Shipwreck Hiking Trail

It was a great hiking trail… a little difficult to find. once u find the pipeline to go down, make a left and keep going for about an hour then u will see the main shipwreck.
Wear good shoes because it is extremely rocky
Will go back again
Also, the way going down the up the pipeline is very steep, make sure your shoes have a good grip

Beach is great my husband loved when we got to the tank sad part is that rocks the whole way so must be very careful if clumsy wear a helmet

On my limited time on the weekend, I like to be as active as possible. In a whim after watching my student compete in an ice skating competition, I came here since it was near by. It wasn’t hard to find. Park on around the intersection of Cloyden and Paseo Del Mar. Head towards the side facing the water, there’s a little path that leads to a storm drain. Follow the storm drain by climbing along. It’s quite steep. I wouldn’t say this part is slippery, like the other reviews, unless it has been raining and the path is wet. I wore water shoes. Once you make it down, facing the water, make a left. Keep going and going. (Check out my map for a visual). You will come across debris here and there from the SS Dominator, a Greek freight ship ran around in 1961 due to fog and navigational problem. Despite coast guard’s attempt to get it back into water, it was still stranded. The tank is a little farther down. Love the historical remnants! Wish people would admire ruins for what it is and not wreck it with graffiti.
Anyways, Since I came on a whim, I didn’t take the due diligence to research. It was very hot the day I came! There is NO shade! Bring/​use sunblock! Bring water! I came across a family that didn’t have water, but luckily I keep some in the car that I was able to share with them after. Enjoy the tide pools! Some fascinating creatures I saw: fish, sea slug, sea snails, and most fascinating of all – an octopus!!!

Very difficult hike. The rocks are very hard to walk on. Even with the right shoes! The view there was amazing though and we loved seeing the old tanks!

Directions: Once you reach the drain pipe, slowly hike down towards the bottom. (Like a lazy person, I decided to slide down using the drain pipe instead. It was an efficient way to get down, but definitely not the safest. Be careful if you do try that. It goes pretty fast. I would recommend only sliding a partial of the way for safety reasons and hiking the rest.)
Once you reach the bottom of the rocks, TURN LEFTTTT! The hike is pretty do-​able, but it sure isn’t easy. Wear comfortable shoes, bring water, and make sure to wear lots of sunscreen.
The hike will take you about an hour+ one way! Good luck!

So let me start off by saying that my feet hurt due to all of the rocks but hey I can’t complain too much since the area were the ship is at was amazing. I would recommend doing this hike but be prepared to walk a good amount of time on rocks. It’s interesting to see such a huge pieces of the boat and along the hike you will find motor parts and amazing views. This place is and will be one of my new favorites.

Well, this is a bias rating lol, my now fiancé proposed to me there lol… so yeah, it’s an unforgettable place :)
I would say, lots of rock, not like your usual beach setting. Wear hiking boots and watch where you’re walking. There’s not much to see except a lot of rusting pieces of an old ship but, if you’re an adventurer, it’s quite unique. At some parts of the beach, you can find a lot of clam and shells, along with unique rock pieces. The whole beach is the same and there’s no where else to hike or nothing different to see than what you see. I can say I’ve never been to another beach like this one.

So let me start off by saying THEY ARE DOING CONSTRUCTION IS CERTAIN AREAS RIGHT NOW… WHITE PIPE ENTERENCE WAS UNAVAILABLE! From what I hear that is one of the easier ways to get down. well we had to take the bluff side down… IF YOU ARE AFRAID OF HEIGHTS PLEASE USE CAUTION. I personally didn’t know how hair raising it would be haha. I slowly went down the trail. Mostly on my booty (I am afraid of heights) My wife helped me along. Once you reach the rocky shore. You almost instantly start seeing the wreck. It was such a beautiful thing to see! LOTS OF FLIES, maybe consider bringing bug spray! And sunscreen!(always a given right?) And GRIPPING SHOES… Always lots of water!!! Now on the way back we kept trecking along until we hit the peninsula. looking for an easier way up… Well There are 2 visible trials (both lead to the flat viewpoint park area above).One before the waterfalls and 1 after. We took the one after… Again, not for those who are scared of heights. You crawl/​hike a very steep cliffside. Overall Great veiws! Everything I thought it would be, except the Cliffside hiking. It helped me overcome a fear thats for sure! Enjoy and be safe!

A short trail with some cool wreckage! Check it out, and then head up the road a few miles to the Glass Chapel!

Definitely one of the most adventurous hikes in the South Bay. I definitely recommend taking the drain pipe down (found by following Cloyden and taking a left on Paseo Del Mar, and will be seen at a breakaway to the right). Once you go down the drain pipe, trudge your way to the left until you find the shipwreck. I definitely don’t recommend this hike for young children as it is very steep. Make sure you have shoes with good traction, and make sure to have plenty of water. Be careful, this entire hike is on unstable rocks that are very capable of breaking some ankles and other bones. This hike is perfect for pictures so bring your camera! Be careful of the several rusty parts of the wreckage left over because you can easily be cut by them. Also, watch your footing for seal carcasses since there are usually plenty. My favorite part of the hike is the tractor, in which I adventurously, and carefully, climbed. I would rate this hike at a moderate to advanced moderate with breathtaking views.

Best View I’ve seen in California so far. Very hard to take the plunge down the cliff but once you do that wonders await.

What a view!
The decline to get to the rocks is no joke.
Don’t allow yourself to chicken out, there’s more to see!
Follow the left side of the pipe down to the sea, and you’re set.
The balancing act along the coast can be quite a workout.
It looks easy, but the algae on the loose rocks will make sure you don’t get too far ahead of yourself.
To actually see large parts of the wreckage up close, head to the left, for probably an hour.
Shoes with a good tread are highly recommended.

This is a tough hike (don’t bring your children). It’s rocky the entire way, slippery and unstable so you better have supportive shoes on!
Pros: the views obviously
Cons: gnats/​flies galore, a lot of dead marine animals washing ashore, mounds of kelp that you need to navigate through/​around, quite a bit of trash
Make sure you check tides before heading out, you do not want to be down there during high tide. The initial trailhead is pretty easy to find (corner of Cloyden and Paseo Del Mar) between two houses, you’ll see a white pipe leading you down.
We really only got good looks at two smaller pieces of wreckage, so for us the ship wasn’t the highlight, it was the views along the way.

Wow! This is by far the most challenging hike I have done in a looong time! As previous reviewers state, follow Cloyden til it reaches Paseo Del Mar. We made a left and parked immediately to the right and very easily found the drain pipe. The hubby and I took the kiddos (ages 5 and 10– they are very used to hiking, but the combination of the very steep decline/​crazy amounts of rocks made me one paranoid mama– I do not recommend this hike for young children at all!)
It cannot be overstated that the rocks are NO JOKE!!!
I would have to question anyone’s sanity that even attempted to do this hike without proper shoewear… IT IS ROCKY AND BUMPY THE ENTIRE WAY! YOU WILL TRIP MULTIPLE TIMES! But when you finally arrive (hopefully without injuries!, you feel amazing and accomplished! Whew! Take some pics and enjoy the view, and try not to think about the impending hike back!

MUST HAVE RELIABLE SHOES. Do not underestimate the power of many big rocks. What looks like only a few yards away will take you much longer to approach. The reason for a four star rating is easy. Because of the rocks, you spend more of your time staring at the ground making sure you do not lose your footing, therefore missing out on some nice ocean views and lookout points. Other than that, it’s pretty awesome to see some remains of a ship. It’s not a whole ship like you picture it to be, more like pieces here and there but not rubble. There are some larger portions of the ship still left that you can almost walk «inside» of.
This is a time sensitive hiking experience because pretty soon, the salt from the ocean will tear down the remaining portions of the ship. Personally I find it fun to guess if there might be a compass or an anchor lurking about in the area. Make your own personal scavenger hunt out of it, plus the feeling of discovery on your first experience is pretty rewarding.
Same rules apply for parking. Be sure of the signs, and that’s about it. When it comes to parking, no sign, no problem.
Should I visit high or low tide? Low tide obviously, but basically come out anytime in the afternoon before sunset. You’ll have plenty of rocks to hop on and explore.

I loved it here but it’s hardly a hike. It’s rather hidden min a neighborhood. And the trail is tricky due to thousands of rocks.

All of the directions described in other posts are correct, you will easily see the entrance and follow a large pipe down a steep hill towards the ocean.
The hike is very rocky, but not overly challenging. There are gorgeous birds and some awesome shells hidden among the rocks. The shipwreck part is pretty cool, but if you keep going past it there is a little bench with a tiki looking roof that is relaxing to take a break at after.

Rocks. Rocks. Rocks EVERYWHERE.
Like most Unilocalers have said, you would not really consider this a hike considering the amount of rocks you have to walk on. It does give your legs a work out! I’d suggest wearing good shoes that have tread so you don’t slip and fall.
To find this trail, just go to the address. It’s actually between two houses. Then you have to descend along the left side of a large pipe. It is pretty steep but you won’t slip that easily because there are no loose gravel or rocks. Once you finally reach the shore, make a left and keep on walking for about .75−1 mi and you will find the rusty wrecks!
I went on a week day during lunch, and there was pretty much no one. So it was pretty serene yet scary.
Just be careful when walking on the rocks!

Ok, so this is not your typical hike. When you take the concrete pipe path down, be careful because it can be a bit steep (keep in mind that you’ll have to climb back up too). Walking along the shoreline can also be rough not only because it’s all rocks, but there are areas where it can be a bit slippery– I totally ate it on the way back so yeah, be careful!
The shipwreck itself was interesting to see against the beautiful background. I would recommend checking it out, but make sure that you are physically able.

This really isn’t what I would consider a hike but any who I can’t tell you enough how much you need a good pair of shoes! The rocks to get to the shipwreck are terrible! It can get super annoying because the rocks are all different sizes and you’re looking down the entire time!
The address on Unilocal does get you there, remember you’re going to walk down by the big concrete pipe, be careful because some parts are steep and the path is very uneven feels like you’re literally rock climbing on the way up. Once you finish going down the pipe path make a LEFT! then proceed around the beach you’ll be able to see the shipwreck right away.
I saw a couple of people fishing when I went so we weren’t the only ones there, also I took my dog. BAD IDEA she cut her foot on the rocks so I wouldn’t recommend bringing your pet.
The shipwreck itself was pretty cool but it smelled so disgusting just a heads up the smell is bearable but think about it old rusty metal and sea water is pretty gross. All in all you can’t really get lost just be careful when you go down to the wreck and around the wreck. Happy «hiking»!

Read a bunch of reviews before trying this hike out, for the most part the only negative thing about this hike was parking. Parking was a pain in the ass to find. The hike itself was pretty easy. From the parking lot to the ovean it was a total of about 3 miles. Great view I highly recommend it.

The address brings you right where you need to start. The concrete pipe should be a dead giveaway. It is a pretty secluded hike as there were only two other couples
It’s pretty scenic and I went out on some of the rocks during low tide. Warning it is slippery!
The boat itself is pretty cool albeit small piece of what it once was. Alas, it was overall a great way to walk along the coast line. However, as most people state, it is all rocks along the shore, so wear the appropriate shoes!

Let me start with saying. This is NOT a hiking trail. The only hiking you get is getting down to the water and going back up to your car. The rest of it is a VERY rocky walk along the shore.
Nonetheless, it’s a beautiful place to sit and watch the waves. I would say to have a picnic by the water, but I saw 3 dead seals washed up and the smell was horrendous that I would just throw up anything that goes in my stomach.
Nice place– probably won’t be back for a hike.

Today (date of this review) I feel like such an… well you know! I discovered the easier way to get down to this trail! But, it’s still awkward going down & imagine a challenge (for me & anyone out of shape, and old-that’d be me again). Although I was by myself and did not venture (because I’d end up being a statistic you’ll end up reading about or seeing in the news!!) but simply passed by and documented by taking a photo. Yup.
Anyhow, I just didn’t feel like going down there & be surrounded by stinkfest and flies! (It wouldn’t be the full experience w/​out that though). Anyhow, I had to acknowledge that!

Very steep, all cement, lots of broken glass.
A ridiculously tough workout going up but gratifying. If you’re not in good shape, skip this. I was ok but it wasn’t an easy climb up.
No gravel all cement makes it easier.
There is no shipwreck within ¾ miles. You’ll have to walk on loose stones once your down the hill.
Good luck.

The most important thing you’ll want to know is how to get there. There are two shoreline access points. The entrance to the Drain Pipe Trail is located to the right of the home located at 1801 Paseo Del Mar, Palos Verdes Estates. Carefully walk down the large drain pipe, or the cement-​covered cliff, and take a left when you reach the rocky shore. You will walk about a mile until you reach wreckage.
The other entrance is an unmarked path located near the intersection of Paseo Del Mar and Avenida Mirola. That path takes you down a narrow twisting trail along a steep cliff. When you get to the rocky shore head north and the wreckage will just beyond Palos Verdes Point.
Keep in mind that the shipwreck occurred in 1961 so there is little left to view. You’ll mainly get to see some large rusty pieces of the ship scattered over the rocky shore.

First of all, the address provided here in Unilocal is wrong. I mean if you do get to this address, it’ll lead you to different trails near a golf course. We took this trail for about a mile and realized that the shipwreck cannot be here, so we went back to the car and read more reviews to get to the right place. If it’s your first time here, please do some research to save time haha.
According to other Unilocalers, the right address is in the intersection of Paseo Del Mar and Cloyden Avenue. When you parked in the neighborhoods in Paseo Del Mar, look for a big gap front yard with lots of trees in the front. This place has the drain pipe where it will lead you to the coastline of the shore. Just follow this pipe down and make a left to see the ship wreckage. Going down the pipe wasn’t that difficult but it is easier going back up. It’s dangerous because there were many cracked alcohol bottles everywhere, so wear proper shoes!
This place is not really a hike if you do follow the drain pipe: Maybe there are other ways but I don’t see a trail that will lead you to the ship wreckage. This is more of a rock climbing along with 3 miles of walking on the beach coast full of rocks towards the shipwreck.
There were tidepools, but the beach smells – full of algae and flies. It was so gross. As you get closer to the shipwreck, you’ll see the many parts of the ship that are separated from the main body of the ship. Full of rust and such. It was a different hike for us, and it was awesome seeing the rusty shipwreck! So much history reading others’ reviews. It’s good to check this once for a first time but I wouldn’t go back here again.