Hidden Gems in Corona del Mar

Inspiration Point

Viewpoint · Easy · Best at sunset

The bluff-top view park at the south end of Ocean Boulevard sits at the far end of what the city's coastal land use plan calls a "half-mile linear view park" running from Lookout Point to Inspiration Point, and the same plan lists its walkway as an official vertical accessway down to Corona del Mar State Beach. Expect a grassy strip with benches, free street parking, and a steep concrete path down to the beach, with Catalina and the harbour entrance in view.

• Cliffs: Bluff edge. Paths below lead down to Pirate's Cove and Little Corona.

Described from newportbeachca.gov, funorangecountyparks.com, orangecountyinsiders.com

Little Corona del Mar Beach

Tide pools · Easy · Best at low tide

Reached by a paved walkway down from Poppy Avenue at Ocean Boulevard, with restrooms and showers part-way down, and described by Visit Newport Beach as one of very few Orange County beaches involving no stair steps, so you can wheel gear straight down. Rocky reefs flank both sides and buoys about 150 yards out keep boats and jet skis away; the tide pools only appear at low tide.

• Tide: Check the tide schedule. Do not turn your back on the sea.
• Footwear: Rocky and cliffy. Sturdy shoes or water shoes.

Described from visitnewportbeach.com, enjoyorangecounty.com, newportbeachca.gov

Pirates Cove Beach

Beach · Moderate

Tucked below Lookout Point at the harbour entrance and reached by stairs from the bluff top, which Fun Orange County Parks calls "the safest way to approach" rather than scrambling the rocks. Small sea caves, and calm water because the harbour jetties block the swell; Visit Newport Beach notes it "serves as the opening scene of Gilligan's Island".

• Access: Stairs down from Lookout Point, at Ocean Blvd and Heliotrope.

Described from visitnewportbeach.com, funorangecountyparks.com, newportbeachca.gov

China Cove Beach

Beach · Moderate

A small sandy pocket on Cove Street at the bottom of Fernleaf Avenue, reached by a stairway from Ocean Boulevard since there is no public parking below it. The white-and-terracotta Spanish Mission building above it was built in 1926 as a yacht club boat house and has been Caltech's Kerckhoff Marine Laboratory since 1929.

• Access: Reached from Cove Street at the bottom of Fernleaf Avenue.

Described from californiabeaches.com, thesherman.org, newportbeachca.gov

Buck Gully Reserve

Trail · Moderate

A roughly 300-acre coastal canyon open dawn to dusk, with the Buck Gully Trail at 2.55 miles and the Bobcat Trail at 0.68 mile, recently rebuilt with four bridges set in place by helicopter. Weekend Sherpa puts the full out-and-back at 5.2 miles with about 440 feet of gain and notes the Poppy Avenue trailhead has parking while the San Joaquin Hills Road end does not.

• Dogs: No dogs - the reserve cites snakebite risk on the trails.
• Parking: The Poppy Avenue trailhead has parking; the San Joaquin Hills Road end does not.
• Conditions: Muddy after rain. The creek runs year-round.

Described from newportbeachca.gov, weekendsherpa.com, letsgooutside.org

Lookout Point Park

Viewpoint · Easy

A small bluff park on Ocean Boulevard between Goldenrod and Heliotrope with benches, grass and shade trees but no restrooms or picnic tables, and street parking only. It looks over Pirates Cove to the Balboa Peninsula and the harbour mouth, with stair access down to the cove.

• Parking: Limited street parking. No restrooms.

Described from californiabeaches.com, orangecountyoutdoors.com, newportbeachca.gov

These places change and we do not get to visit them all. If something here is closed, moved, or just wrong, tell us and we will fix it.

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