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South Point's Green Sand BeachJuly 3rd, 2004 The sand really is green. Straight ahead in the above picture, the ridged mound is actually an olivine cinder cone that has eroded to make the beach. Olivine is a green mineral deposited along the coast by the volcano.
 Directions to the green sand beach are: follow South Point Road to the bottom, veering to the left when the road forks. Park in the area near the boat dock where the road ends. Just past the boat dock there is a gated 4wd road. Follow the road for 2 1/4 miles till you see the cinder cone on your right. The walk out is hot and dry and windy - try to go in the morning as the wind gets worse as the day wears on. To get down to the beach you will have to climb the face or follow the trail. The trailhead is off to the right if you are looking straight down at the beach, but I have never been able to find it. I usually go straight down the face of the cliff, climbing from outcrop to outcrop. Neither way is easy or particularly safe, so use your judgement.  The beachcombing on the way out is fantastic. Look to your right for any areas that are completely littered with trash. There is apparently some sort of a current that south point interrupts, hence trash from halfway across the globe is deposited along the coastline. Look for little pockets of white sand (really pulverized coral) to find shells in. |
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