May 9, 20182 min read

Crystal Cove State Park

Updated: Dec 27, 2021

Crystal Cove is home to some of the most beautiful sceneries I’ve had the pleasure to see in SoCal, and definitely worth visiting whether you are a tourist or a local. The state park is a perfect day stop for those who love to hike overlooking the ocean, for swimmers, beachgoers and even scuba divers!

Crystal Cove State Park is located off PCH in Newport Beach, CA and features 3.2 miles of coastline and cliffs, inland chaparral canyons, and a historic district of beach houses.

The park is open daily from 6 AM to Sunset. Parking costs $15 for a full day of use, daily passes can be bought through an app -> Passport Parking. Annual Passes are available for California residents.

Get the Park Brochure: Click Here to View / Download

"Crystal Cove is a designated underwater park with several areas to explore. Check the tide charts and visit at low tide for better viewing."

Hiking: My favorite thing to do around here. The views are so breathtaking that it makes exercising around here so much easier. Crystal Cove offers inland and coastal hiking options – 15 miles of trails inland and 2.5 miles of paved trails overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Wildlife: Crystal Cove State Park has 180 different species of birds that can be observed year round. You'll notice them as soon as you start walking down from the parking lots to the vista points.

Tide Pools: Crystal Cove is a designated underwater park with several areas to explore and attracts tide pool enthusiasts, as well as scuba divers, who get to enjoy the offshore waters. Check the tide charts and visit at low tide for better viewing of the tide pools.

Beach: There are three main beach areas in Crystal Cove, which are:

1- Pelican Point (3.25 mi trail)

2- Reef Point, which provides access to two beautiful coves

3- Los Trancos, where you can access the historic district of little houses

Swimming, surfing, kayaking and diving zones are separate from each other, make sure to check if you are in the proper place for each activity.

Camping: 57 Sites with ocean views and 3 more camping areas inland.

For details and information to site-specific reservations, call (800) 444-7275 or visit www.reservecalifornia.com

The campground map is available here.

Historic District: Counts with 46 vintage rustic coastal cottages originally built in the 1930’s; 21 of these cottages are available for overnight renting. The area has been restored by California State Parks and the Crystal Cove Alliance. Every Holiday season there’s a Christmas tree set up right on the beach and a Christmas tree lighting ceremony, tradition that completed 20 years in 2016.

Beachcomber Café: Located in the Historic District, offers breakfast, lunch and dinner menus with amazing ocean views.