SAN CLEMENTE — A section of San Clemente’s popular 2.3-mile coastal beach trail in the city’s southern stretch has been temporarily closed as officials monitor potential slope movement near Lasuen Beach.
City officials issued a public safety alert on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, advising residents and visitors that the area is under evaluation due to the possibility of hillside movement that could create hazardous conditions. With additional rain forecasted, the decision was made to close the affected portion of the trail as a precautionary measure.
The closure follows a similar incident in early January, when a landslide covered approximately 150 feet of the trail in the same area. That section remained closed for more than a week while crews cleared debris and assessed the stability of the slope.
According to City Manager Andy Hall, the current slope movement does not pose a threat to nearby oceanfront homes located atop the bluff. However, officials emphasized that public safety remains the primary concern, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall when soil saturation increases the risk of movement.
San Clemente has faced ongoing challenges with bluff instability over the past two years, especially during major storm events. While some areas have experienced minor movement, others have required more extensive intervention.
At the north end of the city, work continues to repair damage from a previous landslide that disrupted both beach access and rail service. City officials announced last month that a newly constructed beach path and a 1,400-foot-long catchment wall between El Portal and Linda Lane are expected to be completed by summer. The project, led by the Orange County Transportation Authority and Metrolink, is designed to protect the community, rail passengers, and rail operations from future bluff erosion.
The 2024 landslide that destroyed the Mariposa Bridge severed a key connection between the pier and North Beach. Plans call for the replacement to be a ground-level pathway consistent with the rest of the beach trail, flanked by protective rock boulders on the ocean side and the catchment wall on the inland side. That section of trail has remained closed since the collapse.
Landslides have also repeatedly disrupted rail service through San Clemente since 2021 and previously caused damage to the city’s historic Casa Romantica, which has since reopened following repairs.
In response to these ongoing issues, San Clemente officials voted late last year to join a coalition of coastal cities facing similar bluff failures and landslide risks. The coalition aims to advocate for state recognition of landslides as emergency events—on par with fires and floods—making affected cities eligible for additional assistance when slope failures threaten infrastructure or private property.
City officials continue to urge the public to respect trail closures and safety warnings as monitoring and stabilization efforts remain ongoing.
