Abalone Cove Park

Parking is free for about an hour and then you pay after that. We stayed for almost half a day and paid $12. They had gorgeous flowers in bloom from the recent rains. It was nice taking pictures with those. Beware you do have to walk on a TON of big rocks and a steep decline to get to the beach. My calves were killing me after. Somehow a lot of families still brought their kids though. We came for the tide pools and it was pretty cool and fun to explore. We saw a brittle star for the first time! It’s also fun to look at all the different rocks :0)

Paid parking, clean restrooms in the parking lot. Trails well marked, short hike to Abalone Cove and to Sacred Cove. Views? A corner of paradise! And no, pictures can't reproduce the beauty of the place, you have to go and see it with your own eyes.

Absolutely gorgeous. Lots of wild flowers, lots of foxtails. If you bring a dog be prepared to remove a lot from their fur if they are close to the ground. Very well kept up. Bathrooms were clean too.

A Serene Escape at Abalone Cove Reserve - A Perfect Day Out with Tide Pools! Abalone Cove Reserve is a hidden gem that promises a day of tranquility, beauty, and unforgettable memories. Embrace the opportunity to immerse yourself in nature’s splendor, explore tide pools, and experience a day like no other in the heart of Palos Verdes. Visitors can make use of the parking facilities, though it’s important to note that the first 30 minutes are complimentary, while any additional time will incur a fee of $6 or more. Despite the parking charges, the experience the reserve offers more than justifies the cost.

Such a peaceful place to relax your mind and body. There’s a hike that leads down to the beach. Beautiful place for picnics or date.

Nice park. Not much shade. Some of the hikes are pretty close to the road which lessens their appeal. I went in search of tide pools and Abalone Cove is listed but there was a big sign limiting access to the tide pools because of falling rocks (maybe it's somewhat new?). Sacred Cove was fantastic for tide pools though! Just a bit longer trek to get there.

An amazing place for visitors like us. We're Colorado hikers and did not come prepared for this place. But it was amazing!! The trails are steep and the beach was rocky so my feet were hurting. But we just didn't want to leave because it was gorgeous!! Amazing views. So peaceful and serene. We saw lots of crabs and collected some driftwood. Wish I lived closer, I'd visit all the time.

Great hiking place for any age. Parking cost $12 for all day. Prepare to get wet if u want to explore the tide pool area. Picnic area is only near the parking lot. No lifeguard on duty so swim at your own risk

Pretty nice place for a hike, along the side of the beach. I mean who doesn't like a good hike with a pretty view.

What a great experience here at the Abalone Cove Park. The view was pleasant. With the right time, you can experience a great sunny clear sky with a cool breeze. Who doesn't like a good time and fresh air. This location features two places, the Abalone Cove and Sacred Cove. If you know, you know. You can enjoy the top bluff views with historical area, or you can do some trail hiking down the bluff area. Either choice, you'll love it. Make sure to bring your bottle of water. Here's the resources you need to know, Public Amenities: Public Restrooms Drinking Fountain Adjacent Picnic Area Staffed Facility Parking: Parking Lot: Yes, only paid Parking Fees: Credit / Debit only. Cash is no longer accepted. First 30 Minutes: FREE 30 Minutes to 2 Hours: $6 Over 2 Hours: $12 Seniors 62+ and Handicapped are FREE year-round. I definitely recommend coming here and checking out the breathtaking moment here. Maybe bring a picnic basket and enjoy it. This place is unique in their own way, from design and presentation, it's pretty nice. If you're in the area, stop by and say hi. Share your experience. P.s. Don't forget to smile cause you're beautiful. SYOY!

Just amazing hike views!!!! We did encounter snake signs but fortunately none in sight....Picnic tables and memoir benches can be found all over the place. The views are just magnificent! Visited on Monday and we had only saw a handful of hikers. I presume place must be absoluteky packed on weekends so to avoid crowds, i recommend visiting weekdays. Viewpoint is breathtaking in case hiking is not your thing.

Here we were on a sunny day. It's so calming and lovely to be here every time I show up. I always have fun with my family. We get to explore and see the sea creatures!

Parking is free for about an hour and then you pay after that. We stayed for almost half a day and paid $12. They had gorgeous flowers in bloom from the recent rains. It was nice taking pictures with those. Beware you do have to walk on a TON of big rocks and a steep decline to get to the beach. My calves were killing me after. Somehow a lot of families still brought their kids though. We came for the tide pools and it was pretty cool and fun to explore. We saw a brittle star for the first time! It's also fun to look at all the different rocks :0)

I love coming here for a nice walk/ hike with my family. The views are breathtaking. We normally come early in the morning so we can find parking at the lot which is very close by to the trail down. I really enjoy walking on the pebble stones and hearing the ocean sounds. A few minute walk you will find yourself at the tidal pools. The Tidal pools have all sorts of sea creatures such as sea urchins, sea stars, crabs, mussels, corals and more. There is so much to see and explore you won't regret it. There are many picnic tables by the parking lot with beautiful ocean views. Pack yourself a nice picnic and head down to Abalone Cove Reserve.

Gorgeous view! Definitely a steeper hike and requires good walking shoes with all the rocks on the beach. Parking is a bit expensive for $12, but I was able to finish in about an hour for $6. Finding the right trail was a bit difficult at first, but there are multiple access points to the beach. I think there's one that takes you up the hills, along the chapel viewpoint. Lots of crabs between rocks, but I didn't see many other sea creatures. The beach was pretty empty, but the parking lot had filled with school buses when I got back. I saw a handful of people parking on the street and walking in to avoid the fee. Great spot!

The good: The water is brighter blue here and very pretty. It's across from Wayfarer's Chapel and there's plenty of parking. There are picnic benches for dining. There's a trail that goes down to the beachy area and rock area. There is a portable potty down there too. I saw squirrels, a chipmunk, pelicans, a duck, grasshoppers, lizards and seagulls. There were also signs for rattlesnakes. The sound of the ocean regressing and the rocks rattling was relaxing and great for meditation. The sea breeze was really beautiful and the view of Terranea resort was nice. The bad: The trail down toward the water is slippery when dry and is quite steep. It was difficult with my 21 month old and with me being 9 months pregnant. The portable potty could've used maintenance. The interesting: Parking is $6 for the first hour and free if 15 minutes and under. The parking machine wasn't working for one of the days when my nanny came.

Great beach strip for sightseeing and enjoying a short walk by the ocean. I love all the cliffs around the side too - they really add to the view! I took my friends here to take their engagement photos and the ocean, sunset, and whole scenery was just breathtaking! The beach is pretty narrow and rocky though so I wouldn't recommend it for lounging out to picnic or sunbathe, but walking around is great. There is also a parking lot right by the park/beach, but beware they are VERY strict about the 4pm cutoff. We got there just a few mins after and had to drive around and find a side street to park in a few blocks down, which was very challenging because the neighborhoods don't allow parking.

Bit of walk, bring water and sturdy shoes. Kids will have fun, but will complain on way back up. Don't bring the wagon or stroller. Do being snacks and a camera. Nice quiet beach, too

My husband and I consider this our ultimate day date spot. Sturdy shoes are a necessity as the hike down to the beach is steep and the beach itself is covered in slick rocks. The tide pools make you feel like a kid again, in search of crabs, sea anemones, and starfish. Parking opens at 9 and strictly closes at 4. Take a small hike up from the tide pools to a cliff overlooking the ocean. Stunning nature at its finest.

Embrace the Outdoors in Palos Verdes. And I did. It's time for another hiking trail adventure review. Abalone Cove Shoreline Park features two beaches (Abalone Cove and Sacred Cove), tide pools, bluff top viewing areas and trails crisscrossing the area. The 109-acre nature park reserve contains an official State Ecological Preserve with important natural marine resources, and the bottom of the Portuguese Bend landslide. Two promontories, Portuguese and Inspiration Points, frame Sacred Cove, black sand and rare plants. Abalone Cove Shoreline park charges a fee to enter. There are varying fees depending on the amount of time spent (e.g., 30 mins is free, Over 2hr cost $12) in the park. Today, their parking ticket machine broke and waived my fee. Abalone Cove Shoreline hike trail is roughly 1.1-mile out-and-back trail near Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 30 min to complete with an elevation gain of 173 ft. This is a very popular area for birding, hiking, and trail running, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs (Fendi, LV, Bacci or Barney) are welcome, but must be on a leash. On this trail you'll see the majestic view of the ocean and picturesque cliffs. Furthermore, you'll find kelps, striped shore crabs, anemone, sea urchins, mussel and many more. We spent more than two hours to explore the entire trail and shoreline. Overall, we enjoyed our time here. I highly recommend this for novice hiker.

I would recommend you go, but that would be mean. Get a passport and travel; mine got stolen, recently, so I'm waiting for a "replacement". I hear LA is a dangerous and bad place, and you all need to chill out with the theft.

I used to go here in the mid 90's and I can recall it was a lot less accessible back then. There was a dirt turn off from the road where people parked off the side of the road, so if there was no parking, we'd just keep driving and simply enjoy the scenic drive. Now there is a paid parking lot that can fit dozens of cars. It comes at a price though because back then, I can recall it seeming more untouched with a lot more life in the tide pools. There's always some cost to nature when it is made more accessible to humans. But... enough of my environmental 2 cents.. After returning decades later, I still feel it is one of my favorite half day getaways in LA. Driving there, away from the bustle of the city, you will feel like you drove for hours to some beautiful coastline far from LA. High cliffs, pristine coves, and a view of Catalina if the air quality allows. I planned this trip with my in-laws, about a dozen of us for 1/23/22. To my surprise, after living all their lives in So Cal, they had never been here. It was a beautiful clear day, with clear views of Catalina. The water was crystal clear, judging from my drone shots. The walk down from the parking area was narrow and you may need to take turns sharing the path with others coming back up, but it isn't long at all so you'd get to the tide pools in no time. When you get down to the beach, you'll find it is a rocky pebble stone beach. The tide pools have plenty of hermits, anemones, snails, and stars. Since I had my 3 year old, I couldn't frolic about and search for other animals because I had to keep a close eye on her to make sure she didn't slip and hit a sharp rock. To my disappointment, there were a few parties of people down there sorting through the beautiful pebbles and filling buckets and jars :( We continued walking along the beach all the way till we got to the eastern side of the cove. There was a trail heading up and it brought us to a fork. Right went to the loop on Portuguese Point, straight continued on up to the street. We took the loop and continue on up to the street where we took the sidewalk back to the parking lot. It was a nice nature walk for the family. We spent a total of 2 hours there and paid $12 for parking.

Gorgeous beach and the view is amazing. You can almost taste the sea in your mom. The lighthouse is cool too. Sometimes you can see dolphins swimming.

Beautiful park with great parking available. Dogs allowed on the trails on leash but not allowed on the beach. Keep in mind when high tide comes in if you are going to check out the tide pools. But during high tide we saw plenty anemones. VERY rocky beach. Not for the week of ankles... Don't forget sunscreen!

The park features upper picnic area, two beaches Abalone Cove and Sacred Cove, tide pools, bluff top viewing areas, and multiple trails crisscrossing the area. The access to Abalone Cove Beach is by a long trail from the parking lot, while the access to Sacred Cove, you would walk along Palos Verdes Drive South to trails between Portuguese and Inspiration Points. The views of the ocean and Catalina Island are spectacular. The hiking trails to the beaches and tide pool are easy to moderate, totally worth the efforts. Just keep in mind, certain areas are closed and prohibited to public for safety concerns, due to the falling rocks from the cliff, so read the signs carefully. The rangers working there are super friendly, they check out the area and clean the trash can on time. All the visitors come here should clean your own trash at the picnic area, and bring your empty water bottle back and not leave it on the beach. The good thing of the parking fee is to keep this hidden gem along RPV private and quiet, first 30 minutes free, 30 minutes to 2 hours $6, over 2 hours $12, buses $55, seniors 62+ and handicapped are free year round.

The Abalone Cove Shoreline Park is the area above Abalone Cove before you reach the beach. Parking in the area is minimal. I suggest coming early and during the week if possible, otherwise you might have a tough time finding a spot. My hope is that you notice how clean the Pacific Ocean is from this view. Also, I didn't see hardly any trash on the ground. Please help to continue this trend. Dogs are allowed at the Shoreline Park. There is an area near the picnic tables that has some nice grass and a receptacle with bags. Dogs are also allowed on the trails, but not on the beaches nearby. Be careful of rattlesnakes and areas blocked off for conservation. This is, after all, a reserve. A few hiking trails are nearby, however, when my girls and I were there (7/9/21) Portuguese Point - where a couple trails converge - was closed off due to falling rocks. Here's my review for Abalone Cove which includes photos of the beach and tide pools: https://www.yelp.com/biz/abalone-cove-rancho-palos-verdes-2?hrid=W1rqVsLxtHQSec_Jm7Bt3g&utm_campaign=www_review_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)

Abalone Cove is one of my favorite spots in the Palos Verdes area. I was first introduced to this place by a friend several years ago, and I have been back since. This has also been a favorite Sunday walking location for my father who lives in the neighborhood. There are several coves in PV and Abalone Cove is a favorite for locals due to its easy access, restrooms, hiking trails, tidepools and picnic tables. If you plan it right, you can spend a nice afternoon here without a lot of crowds. There is public parking with a small fee. As of 2021, parking is free the first 30 minutes, 30 min- 2 hours is $6 and over 2 hours is $12. Enjoy your time!

My daughter and I tried something new and visited this beautiful shoreline park! I recommend especially if its just to sit, relax, listen to the crashing waves or just see the water meet the sky!

Great hike and great experience. The views are beautiful and the breeze feels great. The ocean is beautiful as the sun hits while you are enjoying a great run, jog, or hike. You can enjoy a great day here from a picnic on the beach to just regular chill time. Bring the dogs and the kids as they truly enjoy.

Amazing view from abalone cove. Always a cozy and breezy place to chill out with friends when i am in South Bay area cali.

Its has been a very long time since I have been here to this beautiful gem, Abalone cove shoreline park has it all, It's a park that has hiking trails, awesome scenery flowers, the cove, the pacific ocean plus breathtaking views. Parking back then was $5.00 all day now parking 30 mins. free $2.00 for 2 hrs. $12.00 for over 2 hrs. and the park is open 7 days daily from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm There is a few picnic tables also sitting benches at the top, dogs are allowed but not on the beach. As you start on the trail to the beach and cove some areas are pretty steep but wide enough for to pass safely, make sure you wear no slip sneakers or hiking boots because of the steep grade in some places on the trail. There are so many awesome photo opportunity here from the top to the bottom.

This place is beautiful! Nice clean park for hiking, walking, resting, a definitely relaxing zone. It's located in the beautiful city of Rancho Palos Verdes. Great ocean views, wild flowers and tide pools! I hear it's a great spot for surfing Took my class on a field trip, probably go a view more times!

tl,dr: Fun to go once in your lifetime. Bring the printable map! Likes: + Beauuutiful hike! The ocean in sight the whole time. + No dangerous animals. + Not crowded on a Saturday, granted it was cloudy. + Restroom is clean and has paper towels. + A security guard in office. I hope he's watching for everyone's safety on surveillance cams. + I saw two park rangers patrolling and picking up trash. + Trail is clearly marked, and a printable map is available online. + Along the bouldery shoreline just southwest of Inspiration Point, you can see a sea cave being kissed by rigorous waves. Ooh~ ominous. Don't slip! + 2 porta-potties throughout Abalone Park. Non-likes: - Rocky parking lot! If I'm paying, the asphalt better be road-worthy smooth! - I had to pay $12 just to park 2-3hr... Parking at Alta Vicente Trail (5min away) is free, and its parking lot ground is very smooth...... I think parking should just cost a flat $2 max. - A few times the map was a little confusing. - There seem to be a few mental ppl at Sacred Cove. Best keep to yourself and don't spend too much time there. - Oh and the parking machine only takes credit card. No cash or G Pay. So that's plenty of germs for the week, risk of id theft, and risk of dropping your credit card cuz you have to take it in and out of your wallet. Bullocks!

Ok this is one of my favorite spots here in P.V. they are currently planting 3,000 plants to preserve nature here . Gotta love P.V. ! There are many trails to walk , there is one trail that will lead you to a small secluded beach. My beach away from my regular beach ! There is not allot of benches yet but a few since they are in the process of fixing up this area. They even have sanitizer stations out in there trail areas. It can get crowded on weekends so go durning the day or weekday.

There are several AMZING hikes along the Palos Verdes Peninsula. I have a girlfriend who lives here and it's required that we do a hike every time I visit. The Abalone Cove hike is not physically demanding and it's a beautiful spot to clear your head. There always seems to be a breeze and you are right on the ocean so it's not super hot. HOT TIP: you do have to pay for parking but there are spots nearby so keep an eye out, you can park and just walk if you want.

Choose your own adventure. Go with your own pace. Walk 10 mins away from the park parking lot and you have the beach all to yourself on a Sunday early afternoon. Hike up the mountain, slide down to the beach. Sit on the stone chair, watch the wave come & go. Sunscreen, water & snacks.

Hiked this trail today (2/5/22) with friends and pup. Parking is free only for the first 20-30mins. I believe I paid $12 (by card only ) when I left. There's no other near parking options. It's practically across from Wayfarers Chapel. The trail was clean, not crowded and serene with amazing views of the coastline. It's a short and easy hike. Easy for kids too! The trail leads you down to the beach.

Love all of Pv Does anyone know any location in palos verdes for a small baby shower event?

Nice place to take kid/ grandkid for a half day field trip to see the tide pool (check the tide to make sure to go there when the tide is low). From the entrance to the tide pool area is around 0.8 miles and there is no bathroom (only a small port a potty) so make sure the kids use the main bathroom at the entrance before venturing out. There is a picnic area close to the entrance.

Cool spot to come for a hike and hit up the beach. Parking is easy as there is a lot but you have to pay $6 for two hours, $12 after that. Met my family there for a social distance hike and to hang out. We brought our dog who was allowed on the trails but not the beach. Although the life guard's dogs were on the beach... My bro and sis had their kids, so we just took the chill trails. Views were pretty amazing! Stopped and played on the beach for a bit. We were only there for two hours but missed the parking window by 2 minutes because a woman in front of us was confused and took her sweet time. Overall cool spot as it's spacious and people are able to social distance. Not a fan of the parking situation and the fact that the life guard could have his dogs on the beach.

Great spot to check the waves and rocks. I brought the kiddos on a Sunday. We arrived at 10am, and had to wait for a spot for about 20 minutes. The park ranger was nice enough to inform us that we are allow to wait until spots open up or we are free to drive around to look for spots. Not sure if there are parking spots on the side streets but throughout the street it's a no parking zone. You may have luck on the residential street if parking is permitted! Free if under 30 minutes $6 for 30 minutes to 2 hours $12 for parking over 2 hours Open 9am-4pm It's a steep hike down to the beach but absolutely worth it for the view of the ocean water and rocks. Both my 8 and 2 year old were able to make it down. The beach is limiting the amount of people in there, and asking visitors to wear masks. But there are times where certain areas get super crowded!

Want to visit a tide pool? you don't have to drive all the way down to San Diego to see one. Here in PV, you can play in the tide pool at Abalone Cove Tide pool park. This tide pool has all kind of sea creatures. It's a great place to take the kids for an outing. They will have a lots of fun. The cove is a classic Southern California tide pool inhabited by fat slimy sea hares, a few types of urchins, sea stars and brittle stars, crabs, snails and other mollusks, lots of small fish, several species of small crabs and shrimp, and zillions of hermit crabs. And if you're lucky and look hard, a few small octopi. Many of these critter live under the flat rocks and in cracks in the rock layers. It's a great activity for kids to discover the marine lives. Our kids have all grown so we went down to the Abalone Cove for a hiking trip by ourselves. There are several trails in this park. Some are easy while some are challenging. We chose a short one with a bit of climbing ‍. Once got down to the beach area, we had a good time walking on the beach and watching the kids with their parents exploring the tide pool. This is also a good spot for picture taking. I saw a few wedding photo sessions taking place here while we were walking on the beach. Getting to this place is easy. Get on 110 S to San Pedro. Go until the freeway ends, turn right on 1st, then left on Western, then right on Palos Verdes Drive. You're getting close after you pass the Trump golf course. You'll pass the parking lot (on the ocean side), and do a legal U-turn to get to the other side of the road. If you're coming south on Palos Verdes Drive, just turn right into the lot. It's free for the first 30 minutes and $12 for the whole day for parking.

My friend told me about the tide pools here but we already knew we would not be able to see them based on the tide that day (it was around 4 ft when we were there), but wanted to come check out the beach anyways. The view from the top is breathtaking. There is a dirt parking lot and park with benches at the top and you hike down to the beach. At first we were worried we would take the wrong trail since several blogs made it seem so complicated but just follow the posts - they are short rectangular poles that have arrows to show you which trail you are on. Read them. Take the Abalone Shoreline Trail to the Sea Dahlia Trail to get closest to the tide pool area. The trail is kind of steep, going down was easy but if you are completely out of shape like me, I was huffing and puffing on the way up (much harder since I was wearing my mask). The trail ends with a few steep steps and then you are landed at the rocky area of the beach. If you continue left, you will get to the small waterfall and then the tide pool area. The rocks are large so wear good thick bottom shoes, you'll be walking them for a while. (Stay close to the rock 'wall' and it'll be easier on your feet). Note halfway down you will come up on a paved road - for an easier way to get to the beach (but further from the tide pool area), go right and follow that road down and then you'll be near the lifeguard tower were there is a set of stairs. This beach is not handicapped accessible at all - it's a dirt path with a grade and then even if you get to the stairs, the last steps are uneven concrete blocks / rocks. Let's just say, if I took my mom here, I would have her stay at the top and enjoy the views, 100% NOT worth the trek for her. If you're going for mini hike or the tide pools, it would be worth heading down to the beach, otherwise there are nicer beaches that are more accessible. The sandy area was short and it's mostly large rocks. Parking was free for the first 30 mins then paid afterwards. The road to here is like a mini roller coaster so take your time and drive safely.

Beautiful reserve reached going through Palos Verdes. Fun hike down to the beach to see tide pools and flora/fauna w kids and grandma. She took her time on the way up but had no overall issues. It is steep and rocky on the trails so heads up beforehand. But it's well worth it. Low tide was a great time to go

Amazing short hike even for your little ones. A little steep but if you have adventurous young ones this should be a treat. Picnic and lunch area but with parking $ rates

Dusty steep trail to rocky beach with little or no sand. Better parks and beaches in San Pedro

Beautiful views! Good place to bring the kiddos. There's a few small swimming areas, one with a life guard. The hike are as easy or difficult as you make them. You can go down to the nearest beach for a short hike, or explore the other, more private beaches for a rigorous hike. There's plenty of tide pools and a cave to explore. Plants line the paths while the cool sea breeze refreshes your energy. Bring a towel because the water is tempting. You'll want to take a dip.

A state park where you pay to park after 30 minutes. There are long trails down - the parking lot just has a long walk to the cliff side edge where you can take a few photos and people are feeding some of the little critters with peanuts and more. The pathways extend down and around the park, quite a few miles of walking if you'd like, and some get down to the beaches elsewhere in the park.

Gorgeous, safe and clean. You can hike to the beach. Parking is $6 an hour. Stunning lookouts.

Abalone Cove Shoreline Park is a great place to hike,while offering breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. The trails were wide enough to allow hikers to come up and down at the same time,and had plenty of turnouts for water breaks. The trails are not difficult,so great for beginners. Parking is $6 for two hours,with plenty of spaces.Shoreline Park also has great spots off the beach to layout and picnic. It was about 50/50 masks on to masks off. Signage states to wear masks,but I didn't see anyone enforcing the rule.

We had fun! It's summer time again and all I could think of was to explore the beauty and bounty of our nature. Nothing to complain about because I follow the rules. Parking is easy and secured. You pay for your space and so it's all good. I can imagine if you come in here late or during the weekends. It could be tough. The hike is easy. Going down the beach is no sweat but if you plan to hike longer and with higher elevation,follow the crisscrossing trails until you get to the top to get the nicest view of the PV ever! The rocky beach was colder than most LA beaches. We arrived here around 1000 in the morning and water was cold although it's tolerable if you start running around. The beauty of this is the privacy like it's your own private beach due to isolation but still with the feeling of safety because the lifeguard was stationed at his post the whole time. The tide pools! We have seen all kinds of sea creatures. Overall,it's fun and enjoyable!

Fun hike that's approachable and challenging to beginner levels of fitness. The dissent is like a rollercoaster with winding trails and beautiful views every step of the way. I really wish they would open up the way to the Abalone Cove however. It's such a shame more people can't experience it.

It's my favorite beach in Cali! I've been here few times. Not too crowded esp right now with covid and distancing. Prefer go on weekday. Come early. Open at 9 am. Parking limited. $12/day. They has hike trail on the top and just half mile walk to the beach.prepare yourself if you want to bring food, chairs, umbrella etc. a wagon beach might good idea to carry beach equipments. I only see one guard station at this location. I'm not sure dog allowed but check before arrive might good idea. Last but not least you can do yoga poses on your own without interruption. Please keep this beach clean for others as respect. No littering!!!! Enjoy it.

We got invited to go here for low tide and check out the tide pools. It was such a wonderful experience! The walk down to the tide pools was easy as we took the paved road there and walked along the shore to get to them. It was so much fun looking for sea creatures. We saw a lot of small crabs, hermit crabs, sea anemones, sea urchins, and tiny fish. My daughter including myself was so fascinated. The rocks were challenging for her to walk on so my husband carried her a lot. My only gripe was the parking. It took some time before we found a spot. Parking was $12 and we paid when we left the lot. Overall, it was a good experience and I look forward to coming back!

Heard about how beautiful this place is supposed to be, so wanted to check it out. Parking is only free for the first half hour, then the pricing ticks up. We decided to take a peek out from the parking lot to see whether it'd be worth spending longer to hike there. The beach itself is nice, but no where as beautiful or magnificent as others made it sound. I originally intended to stay to read on the shore, but the cove just didn't provide the warm and lazily happy environment we were seeking. Perhaps it was the weather or perhaps it's always just a tad gloomy with all the grey? Whatever the case, we ended up just leaving after surveying the view. For those looking to enjoy the beach, the cove has a short sandy coast lined with many rocks. If you decide to go walking, there's no shade in sight... so come prepared for sun. Depending on the time of day, you can probably get some nice pictures along the shore.

The park contains ecological preserve and tide pools. Amazing rock tunnels where waves rush in and crash through. Enjoy the marine life but don't touch or take anything away. Beautiful walk along the coast overlooking the ocean. Abalone Cove Shoreline is as peaceful, serene, and picturesque.

My marine biology course came here from USC to check out how tide-pool animals disperse themselves in real-life. The waves were so beautiful and there were surprisingly quite a few fun animals to say hello to. (Especially the echinoderms! We saw sea stars, sea urchins, sea cucumbers and sea hares along with the more usual guys like the snails and lichens.) There were tons of mussels! The mussel beds were super dense, and that was part of why my class went: it was for a really fun project where we made a living map of the tide pools. Later, we wrote reports on why the animals were situated the way that they were. Spoiler alert: it's all about the tides and desiccation. Overall, I would definitely come back to these tide pools just for fun! I think this would be a fun place to bring kids. We saw quite a few little ones checking out the animals while my class was here.

My daughter hadn't been here & I had not been here in a long time, even though I live close by, the crowd usually discourages me - I always miss going early :( Anyhow, everyone is accurate! And I concur w/Sandra L. - we are swept away by beauty and zen, that we want it all for ourselves, but we must share:) They do close parking at 4 pm, (though like today can get packed to capacity) so good luck finding outside parking. I hope they never shut this down, as the building of new million dollar (or billion) homes being built nearby trails are slowly shrinking and fading away:(. Not to mention the residents petitioning for restrictions on parking; appears money talks & the outsiders are kept out from entry to enjoying the treasure the entire Peninsula has to offer. Once upon a time, almost all of this was open to the public (Lol if u read this earlier version w/typo of public), especially after Marineland's closure.