crystal cove state park brochure

8/9/2019 Crystal Cove State Park Brochure

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The ocean and shoreline,

visible rom nearly all points

along Pacifc Coast Highway,dominate the coastal portion

o the park. From the high

ridges above Moro Canyon,

visitors enjoy an expansive

view o the ocean,

the interior valleys

and the mountain ranges

beyond.

Crstal Cove State Park

8471 N. Coast HighwaLaguna Beach, CA 92651

(949) 494-3539

www.crstalcovestatepark.com

2004 California State Parks (Rev. 2007) Printed on Recycled Paper

Our MissionThemissiono the CaliorniaDepartment oParks and Recreation is to provide or the

health, inspiration and education o the

people o Caliornia by helping to preserve

the states extraordinary biological diversity,

protecting its most valued natural and

cultural resources, and creating opportunities

or high-quality outdoor recreation.

www.parks.ca.gov

Caliornia State Parks supports equal access.

Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who

need assistance should contact the park at

the phone number below. To receive this

publication in an alternate ormat, write to

the Communications Ofce at the ollowing

address.

CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS

P. O. Box 942896

Sacramento, CA 94296-0001For inormation call: (800) 777-0369

(916) 653-6995, outside the U.S.

711, TTY relay service

Discover the many states of California.

Printing o this brochure is partially unded

by the Crystal Cove Alliance

and the Irvine Ranch Conservancy.

Crystal CoveState Park


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C rstal Cove State Parks rolling sur,wide sandy beaches, tide pools, gently slop-

ing hills, and deeply wooded canyons and

ridges provide a delightul contrast to its

urban surroundings. Located o busy Pacifc

Coast Highway between Corona del Mar andLaguna Beach, Crystal Cove is one o Orange

Countys largest remaining examples o

open space and natural seashore.

The parks Mediterranean climate is char-

acterized by moist, oggy summer mornings,

with the og burning o by midmorning to

bring warm, sunny days and cool evenings.

PARK HISTORyNative People

For over nine thousand years the native

people established villages in El Moro

Canyon near two natural springs. Their ood

sources included fsh rom the kelp beds

and sur zones, waterowl, and a variety o

plants and animals. The prehistoric people

developed a number o specialized crats

and tools including nets, fshhooks, bas-ketry, stone implements, ritual objects, and

tule canoes.

With the arrival o Spanish missionaries,

the native people were drawn into the mis-

sion system. At Mission San Gabriel and

Mission San Juan Capistrano their way o lie

changed with the introduction o new reli-

gious and agricultural practices.

Rancho San Joaquin

Ater Jos Andrs Sepulveda acquired

land rom the Mexican government in 1836,

Mission San Juan Capistranos grazing area

became known as Rancho San Joaquin.

With the assistance o a Native American

workorce, Sepulveda used Moro Canyons

seasonal pastures or cattle grazing. Ater

1850, a run o bad luck along with land title

complications pushed Sepulveda into debt.He sold Rancho San Joaquin in 1864.

The Irvine Ranch Compan

Three northern Caliornia ranchers and San

Francisco fnancier James Irvine purchased

the rancho and stocked it with thousands o

sheep. In 1876 Irvine bought out his part-

ners when ranching ailed due to droughts,

wool inestations, and competitive markets.

Ater Irvines death in 1886, sheep ranch-ing continued as other ranching activities

developed.

James Irvine II inherited the ranch rom

his ather and diversifed the agricultural

business by leasing land to tenant armers.

He incorporated his land holdings and cre-

ated The Irvine Company on June 4, 1894.

Japanese FarmersBeginning in 1927 Japanese armers leased

land rom The Irvine Company and built

homes, barns, and a community center

known as Laguna Beach Language School

(a building now preserved within the His-

toric District). Planting hundreds o acres

o crops, they sold produce rom roadside

stands and to Los Angeles markets.

Lie changed dramatically during WorldWar II when the Japanese community was

sent to an internment camp in Poston, Arizo-

na. As a result, they orever lost their arms

and homes along the Crystal Cove hills.

Although Japanese armers did not return

to the area, agriculture and ranching practic-

es continued into the 1970s. Over the years,

The Irvine Company leased their land or

arming, equestrian use and cattle grazing.

During the early days o park ownership,

these activities ended in order to enhance

natural preservation and public recreation.

Crstal Cove

The Irvine Company also leased the coastal

area to flmmakers and vacationers. Palm-thatched structures emerged at Crystal

Cove, serving as both tropical movie back-

drops and beach cottage rentals.

Just as in the 1940s, Crystal Covehas something for everyone.

LauraDavickColle

ctioncourtesyofPhyllisParkerLowe


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Beginning in the 1920s, people traveled

the new Pacic Coast Highway to spend

their ree time at the beach. The Cove soon

became a popular destination to pitch a tent

or rent a cottage. By the late 1930s, The Irvine

Company limited the development o the

area to the current 46 cottages. In time, long-

term leases were made, tent camping was

eliminated, and the Crystal Cove community

became a private beach.

The community was placed on the National

Register o Historic Places or its unique

vernacular architecture in 1979, the same

year The Irvine Company sold this land to

the State o Caliornia. The cottages are now

being restored by Caliornia State Parks or

public use and enjoyment.

El Moro Beach

an Canyon

Tyrons Camp (a

ca, auto camp,

and tent camp-

ground) opened

during the 1920s along

the beach and inland at El Moro canyon.

In the late 1950s the complex evolved into

a seasonal trailer destination known as El

Morro Beach Trailer Park. Later, about 300

permanent manuactured homes replaced

seasonal beach trailers in this area. Ater

resident tenants leases expired in 2005, the

trailers were removed in order to develop a

public campground and day-use acility.

NATURAL HISTORY

Coastal Stran

The sandy beach is 3.2 miles

long, bordered by hardy, feshy-

leaed and deep-rooted plants

growing low against salt-sprayed

dunes. At low tide, tide pools are

exposed along the rocky shore-

line.

Coastal Bluffs

At high tides the sur laps against

the base o 80-oot blus. There

are two blu-top public parking

areas, Ree Point and Pelican

Point, that oer access to the

beach.

Flora

The park has several distinct plant communi-

tiesspecic habitats with conditions that

avor some types o plants and animals over

others.

Coastal Sage Scrub

Widespread throughout the park,

this dense shrub community

occurs across the coastal

terrace, along the sides

o lower Moro Can-

yon, and exten-

sively in upper

Moro Canyon,

especially on

the canyons

damper north-

acing reaches.

The resinous,

highly fam-

mable vegeta-

tion regenerates

quickly ater

burning.Annual Grasses

These introduced

grasses grow extensively

on the terraces and to a lesser

extent in lower Moro Canyon.

Southern Riparian Woolan

Along the small watershed represented by

seasonal Moro Creek, sycamore, oak (includ-

ing a specimen o a hybridized version ooak) and willows occur. Undergrowth in-

cludes elderberry shrubs.

Live Oak

Historic District


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Fauna

The wildlie in the intertidal areas o the park

includes purple shore crabs, sea hares and

sea anenomes. At higher levels, including the

blus and terraces, ground squirrels, cotton-

tail rabbits, western ence lizards, Caliornia

king snakes, Caliornia gnatcatchers,

Caliornia quail and deer are

ound. The parks open

space areas oer habi-

tat or deer mice,

coyotes, bobcats,

roadrunners,

gopher snakes,

western toads,

red-tail hawks,

Caliornia

thrashers, and

two species o

rattlesnakes.

RECREATION

Backcountry

Primitive Camp-

ingThere is a airly strenu-

ous 3-mile, uphill hike to

three separate camping areas.

Campers must pack in and out all o

their supplies, including water.

Backcountry Trails

There is access to 2,400 undeveloped acres

rom the Moro Canyon parking lot. The trails

are open to hiking, biking and equestrian use.

Maps are available at the ranger station.

No smoking or open fames

in the backcountry. No dogs

in the backcountry.

Beach Activities

There are seven separate

coves along the 3.2

miles o beach,

oering spec-

tacular sunbathing, swimming,

surng, diving and tide pool

exploring.

SPECIAL EVENTS

The park welcomes special events including

weddings, picnics, parties and lm shoots.

For more inormation visit www.crystalcoves-

tatepark.com.

LOdGING ANd FOOd SERVICES

The parks concession partner, the CrystalCove Alliance, provides both ood and over-

night lodging services at The Beachcomber

Ca, Crystal Cove Shake Shack, and Crystal

Cove Beach Cottages. For more inormation,

visit www.crystalcovealliance.org and

www.thebeachcombercafe.com.

1918

Treasure Island

1920

The Sea Wolf

1923

Stormswept

1927

The Wreck of the Hesperus

1928

Sadie Thompson

Half a Bride

White Shadowsin the South Seas

1929

The Isle of Lost Ships

1932

Rain

1934

Treasure Island

1938The Great Heart

1944

To Have and Have Not

1951

Two of a Kind

1974

Herbie Rides Again

1985

The Creator

1988

Beaches

MOVIES MAdE AT CRYSTAL COVE


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PLEASE REMEMBER

Park hours are 6:00 a.m. to sunset, daily, yearround (Historic District, 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.).

Possession o alcohol is prohibited throughout

the park except at the Beachcomber Cae.

Dogs must be kept on a leash no more than 6 eet

long. They may be walked on paved areas only.

Dogs are not permitted on the beach or in the

backcountry and must not be let unattended.

All tide pool specimens are protected by State

law. Collection o shells and rocks is prohibited. All natural, cultural and historical park resources

are protected.

Stay on established trails. Children and pets

should be closely supervised.

Do not climb on or approach the cli acesthey

are unstable and can collapse under you.

No res are allowed on or in the sand. Hibachis

or barbecues are permitted gas canister type

only. Wood or charcoal is not permitted. No

open fames are permitted in the backcountry.

A permit is required or back-country hike-in

campsites. Contact www.reserveamerica.com .

NEARBY STATE PARKS

Huntington State Beach,Pacic Coast Highway

(Highway 1) at Beach

Blvd. (Highway 39),

(714) 536-1454

doheny State Beach,

o Pacic Coast Highway

(Highway 1) at Dana Point

Harbor at Del Obispo St.,

(949) 496-6171

ACCESSIBLE FEATURES

PicnickingThere are accessible

picnic areas and restrooms through-

out the park on both the coastal and

inland areas. Reer to the park map.

TrailsThe paved coastal multi-

use trail is an accessible path alongcoastal blus. It oers wildlie and

scenic viewing with occasional inter-

pretive displays.

Beach/shore accessAccessibility

to the beach is at the Crystal Cove

Historic District and El Moro Beach.

Exhibits an programsThe park

visitor centers at El Moro and the

Historic District are generally acces-sible.

Foo/Loging Services Conces-

sion operation acilities provide

accessibility.

WATER SAFETY TIPS

Swim with a frienSupervise chil-

dren closelyfotation devices are not

reliable.

Water use areasSwimming, surng

and kayaking zones are separate rom

each other; check to make sure your ac-tivity is taking place in the proper zone.

Contact park sta or additional beach

saety inormation.

Rip currentsI you become caught

in a rip current, relax, swim parallel to

the shore until the pull stops, and then

swim back to shore. I you are unable

to return to the beach, tread water and

signal or assistance.

Avoi spinal injuriesDo not dive

headrst into unamiliar waters.

Be alertNever turn your back on the

ocean. Sudden waves can sweep you

away rom shore or tide pool areas.

Cottage 15, now the Beachcomber Cafe

1920s Cottage 13 used in the movie, Beaches (1988)


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15

5

5 91

60

57

10

405

101

1 55

10

5

110 710

405605

134

22

101

173

SantaCatalinaIsland

0 15 Kilometers

10 Miles0

10

5

5 San Clemente

San JuanCapistrano

Dana Point

Santa Ana

Anaheim

Pasadena

IrvineHuntington Beach

Burbank

Pomona

Newport Beach

LongBeach

LosAngeles ChinoHills SP

Crystal Cove SP

ClevelandNationalForest

CampPendleton

USMC

12

18

30

60

120

12

18

30

60

120

see Crystal CoveHistoric District

detail map above

Little

Treasure

Cove

TreasureCove

3.5 CoveScotchmans

Cove

Cany

on

Muddy

Crysta

l Cove

AbalonePoint

Reef PointPelicanPoint

BluffBluff

Bluff

Bluff Bluff

Bluff Bluff

Bluff

RockyBight

SplitRock

1st R eef

2nd

3rdReef

Los

Tr ancos

Canyon

Reef

ElMoro Beach

El MorroSchool

El MoroVisitor Center

Crystal CoveHistoric District

Pelican PointEntrance

Los TrancosEntrance

Reef PointEntrance

P

P

P

P

P

P

PP

FutureCampground

Corsair F4Ucrash site

HistoricAnchor

HistoricAnchor

LAGUNABEACH

NEWPORTBEACH

PELICAN HILL

RESORT

CRYSTAL COVEPROMENADE

Tunnel to

BeachBoa

r

d

walk

View

point

Path

Canyon

Trail

El

Moro

Emerald

PacificCoastHwy

Pacific Coast Hwy

New

port

Coas

tDr

Stairpa

t

h

PacificCoast Hwy

Pacific Coast Hwy

Tra

il

Rid

ge

NoDo

gsTr

ail

C R Y S T A L C O V E

S T A T E P A R K

C R Y S T A L C O V EU N D E R W AT E R P A R K

0 0.8 Kilometers

0.5 Miles0

0.4

0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4

0.2 0.6

N

NEWPORTCOAST

This park is supported in part by twononprot park cooperating associations.

For more inormation contact:

Crystal Cove Alliance

45 Crystal Cove

Newport Coast, CA 92657

(949) 376-6200

Crystal Cove Interpretive Association

P. O. Box 4352

Laguna Beach, CA 92652

(949) 494-3539

Backcountry wilderness areapart of the IrvineRanch National Natural Landmark (designated 2006)

crystal cove state park brochure

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