a sweet spot with a beautiful view looking out to the bay! Happy we stayed here and will come back again next time!
Lina
Mon, 06 Jan 2025
So pretty! My kiddo liked the tidepools.
jeannine
Fri, 27 Aug 2010
We ended up staying for almost four hours! We took rests underneath some amazing rock formations in the cliffs and enjoyed the sunset from the park up top. ...‎
James
Fri, 08 Oct 2010
can't believe I used to swim to the other side and back...gret pic!
Last Updated: Wed, 21 May 2025 16:35:03 GMT
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