The King Tide Challenge is an annual 11-mile beach walk event that is hosted by the King Tide Challenge Foundation, a nonprofit corporation with a sole mission to raise money for UCSD Skin Cancer Research.

The walk is free, but we do ask for a donation from each walker – in any amount – which will be given entirely to UCSD Skin Cancer Research. Visit our Skin Cancer tab above to learn more about our passion and the research lab run by Dr. Daniels.

Are you up for the 2025 Challenge?

Enjoy walking 11 miles of pristine California coastline, most of it wild and protected by difficult access, all of it filled with beauty and awe… be prepared to help with beach cleanup by picking up trash along the way!

What: A beach walk to benefit UCSD Skin Cancer Research.

Date: January 11, 2025

Time: 12:30 pm

Start: La Jolla Shores parking lot

Finish: Cardiff Beach Bar @ Tower 13

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The Route

The walk begins in the parking lot at La Jolla Shores (north end), and then continues northward to Black’s Beach, Torrey Pines State Beach, Del Mar, and Solana Beach. The finish is in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, at Tower 13 Beach Bar, a good place to rest and refresh (bring cash or a credit card).

What is a King Tide?

King tides are the highest and lowest tides of the year. During a low king tide, the beach opens up allowing walkers to get around areas that are normally submerged. When the King Tide happens at night, or in the middle of the week, we schedule our event during a mid day super low tide, which is what the 2024 hike will be. You will see and experience our local beaches like you never have!

How to Participate

• Register here.
• Start walking – a lot! – to prepare for 4-6 hours on hard wet sand and exposed jagged reef;
• Walk necessities:
  – day pack
  – food & water
  – cell phone
  – flashlight or headlamp (in case you spend too much time taking pics, and don’t finish before dark);
  – large ziploc bag for trash pickup
  – money (for your celebratory refreshments at Tower 13 and other event swag).

Thank you 2024 Challengers…

Your individual donations combined with the proceeds from our Tower 13 after party raised over $18,000 for the Melanoma and Skin Cancer Immune Therapy Research Fund at UCSD, run by Dr. Gregory Daniels and Dr. Soo Park.

Your contributions are helping people today!