Riverside - all beaches

This beach park is a favorite among locals, including myself, because of its natural landscape. The pedestrian paths outnumber the vehicle roads, which creates a nice separation from city life. The sand beach walk is located below street level, away from the busy Pacific Coast Highway. The trails from the parking lots wind through areas of local sage, scrub brush, and chaparral. Along the way, you can also find restroom structures. By using Google Maps Satellite View, you can easily locate the beach access and find highlights along the trail. Crystal Cove State Park is well-known for its clean sand beach and ocean. In the summertime, it's great for swimming and occasionally surfing, although body boarding is more common. Lifeguards are always present and keep a close watch. During the off season, the watch stations are moved and lined up on dry land. The waterfront is a year-round spectacle with its tide pools, which are definitely worth the hike. The beach walk is lined with ocean-carved rock formations. You can set up beach chairs, a tarp, or a towel to hold a spot and enjoy watching the waves, boats offshore, or kids building sand castles. The entrance fee for vehicles is $15, but prices may change in the summertime. The day use side is open from 6:00 am to sunset.

This beach is honestly my favorite. It's beautiful and usually peaceful. However, the water is quite cold and the shelf drops off quickly, so it's not ideal for swimming.

The view is definitely worth it, even with just a quick hike from parking lot 1, which is the northernmost lot. The paths are mostly paved and can be easily navigated with a stroller. It's important to note that there are some hills, especially if you're heading down to the beach. Additionally, the final stretch to the observation platform has stairs and steep drop-offs on both sides.

This RV park by the ocean is truly the ultimate spot for relaxation, rest, and tranquility. It's the perfect place to soak up the sun and enjoy the beach. The campers here are incredibly friendly, polite, considerate, and warm-hearted.

This beach is truly remarkable! The sand is of exceptional quality, and the expanse of the beach is quite impressive, providing ample room for a variety of recreational pursuits. However, it is important to note that there are no restroom or shower facilities available on site.

This beach is dog-friendly and conveniently located right next to a train station. It's a small and relatively quiet spot to relax and take in the sand and sunset. Due to coastal erosion, the beach space is not extensive. There are quite a few unhoused individuals utilizing the tables, fire pits, and showers, but everyone seems to keep to themselves, so it's not a problem. Although it may not be the perfect beach, I still thoroughly enjoyed my time here.