Bask in the California Sun at Corona del Mar State Beach

A great family beach and a popular place for swimmers, Corona del Mar State Beach boasts a half-mile of sandy beach framed by cliffs and a rock jetty. Also referred to as simply Big Corona Beach, the beach serves as the east entrance to the lovely Newport Harbor. Triangular in shape, the south-facing beach offers plenty of wide, flat space for visitors to enjoy.

Taking in the Beauty of Corona del Mar State Beach

Corona del Mar is easily one of the most beautiful areas in the country. Characterized by sandy beaches and coves, visiting Corona del Mar feels like stepping into a movie set. In fact, the scenic beauty of the area has been featured in numerous television productions, including Gilligan’s Island and several television productions currently being made for Disney. On the hills that stand above the beaches, you can find lovely luxurious homes and windy roads leading to a lookout point boasting magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean and bay.

Corona del Mar State Beach, which translates to “Crown of the Sea” state beach, is just one of the beautiful features this area has to offer. Established in 1947, the protected beach is a part of the California state park system. The lovely spot offers 30 acres of scenic beauty and recreational opportunities.

Enjoying the Great Outdoors at Corona del Mar State Beach

Corona del Mar State Beach offers ample opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. Some of the most popular activities among the beach’s visitors include fishing, picnicking, scuba diving and snorkeling, windsurfing, playing volleyball and simply basking in the sun.

While Corona del Mar State Beach is a great site for a number of activities, it is particularly well known for its surfing opportunities. In fact, the beach hosted the first major surf competition in Mainland America in 1928: the Pacific Coast Surf Riding Championships. Organized by Tom Blake through the Surfboard Club, the contest involved both surfing and paddling skills.

In later years, the beach became an even more desirable surfing location after the harbor entrance was dredged to 25 feet and more than 200,000 tons of rocks were dropped at the entrance in order to extend the West and East Jetties. The East Jetty ultimately grew to its current 1,673 feet. This, along with the removal of the entrance sand bar, eliminated the easy waves that had once been popular at the beach. Today, those easy waves have been replaced by The Wedge, which is a popular surf break that shields Corona from all but the most southerly swells.

Those who visit Corona del Mar State Beach will find a number of amenities and facilities available for their enjoyment. Among these are:

• Hiking trails
• Restrooms
• Drinking Water
• Outdoor Showers
• Fire Pits
• Onsite Parking
• Food Service

Corona del Mar State Beach is located at the intersection of Ocean Boulevard and Jasmine Avenue in Newport Beach. Leashed dogs are allowed on the beach before 10:00 am and after 4:30 pm.