Hike-in Required
No
ADA accessible
No
Guided tours
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

One look at the desolation of Sunken City imbues passersby and intrepid adventurers with spooky post-apocalyptic reminiscence for the swanky residences that used to perch on its bluff. Built in the early 1900s, these luxurious bungalows boasted an uncontested view of the Pacific Ocean until a series of landslides in 1929 slowly ate away at the bluff’s stability and all but destroyed the now historic site.

Despite clear "No Tresspassing" signs, many choose to enter the area as evident by the numerous holes under the tall fence. Massive concrete slabs litter the six acres of the old residential neighborhood, and talented street artists have employed them as canvases.

Adjacent to Point Fermin Park, this area that so interestingly juxtaposes ruinous desolation with the ocean’s natural beauty with vibrant graffiti art is a quirky and unique site. It’s continually a popular place to visit, naturally, though trespassers do put themselves at risk to be fined. Whether entrance is worth the risk is up to the adventurer. 

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

Low

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Iconic landslide ruins and graffiti.

Cons

Public access not permitted.

Pets allowed

Not Allowed

Location

Nearby Lodging + Camping

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