If you love nature and the great outdoors, this stretch of Southern Californian coastline is for you.
Crystal Cove is a fascinating seafront wildlife reserve, ideal for picnicking, hiking and sunbathing.
The park is in two parts. The beach side boasts five kilometres of golden sands and a protected water park popular with scuba divers, snorkelers, surfers and swimmers. In contrast, behind the beach, there are 2,400 acres of unspoilt woodland. Here, you’ll find pretty walking trails, campsites and mountain vistas to enjoy. Buy an all-day parking pass and leave your vehicle in one of the three public car parks, allowing you plenty of time to explore.
To plan a walk, pick up a map from a ranger at the park’s visitor centre. There are some easy walks that pass numerous seafront lookouts. For a more challenging walk, hike around the perimeter of the park on the advanced 17-kilometre trail. Mountain bikers and horse riders can choose from the winding dirt paths that pass through the area. To really get back to nature, there are basic campsites nestled deep in the woodland, dubbed the park’s Back Country. You’ll need to be reasonably fit as getting to these sites involves several hours of strenuous hiking! Supplies will need to be taken with you, including water. If this doesn’t appeal, there are waterfront camps and van sites that are more easily accessible and have communal toilet facilities and showers that can be used for a small fee.
Crystal Cove Historic District is a seaside village dotted with more than 40 rustic beach cottages. It also has a restaurant, snack bar and souvenir shop. The cottages were built in the 1920s and ‘30s and one of them appears in the 1988 film Beaches, starring Bette Midler. About half of the cottages have been renovated and are available as holiday rentals. However, they are booked solidly all year round so you’ll need to book at least seven months in advance. If you just want to visit for the day, there is a guided tour of the village on the second Saturday of the month, which can be booked at the visitor centre.
Crystal Cove is a short drive south of tourist hot spots Huntington Beach and Newport Beach.
