All eyes will again be on Trestles in 2028. Photo: WSL
California State Parks officials are exploring ways to make access to Trestles safer ahead of the 2028 Olympics, according to a recent report in the Orange County Register. The iconic cobblestone A-Frame south of San Clemente, California will be the venue for the next Olympic surfing competition.
There are a few ways to access Trestles, but one commonly used route is a dirt trail that requires illegally crossing the train tracks. Park officials estimate there are approximately 200,000 track crossings each year.
Steve Long, founder of the San Onofre Parks Foundation and formerly the State Parks lifeguard superintendent for the area, says the timing is right to address the issue, pointing to the upcoming Olympics and State Parks’ recent renewal of its 25-year lease on the Navy owned property.
The upcoming Olympics have resurfaced old plans to improve access to the area. In 2010, State Parks, Nike (the title sponsor of the Lowers Pro at the time), and event organizers held discussions about revamping the access point. A competition was launched to select the best proposal for the path, with more than 100 entries submitted. Ultimately, the winning design was a wooden boardwalk that crossed over the tracks, complete with railings and planks along the entire route.
At the time, the track-crossing section was estimated to cost $800,000, with the boardwalk in its entirety projected at $4 million. However, due to uncertainty surrounding the future of the land lease, the plans were ultimately scrapped.
State Parks Superintendent Scott Kibbey says those conversations have now been reopened to evaluate the best solution for the crossing.
“The goal is to better understand what may or may not be feasible from a safety, regulatory, operational, environmental, and cultural resources standpoint in coordination with partner agencies,” Kibbey told the OC Register in an email.
“Our goal is to continue working collaboratively with stakeholders to explore ways to improve public access and safety at Trestles while respecting the sensitive coastal environment, active rail corridor, and operational realities of the park,” he added.
Any changes to the land would require approval and input from several agencies, including the North County Transit District, the California Public Utilities Commission, tribal partners, the Marines, and Camp Pendleton.
Unlike World Surf League events held at Trestles, the Olympics will require tickets for entry. As a result, the dirt trail will likely be off-limits unless it is upgraded to a legal access path. State Parks officials say Olympic attendance will be capped at roughly 3,000 to 4,000 fans – similar to WSL events.
