13 Sep Mount Soledad Memorial and Cross in San Diego

Mount Soledad is located in the town of La Jolla and includes the Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial with the cross as its main attraction. The memorial features a large cross as well as thousands of plaques to honor service members, both living and deceased, who served at any point in history for the United States. In addition to the memorial, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the town of La Jolla in addition to more distant views of San Diego, Del Mar, and the Pacific Ocean.

Why not plan an entire day exploring San Diego? I recommend you hike Ho Chi Minh Trail to Black’s Beach in the morning and then catch a sunset at Sunset Cliffs in the evening.

Contents:

1) Mount Soledad Location

2) Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

3) The Best Time to Visit

4) Quick Facts

5) Background of the National Veterans Memorial

6) Visiting Mount Soledad

7) Nearby Attractions

1) Mount Soledad Location – The Cross and More

Mount Soledad is located in San Diego, California. For reference, it is about 20 minutes north of downtown San Diego. The road to reach Mount Soledad winds around a mountain. That being said, if you get carsick, be sure to take some dramamine beforehand or put down the windows in the car for some fresh air. However, the long drive up the mountain is well worth it once you arrive and take in the views.

Parking

There is limited parking available right around the Mount Soledad memorial, though it is often full on weekends. We took a lap around the memorial and did not find any parking. Therefore, we drove just a little further down the road to one of the parking lots on the side of the road. We easily found parking in the first lot, but there are a few additional lots on the side of the road as well if the first one is full.

Nearby Lodging

If you need lodging in the area, check out options in the town of Mount Soledad. For an accommodation a little closer to the water, look into lodging in the town of La Jolla. Lastly, all of my city lovers can book lodging in downtown San Diego.

Nearby Airports

The closest airport is the San Diego International Airport, which is located 22 minutes south of Mount Soledad. There are a few public transportation options available from the airport to Mount Soledad, though do be aware they will take around two hours. You can also choose to rent a car from the airport or utilize a ride share service such as Uber. 

View from Mount Soledad

2) Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

First, Mount Soledad and the Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial, including the popular cross, are open from 7:00am to 10:00pm daily. They are thus closed from 10:00pm to 7:00am. Be sure to respect the memorial and visit only during the allowed times. 

Second, there is no entrance fee to drive up the mountain and to visit the memorial. You can thus add this stop to your itinerary at no cost! 

3) The Best Time to Visit

First, the best time to drive up Mount Soledad and walk around the cross at the top is around sunset, during golden hour. Not only will you have beautiful views of San Diego, Del Mar, and the Pacific Ocean, but you will also have a beautiful sky. However, be sure to visit on a night full of clear skies or the clouds will block your general views as well as the sunset. 

Sunrise would be another good time to visit the mountain, but remember it does not open until 7:00am. 

Second, plan around 30 minutes to one hour to visit Mount Soledad and the Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial. This gives you enough time to walk around the Mount Soledad Memorial, examine the cross towering over the mountain, and explore along the edge of the mountain. 

4) Quick Facts – Mount Soledad Cross and More

1. Mount Soledad is located in La Jolla, California and features the Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial.

2. The mountain is open to visitors from 7:00am to 10:00pm daily. 

3. There is no fee to drive up the mountain, to park in the nearby parking lots, or to visit the memorial. 

4. The first cross was built on the mountain in 1913 while the third as well as final cross was built in 1954.

5. Visitors can enjoy views of La Jolla, San Diego, Del Mar, and the Pacific Ocean in the distance from the top of the mountain. 

Looking down at San Diego from Mount Soledad

5) Background of the National Veterans Memorial

While many people know this location as Mount Soledad, it is officially known as the Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial. The purpose behind the memorial is to honor veterans, those who have passed on as well as those who are still living.

Before the Memorial

During World War II before the memorial existed, the United States utilized Mount Soledad for military purposes. First, they were able to use it for observation due to its height above San Diego. Second, they established a radio transmission tower. Both of these things led the U.S. to be able to monitor enemy movements as well as to broadcast services, such as Easter services, to troops overseas.

The Cross(es) at Mount Soledad

When you arrive at Mount Soledad, you will immediately see the cross in the middle of the mountain. However, this cross was not always there.

The first cross was built on Mount Soledad in 1913. Unfortunately this cross had a short life due to the fact vandals destroyed it a few years later. The second cross was built in 1923. While this cross lasted for many more years than the first, a windstorm destroyed it about 30 years later in 1952. Nevertheless, the third time is the charm. The third cross was built on Mount Soledad in 1954 and still stands to this day.

Purpose of the Memorial

The memorial first stood to honor those who lost their lives in World War I, World War II, and military engagements with Korea. Then many years later in the 1990s, the Mount Soledad Memorial Association went to work in updating the design as well as the purpose of the memorial.

They wanted to honor all veterans, both living and deceased, who served at any point in time. The updated design included plaques for specific service members of the U.S., which individuals were able to procure for their friends or loved ones. As stated previously, the goal was to honor all service members and the diversity of class, rank, religion, ethnicity, etc. among them.

Looking up at the Mount Soledad cross

6) Visiting Mount Soledad – The Cross and More

Want the best view in the entire town of La Jolla? Well, then you have to make a trip up to Mount Soledad. It offers panoramic views of La Jolla, and visitors can also enjoy views of San Diego, Del Mar, and the Pacific Ocean in the distance.

Mount Soledad Natural Park

There is a grassy area near the memorial, allowing visitors to bring their dogs or enjoy a picnic while visiting. Pack a blanket, a few games, a good book, and of course a basket of food. Then sit back and enjoy the views and peacefulness Mount Soledad has to offer for an afternoon.

Some special events are held on these grounds throughout the year, particularly on Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial

While visiting Mount Soledad, be sure to set aside time to visit and reflect upon the memorial. It states the names and ranks of thousands of service members, both living and deceased, from the United States. These service members fought in a variety of wars and represent a variety of backgrounds, which demonstrates the intent of the memorial to honor all service members.

7) Nearby Attractions

If you are already in the area, be sure to visit other popular, nearby attractions. For example, you can hike to a waterfall or enjoy a secret swing along the coast. 

Los Penasquitos Canyon Trail

The Los Penasquitos Canyon Trail is only 20 minutes northeast of Mount Soledad. It is a 3.4 mile (~5.5 kilometer) round trip trail that leads to a small creek and waterfall. An average hiker can complete the trail in around two to two and a half hours. For those of you in areas with magnificent waterfalls, such as Yosemite or the northwest, be sure to temper your expectations. San Diego is technically a desert. Therefore, there is not a lot of water in this waterfall. We visited in the middle of summer, and the waterfall was practically nonexistent when we arrived. Nevertheless, it was still a nice trail, and I do not regret taking the time out of my day to hike there. 

Article for more information: Los Penasquitos Canyon Trail in San Diego

Hiking the Los Penasquitos Canyon Trail with a puppy

Ho Chi Minh Trail 

The Ho Chi Minh Trail is just a short 15-minute drive from Mount Soledad. It is a 0.4 mile (~0.6 kilometer) one-way trail to Black’s Beach in the town of La Jolla. This trail is somewhat unique due to the fact hikers have to walk along a wooden plank to cross over a ditch and also utilize a rope at the end for assistance in descending the last 20 feet (~six meters). Additionally, there is a steep ravine on the right side of the trail. Hikers can choose to hike above the ravine or within it. We chose above due to the fact the bottom of the ravine was slightly muddy. That being said, we had to be careful with every step in order to not lose our footing as the trail was mainly loose dirt/rocks. 

Article for more information: Ho Chi Minh Trail to Black’s Beach

Hiking the Ho Chi Minh Trail to Black’s Beach

Secret Swing on the La Jolla Coast Walk Trail 

Secret swings have been popping up in different locations, often made popular by videos on TikTok. For example, there is a secret swing located on the La Jolla Coast Walk Trail. The swing is only 10 minutes west from Mount Soledad. There is no location for the swing listed on google maps. You thus have to venture along the trail to find it for yourself. Once you come to a “Danger Bluff Collapse” sign, then you will know you are in the right place.

It is important to note the sign states visitors risk injury or death by venturing beyond that point. That area past the sign is not maintained in any way. Please be cautious and watch your footing at all times if you decide to continue. If you do continue to the swing, you will get to experience the beautiful views of the La Jolla coast.

Article for more information: Secret Swing on the La Jolla Coast Walk Trail

Viewpoint near the Secret Swing in La Jolla

PIN IT to save it for later!

Take a quick flight up north to explore Seattle: Day Trip to North Cascades National Park.

For more Seattle adventures: How to Spend One Day in Seattle.