CROSS-POSTED WITH SO CAL EXPLORERS
HUMANIST HIKERS!
Walk off the turkey and stuffing with a beach walk on beautiful Crystal Cove State Park. Sunday afternoon is the second-lowest low tide of the month (lowest is Monday).
I'm calling this a walk, rather than a hike. Walk at your own pace and turn around whenever you like. Just let someone know, so we don't wait or you.
Date: Saturday, December 14 @ 1:20 pm
Location: Cameo Shores Rd & Hampden Rd, Corona del Mar, CA 92625
Key Info:
- Meet and Greet at the Cameo Shores free parking area at 1:20 PM. Look for my orange baseball cap.
- The hike departs Cameo Shores parking area promptly at 1:30 PM.
- For the paid parking, meet us at the north (Lot #1) restrooms at 1:40 PM.
- Tide is Low 2:53 PM PST −1.55 ft
- Sunset is at 4:44 PM.
DOGS ARE NOT PERMITTED!
About the walk:
The State Beach parking is rather pricey at $15, but you can park for free on the corner of Cameo Shores Road & Hampden Road, just off PCH south of Corona del Mar, NB about 1/4 mile away from the northern end of the park. If you choose to park at the beach parking lot, park in lot 1, walk on the paved path to the first restroom and we'll meet you there at 2:10. PLEASE LET ME KNOW AHEAD OF TIME IF YOU CHOOSE THAT OPTION, SO WE'LL KNOW TO LOOK FOR YOU!
We leave from Cameo Shores at 1:30 PM SHARP!
The total distance if we walk to Abalone Point, the southernmost point in the State Beach, and back is 8 miles, but feel free to walk as far as you like and turn around. Since the low tide occurs earlier in the afternoon than the previous times, I intend to go to the end, but I'll turn around so we get back before sundown, because that's when the park closes.
The best way to experience it IMO is to walk barefoot at the water's edge. I find this to be a very relaxing and meditative activity, but bring footwear that you can put on quickly for a bit of rocky terrain which we may have to cross, depending on the water level. Enjoy the sound of the ocean and the birds. Lots of sandpipers, terns. and seagulls to watch.
The Historic District, including the famous Shake Shack, is about half way down, 4 miles round trip. Just past the Historic District are some tidal pools where you can look for sea anemones, shrimp, crabs and other marine life. Whales, sea lions and dolphins can occasionally be seen from the beach.
Route: From the northern parking lot restrooms we will head north/west on the paved path toward the beach. We will turn right just before the ramp that leads down to the sand. We will walk past the golf course to a nice circular view point at the end of the path. Then we will walk down to the sand, check out the cave, and walk south toward Laguna Beach. At Abalone Point the official ceremony is to touch the furthest rock south that you can access.
We'll walk as far as we get and turn around around 3:30 so we can watch the sunset from the overlook. The park closes at sunset.
Rain cancels!
Essentials: Water, maybe a snack , sunglasses, flip flops or sandals, a hat or umbrella.
How to get to Crystal Cove Beach: http://www.crystalcovestatepark.org/how-to-find-the-park/
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