Sunset Hike at Palos Verdes, to Flat Rock Point

Sunset at Flat Rock Point, Palos Verdes, California — Flat Rock Point Sunset by Andre Navarro

The Palos Verdes Peninsula is a gorgeous coastal paradise with amazing ocean views. From the tops of the bluffs, to below, along the rocky shores to the crashing waves. The only piece that adds to the ambience, is nature’s emotional sunsets. Let’s enjoy a brisk sunset hike, starting from the top of Bluff Cove Trail, snaking down and around the cliffs, ending at Flat Rock Point.

We’ll enjoy the best sunset views this area has to offer, focusing on the sun, ocean and notoriously rocky shores and reefs. The total distance on this hike in under a mile. However, easy as it may sound, half of the hike is over tricky rocky shores and jagged shore reef. The majority of the shore rocks range in size from baseball to bowling ball size in all sorts of shapes. These size rocks make in tricky to walk across. Also there are several points where the waves crash onto the shore reef, cutting off the path around. At these points, you must climb over and around the jagged shore reefs, sometimes up to 15 feet up and across.

From the top of Bluff Cove Trail, you’ll get your first panoramic glimpse of the beautiful area in it’s entirety. There, the trail will welcome you down the cliffs via it’s dirt path. The first section, which is short, is sort of steep. But the path quickly evens out for the rest of the trip.

Immediately starting down the bluff, you’ll feel the height of the cliffs, especially if you are afraid of heights. Standing at the edge of the trail looking down, is quite the uneasy, amazing view. The trail is very wide and there is no need to do this unless on purpose. To the north, over the crashing waves of Malaga Cove, you can see all the way to Santa Monica and the hills of Malibu.

Bluff Cove Trail, Palos Verdes by Andre Navarro

Malaga Cove cliffs, Palos Verdes by Andre Navarro — Malaga Cove Cliffs, Palos Verdes by Andre Navarro

At several points along the trail, you’ll notice side paths appearing to lead off the cliff in dangerous descents. I recommend staying off these dangerous side paths and sticking to the main trail. One side trail actually has a rope where you have to pull yourself up or down a steep dirt cliff of which a fall would be life ending.

Halfway down the trail, as you get closer to the crashing waves, the views become more emotional. By now, the sun is getting low and I’m racing from view to view, trying not to miss any beautiful sunset moments. But this is still the easiest part of the trail. Soon we’ll be where the dirt trail ends at Bluff Cove and we’ll turn north across the rocky shore towards Flat Rock Point.

Bluff Cove of Palos Verdes, California — Bluff Cove of Palos Verdes by Andre Navarro

Bluff Cove, Palos Verdes, California — Bluff Cove of Palos Verdes by Andre Navarro

Bluff Cove is a secret Palos Verdes surf spot, famous for long slow breaking waves across the cove. It only breaks with swells from the north. From the cove’s shallow bottom to the surface, the entire center is dense with kelp. And now it’s time to adventure north across the rocky shore and reefs, towards Flat Rock.

Rocky Shore Reef of Palos Verdes, California — Rocky Shore Reef of Palos Verdes by Andre Navarro

Flat Rock Point, Palos Verdes, California — Flat Rock Point by Andre Navarro

The trek across all those rocks takes the longest and takes a toll on my calves and ankles. You have to pay close attention to your footing at all times, looking for rock combinations least likely to roll when stepped on. It’s also wise to walk lightly, as you will twist your ankles several times across all this. It also helps to use hiking sticks to not eat it.

Sunset at Flat Rock Point of Palos Verdes, California — Flat Rock Point by Andre Navarro

Now we’ve made it to Flat Rock Point which is a super jagged rocky shore reef. From here, you get an awesome view in every direction from Bluff Cove to all of the South Bay. It’s fun to walk around on the reef and checkout the tide pools. But today I have to resist this, because the sun is setting quick and I need to get the best footage yet. What I’ve been highly anticipating ! Right off Flat Rock Point is my favorite place in all of Palos Verdes, Flat Rock. Flat Rock is usually covered in Harbor Seals, Sea Gulls and Cormorants. It’s about a 50 yard swim from the point.

Today I’m not swimming it, but flying my trusty drone to visit Flat Rock. But before we fly to Flat Rock, let’s enjoy some beautiful sunset pictures from the reef.

Now let’s fly to Flat Rock and get the sunset with the Harbor Seals and Seagulls.

Flat Rock Sunset, Palos Verdes, California — Flat Rock Sunset by Andre Navarro

It definitely looks like humans aren’t the only animals that enjoy a dramatic sunset. As all the Harbor Seals and birds were facing the sun at full attention. And that’s a healthy handsome Harbor Seal there in full plumpness.

I hope you have enjoyed our sunset hike to Flat Rock Point and flight to Flat Rock. I leave you with 2 last sunset views as I say goodbye for now, until our next sunset hike !

Bluff Cove Sunset, Palos Verdes, California — Bluff Cove Sunset by Andre Navarro

Palos Verdes Sunset, California — Palos Verdes Sunset by Andre Navarro

Published by: Andre Navarro of Ocean Earth Green

I’m Andre Navarro, Southern California freediver and underwater videographer. I create ocean life adventure videos to connect viewers to our amazing underwater world to motivate stronger conservation and ocean life awareness. You can follow my ocean adventures here at OceanEarthGreen.com and view all my current and past videos at Youtube.com/OceanEarthGreen.

Sunset Hike at Palos Verdes, to Flat Rock Point

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