Coronado Beach is a broad, sandy beach located on Coronado Island, accessible via the San Diego-Coronado Bridge or the Coronado Ferry from downtown San Diego. The sand has a subtle golden shimmer due to the mineral mica. Paddlers can launch directly from the sandy shore anywhere along Coronado Beach. Parking is available on side streets near the beach, and there are designated bike lock areas at Coronado Beach for those arriving by bicycle. The beach is a popular destination, welcoming millions of visitors annually. For paddling, the ocean side of Coronado Beach offers the potential for surfing waves, with conditions described as ideal for learning to read sets and catch waves on a glassy day. A significant safety consideration is that the ocean is sometimes closed for swimming due to contamination that travels in with the swells, so checking for water quality alerts before launching is essential. Notable sights from the water include views of the iconic Hotel del Coronado, Naval Air Station North Island, and the San Diego skyline. For a more protected, flatwater experience, paddlers can launch from the bay side at locations like the Coronado Ferry Landing Park, Glorietta Bay Boat Launch, or Tidelands Park. From there, a notable route is paddling under the two-mile-long Coronado Bridge. A longer, approximately 10.8-mile loop around the island is possible by starting on the bay side and finishing on the Pacific Ocean side, though this involves navigating a long, exposed stretch along the bay that can be challenging with onshore winds. The bay features significant motorized boat traffic, including dangerous large boat traffic in shipping lanes, which requires constant awareness. The overall paddling character varies from the open, wave-swept Pacific coast to the calmer, urban bay waters flanked by military and historical landmarks.