Silver Strand, or simply The Strand, is a low, narrow, sandy isthmus 7 miles (11 km) long in San Diego County, California partially within the Silver Strand State Beach. It connects Coronado "Island" (actually not an island but the northern end of the Silver Strand) with Imperial Beach. Together with the Point Loma peninsula it shelters and defines San Diego Bay. State highway 75 runs the length of the strand and is a popular site for jogging and bicycling. The Silver Strand Half Marathon is run along the route each November.[1]
Silver Strand State Beach, which encompasses both the San Diego Bay and Pacific Ocean sides of the strand, is a little farther off the beaten path of the highly popular beaches in Ocean Beach and Mission Beach, offering more solitude for those who wish to get away from the beach crowds. The ocean side of the strand features 2.5 miles (4.0 km) of coastline trimmed with silver shells (thus named Silver Strand).
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The Silver Strand State Beach is just 4.5 miles (7.2 km) south of Coronado on California State Route 75. The beach offers many activities including camping, surfing, swimming, body boarding, jet skiing, sailing, and water skiing, as well as fishing and beach volleyball. [2] There are approximately 130 first come, first serve campsites. Park facilities include four large parking lots, which can accommodate up to 1,000 vehicles. This recreational destination features camping, fishing, swimming, surfing, boating, water-skiing, volleyball, and picnicking are popular activities. Anglers can fish for perch, corbina, grunion and yellow-fin croaker. [3]
The beaches north and south of the state beach are military property. North of it is Naval Amphibious Base Coronado and south of it is Silver Strand Training Complex. Much of the SEAL's training takes place on the beaches.