Crystal Cove, Newport Beach, California

Crystal Cove is a stretch of coastal cliffs and a beach front cove sandwiched between Pacific Coast Highway and the Pacific Ocean just north of Laguna Beach. It contains a state park with paved beach parking and an enclave of mobile homes on the sand.

Crystal Cove State Park / Beach, located in Newport Beach, California, is best known for its rustic setting that stands in contrast to pristine, new homes and immaculate greens of the Pelican Hills Golf Club overlooking this wilderness oasis. Three beach areas below the bluffs include Reef Point with access to two coves, Pelican Point which is a 3.25-mile trail and Los Trancos which offers access to an historic district of 1930s style houses. Just off shore is a 1,140 acre underwater park for snorkelers and scuba divers. On the southern edge of the park is El Moro, a 2,200-acre chaparral canyon with 18 miles of hiking, biking and horse trails.

Crystal Cove State Park and the undeveloped woodland features rustic, overnight campsites. Camp areas: Loop 1 & Loop 2 are accessible only by foot. All vehicles must be left at the park office!! No pets are allowed and all sites are a 3-mile hike from parking lot. There is no drinking water available, no trash cans available - everything is pack it in, pack it out.

New to the Crystal Cove State Beach are the Historic Beach house renovations, The Beachcomber Restaurant and the Date Shack's concessions operations shifted to the Rubys Corporation that now operates the business as the Shake Shack.

camp sites

Fires are restricted to backpack stoves. The park is located off Pacific Coast Highway between Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach. Crystal Cove SP, 8471 PCH, Laguna Beach, CA 92651. Kiosk Hours: 8am-4pm. Cost is Up on PCH, there's a building which sits off the road. It's something of a landmark, having been around for 45 years or so, according to one shake maker there. You'll see a posted sign, usually some cars parked and joggers and bicyclists gathered for a bit of refreshment. Once known for its date shakes, it is now operated as a concession by Ruby's corporation, serving a variety of shakes, coffee drinks, sodas and snacks. The price of a shake is around $4 when we checked and tried one in 2007.

Directly across the street is a massive cement facade surrounded by fresh, green lawn with the wording "Newport Coast". In striking contrast to the wild flowers and building across the highway, multimillion dollar estates with ocean views are being built as parked bulldozers indicate. We hope the newest, wealthiest members to the area will learn to coexist with a favorite establishment. The little shack offers the tastiest drink for miles.

Newport Beach beaches and points of interest

32nd Street Beach in Newport Beach

40th Street Beach in Newport Beach

52nd Street Beach in Newport Beach

Back Bays of Balboa Peninsula

Bayside Drive County Beach -in Corona del Mar, at Ocean Boulevard and Fernleaf Avenue. Free street parking. Hours: 6 am to 10 pm.

Crystal Cove State Park - On north side of Laguna Beach, at the end of Crescent Bay Drive. Free street parking. Open: 6 am to 10 pm. Facilities: Lifeguards and rest rooms.

Corona Del Mar State Beach - The beach can be reached via an access road near the intersection of Iris Street and Ocean Boulevard in Corona del Mar. Lifeguards, restrooms, showers, picnic tables, and fire pits.

Inspiration Point Park in Corona del Mar at Ocean Blvd. at Orchid

Little Corona del Mar Beach in Corona del Mar, at Ocean Boulevard and Poppy Avenue. Free street parking. Open: 6 am to 10 pm.

Lookout Point Park is open to the public and features vistas of the Corona del Mar Main Beach and the Pacific Ocean. It can accommodate small weddings of 20 people or less.

Newport Beach Municipal Beach next to Newport Beach Pier

Newport Beach River Jetty Beach

Rocky Point in Corona del Mar, at Ocean Boulevard and Harbor Channel. Free street parking. Open: 6 am to 10 pm.

Santa Ana River County Beach

West Jetty View Park and Beach