CHECK OUT OUR GUIDE ON ALL THE HIDDEN GEMS IN LA JOLLA FOR AN AMAZING DAY TRIP!

The very tip of Mount Soledad, located in La Jolla, bears a cross that can be seen from many miles away. The Mount Soledad Cross was first built in 1913 and was later dedicated as the Mount Soledad Easter Cross in 1954.

Mt. Soledad 1924

The cross was challenged in court in the 1980's and was then designated as a Korean War memorial.  It has always been a source of great controversy, clearly displaying a religious symbol on government property. The cross was even ruled unconstitutional by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in January 2011.

In July 2015, a group called the Mt. Soledad Memorial Association bought the half-acre of land under the cross from the Department of Defense for $1.4 million. This officially no longer put the cross on government property and finally brought both sides to an agreement to drop the case.

Personal Experience: Wow, talk about a view! Mt. Soledad offers a stunning panoramic glimpse of San Diego. Come here to catch the sunset and be sure to bring your camera! Just note that this is a very popular viewpoint and there are almost always a ton of people with limited parking spots.

There are some other great hidden gems to lookout for while on Mount Soledad which include finding the Munchkin House and troll bridges.  Afterward, have a nice picnic at Kate Sessions Park!