Little River State Beach

Little River State Beach–Clam Beach Ponds Loop, 4 sights

1.6 mi · ▲ 30 ft · 33 min

Little River State Beach–Clam Beach Ponds Loop, 4 sights is a 1.6-mile loop in Little River State Beach near Clam Beach, CA. The route passes Clam Beach Ponds, Little River State Beach and Little River State Beach. It is mostly level, with 30 ft of elevation gain, and mostly sand. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi16 – 59 ft1.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Backdunes Trail 41.00992, -124.11077
Nearest town Clam Beach, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Little River State Beach–Clam Beach Ponds Loop, 4 sights

1.6 mi · ▲ 30 ft · 33 min

Elevation 18–58 ft

Loop · Little River State Beach

Trailhead: Backdunes Trail · 41.00992, -124.11077

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:31 PM

No dogs on part of this route · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Backdunes Trail, heading N.
  2. 50 ftPass Clam Beach Ponds.
  3. 50 ftPass Little River State Beach.
  4. 0.3 miBear right onto North Beach Trail, heading NE.
  5. 50 ftTurn left onto Backdunes Trail, heading N.
  6. 50 ftPass Little River State Beach.
  7. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Nearshore Dunes Trail, heading S.
  8. 0.5 miSharp left onto South Beach Trail, heading SW.
  9. 400 ftThe loop closes back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

100% sand

Weather

Sunrise 6:16 AMSunset 8:31 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 8:10 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 8:31 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 9:01 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination