Black's Beach is a two mile long, sandy strip of beach located at the base of the majestic cliffs that can be up to 300 foot high. Formally known as Torrey Pines City Beach, it's jointly owned by the City of San Diego and the State of California. There is also a glider port atop the cliff that overlooks the beach where hang gliders and even remote control gliders can be seen soaring.

Gaining access to Black's Beach isn't easy due to the high cliffs and lack of stairways. The safest access is from the adjacent beaches to the north and south, although this way may be obstructed by high tides or surf.

The cliffs here are unstable as well, and slides can occur anytime, so it's always best to stay away from them. There's no permanent lifeguard station at this beach either. There are some on duty mid day from Spring Break through the end of the October.

Keep in mind; most California beaches experience very strong rip currents. Black's Beach is no exception, as the rip currents can get very strong here. To be on the safe side, always swim near shore or near a lifeguard.

The water activity at Black's Beach is virtually unregulated. Surfers and swimmers may mix, but they are all required to employ care and avoiding hurting each other.

Black's Beach is also an excellent beach for surfing, especially at the south end. Scuba diving isn't recommended here, due to access problems and surf conditions.

Even though access can be hard, Black's Beach is still an excellent beach. It offers plenty of seclusion, views, and sand for the kids. If you've never been here, this beach can easily prove to be one of your favorites in the entire area of San Diego.