Shipwrecked in Palos Verdes

Hiking to the SS Dominator in Palos Verdes

Usually you need serious scuba gear and a lot of courage to get up close and personal with a massive shipwreck. But on the rocky shores of Lunada Bay in Palos Verdes Estates, you can experience the wonder of the SS Dominator, which has been slowly rusting away on the stony beach since the freighter ran aground in 1961.

To reach the Dominator, head down Agua Amarga Canyon from Paseo Del Mar and a short, steep trail that will spit you out at the edge of the bay. The path can be quite slippery, so wear shoes with ample grip and ankle support, and watch your step.

Once you reach the rocky beach, head north along the shore. While the waves tunneling perfectly offshore make for a mesmerizing scene, keep your eyes on the stones under your feet because the path is very uneven. Continue around the cove—the higher up along the dune you walk, the flatter the going will be.

Shortly after you round Palos Verdes Point, the Dominator will come into view. You’ll find extensive fragments of the wreckage—rusting steel scattered along 100 yards of beach. The largest bits of the ship are two portions of the hull and a large crane. The crane is truly fascinating, as it is almost perfectly preserved even though its tracks and gears have rusted and melded together. Enjoy your on-land wreck dive, but be careful; everything is quite sharp!

Once you’ve had your fill, simply turn back the way you came, and be grateful that you’re leaving the bay in much better shape than the SS Dominator.

To reach the parking area at Agua Amarga Canyon, take Pacific Coast Hwy. to Palos Verdes Blvd. to Paseo Del Mar. Continue on until you see the signs for Agua Amarga Canyon. Not recommended for dogs.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Serene Las Gallinas

    A serene stroll alongside marshland, passing ponds and grasses frilled in seasonal wildflowers, with Mount Tam a beacon in the background … how nice. As part of the esteemed Bay Trail, San Rafael’s Las Gallinas Valley Birding Loop and Wildlife Ponds comprises about 3.5 miles of wide-open trail.

    View
  2. Paint Brushy

    This time of year you’ll have good reason to head for the hills—the electric-green rolling hills of Brushy Peak Regional Preserve in Livermore. This 4.5-mile loop hike is like stepping into a plein air painting.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    2025 POST Wildflower Walks

    Get flower empowered! POST’s complimentary 2025 Wildflower Walks guide blooms with the best places to see a variety of florals across the Peninsula and South Bay this spring.

    View
  4. All right, Almaden!

    Take a trip through time on this 5-mile loop in Almaden Quicksilver County Park. Explore the ruins of an old cinnabar mine and enjoy the first hints of wildflower season.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Weekend in Reno Tahoe

    Weekend plans? Reno Tahoe! Just a few hours by car or a short flight away, Reno Tahoe springs to the moment with great ways to combine adventure and relaxation in its beautiful mountains-meets-desert setting.

    View
  2. Hiker walking along the North Bluff Trail on Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Park

    Purely Wild

    Channel Islands National Park lives up to its nickname as “North America’s Galapagos.” This less-traveled national park is an undeveloped and isolated series of five dramatic and distinct islands reached by boat. Hike the largest of the islands, Santa Cruz.

    View
  3. Woman hiking the South Kaibab Trail in the Grand Canyon

    Truly Grand Day Hike

    One of the best spring day hikes in the Grand Canyon? See layer upon layer of the park’s grandeur—including the river—on this 3-mile (one-way) journey to Skeleton Point via the South Kaibab Trail.

    View
  4. A woman stands amid an array of yellow and purple flowers at Descanso Gardens in Los Angeles

    Petal Paradise

    Tulips, lilacs, and daffodils—flower power is in full bloom at Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge. Sprawling across 150 acres surrounded by mountains, the gardens are putting on their best show right now.

    View