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Abalone Cove Shoreline Park
Rating Details »
Categories: Local Flavor, Parks [Edit]
5970 Palos Verdes Drive SouthRancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
(310) 377-1222
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
8 reviews for Abalone Cove Shoreline Park
ACSP is a neat little place if you really have nothing to do on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. The hike down is easy, in my opinion. I recommend this spot for relaxation and what not.
The downside: Paying for parking.
My favorite beach. Before the beach you get a great little hike in, gorgeous, gorgeous. By the preschool on the beach there is a great place to hang illegally after hours and light an illegal bonfire, but hey we always put out the fire, the recent activity didn't start from Abalone man! Also further south there is another little rocky alcove, where you can do the same deal, just less comfortably in my opinion. A definite must for the daytime though are the tide pools. Bring a pair of water shoes, or old Converse, and jump on in during low tide and do some exploring!
!PARKING!
For free legal parking park turn on the north Barkentine. For free illegal parking park on Sea Cove Dr. or if you really want to risk your shit, then pull into Narcissa, and there is a code for a gated community. The code is in an L shape down the keyboard, or you can use brute force to open the gate. Then park your car to the little lot to the left. This is hardcore illegal and I don't do this anymore, but if you are reckless and a little stupid, then I recommend this to you.
Shhh! Sacred's is a nude beach and people get naked there!
-Don't bring the kids unless they're mature on matters of the flesh...same to you.
Of course, you're not supposed to know this. It's one of those not-so-secret secrets. I doubt Cheri A. knew this or she would've brought it up with her review on the area's overall description. Located just across from the Wayfarer's Chapel, you can miss it in a bumpy, bouncy road heartbeat. Portuguese Bend is right on the Palos Verdes fault line and the road shifts so much, they keep all the water and power lines elevated for easy repair and the little parking area is easy to miss. And don't even think of parking at the church...the parking god is wise to that, dammit!
Anyway, getting back to the nude beach...ahem, Sacred's has long-been LA's answer to San Diego's Black's Beach and those that didn't know it were often shocked to round the corner and see people frolicking in their birthday suits. They should have read the guidebook. One may wonder why all those small boats anchored offshore are chock full of looki-loos with binoculars...oh well, they can turn around and walk over to Abalone Cove and escape the horror, the horror.
Abalone Cove, beautiful as it is, is a shameful example of human greed. Why? Think about this: "Abalone" Cove. Where's the fucking abalone? Over-harvesting of this delectable seafood delicacy has all but wiped 'em out. When I first lived in the area, abs were easy to come by and plentiful. All the seafood restaurants offered breaded ab steak as part of their menu. When was the last time you saw this? Abalone Cove is as sad a statement to human greed as the now-extinct grizzly bear gracing the state flag of California.
But it is still a beautiful, natural seashore area and you should plan a day hike here...and take your trash out with you, including your cigarette butts. Just do it before Donald Trump decides to annex this area to his fucking golf course down the road. Talk about human greed...but that's a different review.
People thought this was:
- Useful (9)
- Funny (5)
- Cool (6)
Today, I spoke to people in the state parking lot and found out about the nudity behind Portuguese Bend as well as sea creatures. To my surprise the trail was dry and dusty with pebbles. You need some hiking sneaker to navigate properly. It got worse when walking on the large rocks at the beach. At the Portuguese Bend there was an inlet with small cave - the waves were going in and out. At that point I saw small crabs all over the rocks below - beautiful. I made one attempt to climb the slippery seaweed rocks to other side of inlet but a wave came and almost got soaked. At this point - it would make sense to bathing suit in case you get soaked by wave while crossing. Sadly I did not make it around the bend. The nature walk and it's beauty is five stars. When I got back to the parking lot - there was a middle aged guy without a shirt. I said hi and he looked at his watch and said, "it is 4:30 the Diamond back snakes should be coming out now". I did not see any but they have lots of small squirrel and rabbits running around in the bushes. Next time I will take the trail from the other side of Portuguese bend and take some pics.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
This is the poor mans PBC. This is a great spot for people who dont have access to the private beach. It is rarely crowded and has a pretty accessable trail. Dont get suckered into paying for parking though, just park a block west in front of the fire station for free! Cool spot for out of towners. If you get a chance, try the Portuguese Bend Club private beach. (membership only, resident only). You can always make friends with a member!
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
If a middle aged man approaches and chats you up at "Sacred Cove", don't freak out when he starts trying to get your clothes off and flashes his "goods". It's just a memory to be cherished!
People thought this was:
- Funny (2)
Where are the most beautiful tide pools I have seen. Hawaii? Bali? No LA! I know it is hard to believe but it is true. It surprises me that so many people don't know about this place. You pay $5 and hike down an easy hill (it is not dangerous but wear your old tennis shoes or you may slip especially on the tide pools. When you get to the bottom of the hill you will pass an outhouse and a park then turn left and walk along the coast. You will not immediately see the tide pools so don't think it is not there. YOU MUST have a minus tide or a very low tide under 1 ft is about the highest or everything is underwater check this website to see when to go http://www.tidesandcur... any of the Los Angeles tide charts will work fine. There are beautiful starfish and sea life of every color. Every step you take you see more beauty. Bring water because you will want to stay a while and there is no drinking water.
More info from website here
Abalone Cove Shoreline Park features two beaches (Abalone Cove and Sacred Cove), tidepools, bluff top viewing areas and trails crisscrossing the area. The park contains a State Ecological Preserve and taking of protected animals and marine life is prohibited. There is direct access to a parking lot off Palos Verdes Drive South. Access to Abalone Cove Beach is by a long trail from the parking lot. To access Sacred Cove, users must walk along Palos Verdes Drive South to one of two trails between Portuguese and Inspiration Points. Lifeguards are on duty at Abalone Cove Beach during summer hours and weekends only. The views of the ocean and Catalina Island are spectacular. Barbecues, fires, and dogs are prohibited at this site.
Here are some beautiful photos from a website. I hope they do not mind me posting this.
http://www.trailhiker....
Park hours:
Open
Mon. - Fri. 12:00 noon - 4:00p.m.
Sat. & Sun. 9:00a.m. - 4:00p.m.
Memorial Day-Labor Day
9 am-4pm
Closed
January 1, Thanksgiving Day, December 24, December 25
Parking lot fees:
$5 per car
$15 per bus
No charge for seniors Labor Day through Memorial Day
If you haven't been there before you must go and bring the family or friends it's incredible!
People thought this was:
- Useful (14)
- Cool (8)
I had driven past and seen the beach many times and always wondered how the heck to get down there. I finally actually put some effort into it and noticed there is an easy parking lot there where you can pay $5. I read you can park in the residential area up the street, but that's a bit of a walk. Near the parking area there are picnic tables and a nice view of the ocean. From the trail head you walk down about 5 minutes to the beach. Be sure not to end up where you have to clamber over a quarter mile of loose rocks like I almost did... It's about a 15 minute walk to the tide pools. If your focus is the tide pools, I'd suggest checking the tides on the internet to make sure it's low tide. I saw sea urchins, starfish, hermit crabs, anemones, and little guppie fish. There was a class out among the tide pools so there were a lot of people. The rocks can be slippery so be sure to wear sturdy outdoor shoes. Overall it was a fun experience that I would recommend trying if you're in the area and want to do something outdoorsy.
