Orange Section 3

This section offers one of the more varied hikes in Orange County. It takes you from the beach culture ambiance of Balboa, past a Victorian pavilion circa 1906, on a short ferry boat ride, through exclusive Balboa Island, and into Corona Del Mar (Crown of the Sea) before hitting the most pristine and well-preserved piece of the Orange County coast at Crystal Cove State Park, tucked in the folds of the convoluted San Joaquin Hills which rise from the coastal plain from Corona del Mar south to around Dana Point. This park's 3½-mile shoreline preserves some treasures: secluded beaches, fragrant coastal sage fields, and a nostalgic collection of rickety beach cottages built in the late 1920s and early 1930s.

Starting at the Balboa Pier, walk inland one block along Main Street past tourist oriented businesses to the Victorian-era Balboa Pavilion on Newport Bay at the end of the street. The passing of the big band era marked the end of the pavilion's heyday, but a number of businesses flourish here including the Catalina ferry, a restaurant and a harbor cruise service. Turn left on the waterfront walkway past a small amusement park to reach the Balboa Ferry, two blocks down at the end of Palm Street. The quaint ferry takes a few minutes to cross to Balboa Island, remarkably still costing only 50 cents for pedestrians to ride.

Once the ferry drops you on the island, you have a choice of routes. The Bay Front Walkway circles the island, allowing you to go left or right for a scenic route ending at the Marine Avenue bridge. For the most direct route, take the Bay Front walkway to the right, coming to Marine Avenue at 1⅛ miles. While you can continue on the walkway around to the bridge, our described route turns left on the Marine Avenue sidewalk to pass tourist stores. You can buy a Balboa Island T Shirt, a sea shell pendant to go with it, then an ice cream cone to dribble on your new shirt in the hot summer sun.

When Marine Avenue comes to the bridge at 1⅝ miles, cross it. You immediately turn right on Bayside Drive and walk its sidewalk, then some narrow shoulder where the street jogs left up the hill. After Bayside turns inland, turn right on Fernleaf Avenue at 3 miles and follow it two blocks to Ocean Blvd. Turn left and follow Ocean a few blocks to Lookout Point, a little grassy park with benches at 3½ miles. The park overlooks the Newport Harbor entrance and Corona Del Mar Beach. Here you must decide between the tidal and inland routes. To take the tidal route, passable only at lower tides, walk south a short distance to the entrance to Corona del Mar Beach. Walk down the entrance drive and head south when you get to the beach. Soon you scramble across rocks in the tidal zone to pass Arch Rock. Continue along the tideline rounding Todd Point to reach sandy beach at Crystal Cove State Park around 5 miles. Look for the trail coming down to the beach from the bluff before Pelican Point at 5⅛ miles. The two routes rejoin here. To take the inland route, continue along Ocean Blvd. to its end, then turn left and follow Poppy Avenue to Pacific Coast Highway. Turn right and walk the bike path along the shoulder.

Just past Pelican Point Drive, veer right on the paved path at 5⅛ mile and descend into Crystal Cove State Park. It drops gently toward the beach through thick fragrant coastal sage and hits the sand near Pelican Point at 5⅝ miles. This beautiful area of thick and fragrant coastal sage on the restored bluffs and white clean beach represents the Laguna coast before rampant growth overwhelmed the natural features.
The CCT continues along the tideline of the beach. If you took the inland route, add ½ mile to the distances below. Round sandy Pelican Point at 5½ miles, then continue down the delightful beach. You reach the dilapidated cottages at Crystal Cove, this section's end, at 6⅜ miles. The State Parks department owns the cottages. They recently planned a large hotel here, but local resistance to the hotel convinced them to restore the cottages instead and make them vacation rentals.

SUGGESTED ROUND TRIPS AND LOOPS: From Balboa Pier walk over to the ferry and take it to Balboa Island. For a look at the harbor area with its luxury leisure boats, walk around the Island on the Bay Front Walkway and return via the ferry for a 4-mile loop. To experience the beauty of Crystal Cove State Park and the unique beach cottages, park at the Pelican Point parking lot and walk the beach to Reef Point (on the next section). Return via the paved blufftop trail for a 4½ mile loop.