Countdown to the Challenge – we’re walkin’, rain or shine!

Consider the possibility of rain just another CHALLENGE! Let’s do this!

• DATE Saturday, January 3rd, 2026
• START: 12:30 pm at La Jolla Shores 
  -> We’ll be at the NORTH end of the parking lot, near the restroom.  Click for pinned location.
  NOTE – There is NO CHECK-IN, but please come say hi and get free sunscreen/lip balm from our sponsors!
• ROUTE MAP View the entire route on Google maps, including restroom locations, and then DOWNLOAD to your phone.
• FINISH All finishers will be given a lei at the end!  We’ll greet you on the beach across from Tower 13 and Las Olas restaurants.
• SHIRTS & HATS Come to our tent for shirts/hats that weren’t picked up from the surfshop. Also, you can trade yours in for size (if it hasn’t been worn) if we have availability. We’ll have some limited sizes available for purchase (VENMO/cash only).
• WEATHER update for La Jolla.
• STILL NEED TO REGISTER? Click here.
• WHAT TO BRING
  – day pack
  – food & water
  – cell phone (with map downloaded to show restroom locations)
  – hat + sunscreen (the sun will be on your back – beware neck and legs!)
  – sturdy sneakers with support
  – flashlight or headlamp (in case you finish after dark)
  – large ziploc bag for trash pickup
  – money (for your celebratory refreshments at Tower 13 and other event swag).

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What is the King Tide Challenge?

The King Tide Challenge is an annual 11-mile beach walk that is hosted by the King Tide Challenge Foundation, a nonprofit corporation with a singular mission to raise money for skin cancer research at Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health.

Read this article by Surf Break Magazine to get the feel of this event, “Why the King Tide Challenge is About Showing Up”.

How much does it cost?

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

Is there an after-walk celebration?

Yes, and you won’t want to miss it! The After Party begins at the end of your walk at the Cardiff Beach Bar At Tower 13 . We’ll have food & cold drinks to purchase, a silent auction, and live music. Due to limited seating, only participants who have donated to the The King Tide Challenge Foundation (in support of Moores Cancer Center) will be invited to the after-party. If you would like to donate, or add to your original donation, please visit our Register / Donate page.

Are you up for the 2026 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 Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health.

Date: January 3, 2026

Time: 12:30pm

Start: La Jolla Shores parking lot, north end.

Finish: Cardiff Beach Bar @ Tower 13

The Route

The walk begins near La Jolla Shores, and then continues northward through Black’s Beach, Torrey Pines State Beach, Del Mar, Solana Beach, and finishes 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. You will see and experience our local beaches like you never have!

THANK YOU to our generous sponsors

Help us support these business and give them a high five for joining our King Tide Challenge community….

Alves Surfboards | Bali Hai Restaurant | Best Pizza | Bike Medic Plus | Braincare Performance Center | Breakers Café | Brigantine Restaurant | Cal Coast Adventure | Cardiff Tiny Farm | Carlos Garcia Mobile Detail | Culture Brewing | David Meza (Artist) | Firewire Surfboards | Flatworks Displays | Hansen’s Surfboards |Harvest Ranch Market | Jennifer Dawson (Nat’l Pickleball League) |Keith Jain (Nat’l Pickleball League) | Kevin Anderson (Artist) | Ki’s Restaurant | Kinga (Artist) | Las Olas Restaurant | Legends Nail Salon | Mike Leyva (Artist) | Natura Spa | Pacific Coast Grill | Pure Infrared Sauna | Salon Helene | Salt Culture | Sharon Belknap (Artist) | Shelter Tequila | Soulful Sound Bath | Sushi Lounge | Sunbum | Tassy Hennessy Acupuncture | The Art of Skin MD | The Lab Surf Co. | The Cali Life Photography | Tom Ham’s Lighthouse | TravisMathew | VYRTU Pilates | World Wide Golf | Zig Wharton (Artist) 

And a huge thank you to the hundreds of individual donations received this season!

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A look back at the 2025 King Tide Challenge…

The 2025 KTC was a HUGE success! Together, we donated a record amount to Moore’s Cancer Center!

We are deeply grateful to each and every one of you who contributed to the King Tide Challenge. Your generosity has made an extraordinary impact. Thanks to your support, we were able to donate an incredible $46,773 to UCSD Moores Cancer Center. This contribution will help fund critical research and provide essential resources to those battling cancer. Your compassion and commitment to this cause are truly inspiring, and we could not have reached this milestone without your kindness.