Historic District Self-Guided Walking Tours

A cluster of 46 vintage beach cottages are located at the edge of the beach near the Los Trancos entrance. The cottages were erected in the 1930s and 1940s and have recently been restored. A number of them can be rented by visitors for overnight stays.

A number of self-guided walks are available for visitors at Crystal Cove State Park. The walks lead through the historic buildings, while a printed guide provides information about each of the cottages and other buildings.
See Crystal Cove State Park Walking Tours.

Berns Environmental Study Loop

The Michael & Tricia Berns Environmental Study Loop offers visitors the chance to explore science stations in the half-mile loop trail. A grand celebration of the opening of the trail was held on February 1, 2014. The trail was constructed in an area that was formerly a trailer park in the Moro Canyon area of the park. The stations around the loop focus on restoration and invite visitors to participate in the process. Stations cover such topics as bird populations, archaeology, weather, and geology.

Surfing at Crystal Cove

The point breaks at Crystal Cove draw a fair number of surfers. Among the best spots are Treasure Cove and Pelican Point at the northern end of the beach. A series of reefs parallel the beach. Other spots include Boneyard and Rivermouth in front of the Historic District and Reef Point. Rocks are a hazard along the coast here.

Crystal Cove Tide Pools

The best tide pools along Crystal Cove Beach are at Pelican Point and Reef Point. Visitors will see crabs, sea anemones, periwinkles, mussels, limpets, scallops, sea stars, sea slugs, and much more. The tide pools are protected as part of the marine refuge and nothing should be disturbed or collected.

Low tide is naturally the time to come. The lowest tides are usually in the winter.
Tidepool Map

Crystal Cove Swimming Beaches

Despite its name, the beach at Muddy Creek has been acclaimed as one of the finest swimming and bodysurfing beaches in the area. The sandy bottom slopes away to great swimming waters with usually mild surf. Access is via the Reef Point entrance. An alternate approach is to park at the lower lots at El Moro, pass through the tunnel to the beach, and then head north.

As a footnote, Muddy Creek has such a meager flow that during the summer and fall it vanishes into the ground back in the hills somewhere. Only in the winter does it generate enough flow to reach the beach.

Diving at Crystal Cove

The varied coast along Crystal Cove attracts a good number of divers. A series of reefs, parallel to the beach, extend along the shore, providing interesting structures to explore. The most popular areas for diving are Reef Point and Scotchman's Cove, Rocky Bight, and Pelican Point.

The hike down the stairs and trails from parking lots coupled with rocky entrances deter some divers. Divers may drop off and pick up gear at the entrance station to the Historic District. The best entry spots at Reef Point are east of Split Rock. Otherwise, divers must struggle across rocky shallows.

Caution: Check with rangers or lifeguards that conditions are safe for all your planned activities at Crystal Cove.

The area offshore is part of the Irvine Coast Marine Life Refuge. Divers report seeing many perch, Garibaldi, sand bass, halibut, sheepshead, senorita, and opaleye. throughout the area divers will find interesting walls with swim-throughs and colorful Gorgonians.

Historic Artifacts

Several sights of interest draw divers' attention. A 150-year-old historic anchor is resting west of the Muddy Creek about 150 yards off shore at a depth of about 20 feet. Another anchor is a similar distance off shore in the Rocky Bight Area. More than a quarter mile out from Reef Point is the wreckage of a Corsair F4U ditched by a Naval Reserve pilot in 1949.

Local Dive Shops

Beach Cities Scuba at Beach Cities Aquatic Center
4537 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach, CA
Dive instruction, gear, links to Scuba Maniacs dive club, dive boats.
Beach Cities Scuba