A walk along the Huntington Beach Pier offers panoramic views of Catalina Island, Newport Beach, Long Beach and San Pedro. Along the coast near the pier, larger and stronger waves occur during swells. Beyond that, reasons to visit Huntington Beach range from beaches and nature preserves to surf history, art and events.
Beach, Pier and Bike Path
Bolsa Chica State Beach stretches for three miles along Pacific Coast Highway, from Warner Avenue to Seapoint Avenue. Surf fishing is possible there. The beach visitor center offers educational exhibits and programs year-round. Huntington State Beach has a different focus: fire pits are available year-round, and the beach is a nesting area for the threatened snowy plover.
The pier offers more than views of the coast. You don’t need a fishing license to fish from the public Huntington Beach Pier. If you’re interested in surf conditions, the information about stronger waves during swells near the pier is a specific planning consideration; it describes a condition that isn’t the same at all times.
For a longer ride, the beach bike path provides a clear point of reference: it’s almost 8.5 miles long, stretching from the northern tip of Bolsa Chica State Beach to the southern tip of Huntington State Beach. This makes it quite different from the trails in the nature reserve, whose length and setting call for separate planning.
Nature and Trails
The Bolsa Chica Wetlands cover 1,449 acres. At the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, you can explore about five miles of trails from sunrise to sunset. The approximate distance leaves room for your own planning; the time window describes when the trails can be explored. This is different from a bike ride along the longer beach bike path and helps you treat the two as distinct kinds of outings.
Surf History and Art
The Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum features a rotating, cataloged collection that preserves surfboards and local history. This brings the history of surfing into focus alongside the active coastal scene. Admission to exhibitions at the Huntington Beach Art Center is free, and its exhibition program changes over time. If you’d like to include culture in your trip, these offer two distinct points of interest: local surf history and changing art exhibitions.
Events and Local Offerings
The US Open of Surfing brings the world’s top surfers to Huntington Beach every summer and takes place along the coast near the Huntington Beach Pier. Another annual event is Civil War Days at Huntington Beach Central Park. The event brings together hundreds of living history reenactors, historians, educators and expert speakers; dates vary from year to year, and the event’s scope may change. The Surf City Marathon, meanwhile, takes place every February and follows a scenic seaside route along Pacific Coast Highway.
At the Huntington Beach Farmers Market, local vendors offer seasonal fruits and vegetables, hand-cut flowers, local honey, gourmet spices, baked goods, handmade products and other items. The selection may vary by vendor. A visit to the market therefore offers a different focus from a trip built around an event or the beach and nature trails.
Plan Your Travel Dates and Accommodation
The recurring events fall at different times of the year: the Surf City Marathon takes place in February, the US Open of Surfing is held in summer, and Civil War Days is held annually, but not on a fixed date. If one of these events is the reason for your trip, check the date for that year before booking your hotel. For a stay without a specific event as its focus, the beach, nature trails, pier and culture offer different themes to help you plan your time in Huntington Beach.
Discover more destinations: Sunset Beach, Irvine, Stanton, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Woods, Mission Viejo, Fullerton, Santa Ana.
For the broader travel overview: Orange.
