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    Pirate's Cove Beach

    4.4 (62 reviews)

    Pirate's Cove Beach Photos

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    Stephanie D.

    Had a great time today! Went with the kiddos and they had such a blast at this beach. We drove down a bit to the tide pools and that was cool too! Love this beach!

    05.01.23 'Jesus Revolution' Filming Location
    May A.

    Filming Location Scene, Newport Beach CA We only knew about this beach in the city of Newport Beach after watching the movie 'Jesus Revolution' [Kelsey Grammer]. The movie is a true story of a national spiritual awakening in the late 60's/early 1970s. We had to climb rocks to see the beach and the cove but we were able to pinpoint the beach scenes from the movie. Hollywood made the area look big when it wasn't really in real life but it featured some impressive visuals. We parked at the Corona Del Mar Beach parking lot. Entrance fee is required but we were there early and the beach wasn't crowded on a Monday morning that we got a pass to get in free to park for a short time. From the parking lot we climbed the rocks to get a view below unaware that there was street parking spaces at the corner of Ocean Boulevard and Heliotrope Avenue where a small city park called Lookout Point Park is located. There is a stairway in the middle of the cliff at the back of the cove that provides the only safe access to Pirates Cove Beach. Water was calm during our visit. This is a small beach on the west side of the parking lot at Corona Del Mar State Beach. Review #2969

    Nicole P.

    This beach is dreamy! It's quiet during the morning and the best colors in the sky show themselves in the morning. If you are not from SoCal, you quickly find out the water is freezing. No matter how hot the day is, the ocean water here and all along the coast is a steady 68 degrees which feels cold at first but you get used to it after a few mins. This beach has very little waves so it's a good swimming beach especially for kids. I would be careful that I'd you have challenges with mobility, this is hard to get to. It isn't wheel chair accessible. Parking is laid down below or it's free in the neighborhood but it's a long walk down and even tougher walking up the steep hill. This little beach is worth a visit because of its unique beauty.

    Jagruti L.

    Perfect place to relax and enjoy the beach. Bring your family. There is parking lot at the Pirate Cove with fees. If you are lucky you can park at the residential streets and walk down the steps.

    Jesus Revolution baptism
    Steve S.

    Loved visiting Pirates Cove for the Harvest baptism. The location is secluded from the parking for privacy which made the experience special. The weather was perfect. Parking is a challenge if you don't get there early but we arrived at 7am so no issue there. The only drawback was the lone stairway in and out from the cove itself. But we loved it and will be back again.

    Lookout point from above Pirates Cove
    Michelle H.

    Maybe 3 1/2 stars for this small spot. Pros: no waves, clear water, tide pools to explore, parking lot is close, next to corona Del Mar, lifeguard was on duty. Cons: very crowded, small sand area, kinda tricky to access. Overall is was a nice ways to escape heat and explore a new spot, but next time I'd set up camp at Corona Del Mar and walk over to Pirates cove. LIMITED space was the main issue.

    Nicole W.

    Cool spot to chill n hang out. Kinda hard to find, I usually go in by paddleboard, or boat. When the tide is high, usually ur not able to access the beach area cause it's a small beach

    Rosa C.

    Love love this little private beach!! The water is clean, no waves, perfect for little ones! The only thing is that you do need to climb climb climb rocks to get to it!! There is no other way! But once your there it's so nice and peaceful!

    Tin T.

    Pirates cove beach, is a beautiful secluded area, steps away from Corona Del Mar beach. We came here on a weekday, which made the experience more serene and enjoyable because it wasn't overcrowded like beaches usually get. There's a beautiful pathway to Pirates cove, the water was clear compared to the beaches I've been to.

    Sunset was amazing
    Rehma N.

    Gorgeous beach for watching the sunset, I love climbing the rocks and finding a good spot to chill out.

    Marquette W.

    Glad i came across this beach. It is a perfecr for a small wedding. You can have many things there if you wanted too.

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    1 year ago

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    10 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    3 months ago

    This place is great for kids. Lots of climbing areas, no waves so swimming was easy. We will def return!

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    3 years ago

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    3 months ago

    this beach was on the smaller side, but i still enjoyed being here. very nice weather when i came.

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    9 months ago

    Baptism w Harvest Church. Beach and surrounding area well kept and clean. Plenty of parking

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    It's actually not a business but a beautiful beach. Clear water and away from others.

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    4 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Hubby brought me here on our first family date with our oldest son. Loved the location, we got lots of great pics that day

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    11 years ago

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    6 years ago

    Suck a cool place for your kids and u. Go to the bathroom before going it is a hike to the restrooms.

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    4 years ago

    Super fun beach spot but expect lots of people when you go, definitely not a secluded spot. Fun trails and hikes and sites!

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    9 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Best. beach. ever. Plus, this is my go-to place for burying dead bodies. MUAH HAHAHAHA HAAAAA!

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    11 years ago

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Pirate's Cove Beach

    Are there showers to rinse off?

    Are there restrooms nearby?

    Yes

    Are dogs allowed?

    Newport Beach allows dogs on most of their beaches with certain limitations. They are not allowed on the beach between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. year-round, and must be leashed at all other times. This includes Corona Del Mar State Beach, Newport… Read more

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    Review Highlights - Pirate's Cove Beach

    t. This is a small beach on the west side of the parking lot at Corona Del Mar State Beac

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    Newport Beach

    Newport Beach

    4.3
    (389 reviews)
    3.6 mi

    Newport Beach was a longtime party destination for me in college. We drove here all the time from…read moreArizona to chill on the beach and hit the night scene back in the day. Those were some good times. It can get really crowded here in Newport Beach. Especially during the summer and during spring break. But I still love visiting here to walk on the pier and chill at the beach. The sunsets are amazing and there are many great restaurants and bars all around. Getting a parking spot will always be a pain, but I love it here at Newport Beach. Newport Beach is located between L.A. and San Diego and is known for its sandy beaches. It is one of the most expensive places to live in both California and in the United States. Its commercial fishing days are a thing of the past as it is known mostly for recreation. There are some spots around here that still pay homage to its past. A lot of celebrities own homes in the area. I mostly drive to the Balboa Peninsula to hang out at the beach and to take in the fresh ocean air and watch the sunset. My late-night party days are in my past. I grew up eating at the Crab Cooker and still make a stop there from time to time. Some of my favorite areas in Newport Beach that I like to visit are Crystal Cove State Park and Balboa Island.

    Lovely beach in Orange County - we had a mini college reunion here this Valentine's Day weekend…read more Our rental unit was right on the beach, and the pier was less than a mile away. Watching the locals play volleyball, do beach yoga, walk their dogs and cats, bike, run, parasail and surf was a lot of fun. We even spotted a couple of dolphins frolicking just off shore. Happy to return.

    Photos
    Gorgeous sunset
    Gorgeous sunset
    Sunset
    Sunset
    Newport Beach

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    Balboa Island

    Balboa Island

    4.4
    (266 reviews)
    1.0 mi

    What a cute and quaint little island! I really loved visiting. There's plenty of free parking if…read moreyou drive down the residential streets, and you can see plenty of cute little homes. This would be a lovely place to own a vacation home. I absolutely love driving over the bridge with American flags flying on both sides; it's something you don't see often in SoCal. There are several cute shops on both sides of the main street, and there's really something for everyone. The island is known for two things: chocolate-covered frozen bananas and Balboa bars. I apparently missed the memo on the Balboa bars, but we got to visit both Dad's Donuts and Sugar 'n Spice for some frozen chocolate bananas, and they were lovely! I recommend coming in the morning to beat the rush. We brought lunch and went to the beach for a picnic on the park benches. It was a lovely day with family! I look forward to coming back to Balboa Island in the future!

    We went on a cloudy weekday in late March. We parked in the parking lot on Palm street and took the…read moreferry there. At around 10:30 in the morning, there was plenty of parking available. We paid about $11 for 4 hours which comparing with Santa Monica is reasonable. On our way we also saw free street side parking , but those spots are not close to the ferries. There is a 5 minute walk from the parking lot to where the ferries are. You will have to cross a couple of streets. The ferries are pretty basic but they have capacity for 3 cars as well. Adults pay $2 each to get to the other side. They ONLY accept cash. There and back, the wait time was under a couple of minutes. The island itself is clean and serene. Other than a minimart, a fishing gear shop and a grocery store, there weren't any shops on the oceanfront walkway and no signage as to where you can find any stores. We walked for a bit and then returned to the mainland and Balboa village. Overall, we loved how clean and family friendly the beach and the pier and the island were. If we lived closer, we would visit more often for sure!

    Photos
    Balboa Island
    The Teddy Bear House.
    The Teddy Bear House.
    Juice on balboa

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    Juice on balboa
    Corona Del Mar State Beach

    Corona Del Mar State Beach

    4.4
    (442 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    Corona del Mar State Beach might honestly be my favorite beach in the world…read more This is where I proposed to my wife. It is where we did our engagement photos and later our pregnancy photo shoot. It is where I take my dog for walks and where I have spent nights around the fire pits watching some of the most beautiful sunsets in Orange County. The water here also feels warmer than most beaches in the OC, which makes it even better. This place holds a lot of special memories for me and continues to be one of my favorite spots to slow down and appreciate where I live.

    It's been a long while since I've had a beach day, but we made it to Corona Del Mar (CdM) via…read moreInspiration Point at 11 am to go boogie boarding. The scenic view at Inspiration Point is beautiful. The beach wasn't too crowded, and we got space to sit down on our camping chairs. The water was cold but eventually manageable. Unfortunately, there was a lot of floating seaweed that would get tangled on my legs. The waves were hit-or-miss. Once in a while a powerful one would take us back to the shore. However, the waves were mostly calm rolls that allowed us to stay steady on the boards. You could even relax and float on your back through buoyancy. After spending a good time in the water, I was really tired; it was basically a workout. The incline up back to Inspiration Point was also steep. Luckily, the car was parked nearby for free. While CdM was a little out of the way, the easy and free parking made up for the travel time. I recommend arriving early to find available space.

    Photos
    "Dance with the waves, move with the sea. Let the rhythm of the water set your soul free." -- Christy Ann Martine
    "Dance with the waves, move with the sea. Let the rhythm of the water set your soul free." -- Christy Ann Martine
    Corona Del Mar State Beach
    Cold, Windy, Foggy, Overcast Day, 58 degrees, Feb 3, 2025

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    Cold, Windy, Foggy, Overcast Day, 58 degrees, Feb 3, 2025
    Crystal Cove State Beach

    Crystal Cove State Beach

    4.5
    (364 reviews)
    4.3 mi

    Parking is $20 now. The beach is beautiful. Lots of hiking trails to explore, tide pools or a short…read morewalk down to the beach. The trail down to the beach is very short and steep in a couple lots. Some areas in the northern parking lots have a long boardwalk you can walk down and tide pools. There are several parking lots so you need to figure out what you want to do and which lot to park in for your needs. The parking lot closest to beachcomber they don't allow any parking unless you are handicapped for the restaurant. Don't really know why, it's a state run park.

    This state beach is my personal favorite. We stay down the street at Marriott Newport Villas. They…read morehave a shuttle service that brings you directly to the Entrance. Today, we came to eat lunch at the restaurant so we had to find parking. The only problem is there isn't parking close to it. You have to park in a lot across the street and walk about 10 minutes. They have a tunnel for pedestrians but it was washed out from the rain today. They have a restaurant shuttle that charges $5 a person even if you are eating at the restaurant which I thought was a rip off. The beach itself is a nice mix of rocks where' the tide pools are and sand where you can swim. The cottages along the way have a bit of history and recently been renovated. I absolutely love walking through this long stretch of beach! They also have a museum near the rental cottages. It is small but has some fun facts and pictures.

    Photos
    "Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation." -- Khalil Gibran
    "Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation." -- Khalil Gibran
    Beautiful sunset view
    Beautiful sunset view
    IG: @Yin_Futography

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    IG: @Yin_Futography
    Balboa Pier

    Balboa Pier

    4.4
    (150 reviews)
    1.3 mi

    1 of ma FAVORITE HANGOUT SPOTS IN THE OC!!!! I used to WALK from 15th to BALBOA PIER, a HALF AN…read moreHOUR WALK about 3km!! I walked normally at night from 21:00-22:30! Very good exercise! Then about the pier, I know lots of visitors might say it's dirty & stinky from the sea or toilets, but that's natural for a beach because I was at sunset Beach, Solana Beach, San Clemente Pier Beach they are all like that. Then Catalina Express is just across the street from the pier! The only bad part is PARKING! This is why I used to take Bus ROUTE 71 here!! However bus doesn't go to the Balboa Pier anymore; only Route 43 go to Newport Pier that's it

    We mistakenly parked near the Newport Beach Pier, thinking it was the Balboa Pier. The two piers…read moreare about 2 miles from each other and the Balboa Pier houses the original Ruby's Diner. We took this mistake as an opportunity to take a nice walk along the bike path to the Balboa Pier, which is shared with pedestrians. There is a paid parking lot adjacent to the Balboa Pier. Parking can be a bit pricey in the lot and with the metered parking. We paid about $10 for three hours at a metered spot. We noticed during our walk, that you can park for free on some of the side streets. We enjoyed our walk on the pier with beautiful views and and a spacious beach. We had lunch at Ruby's and then headed to the Balboa Fun Zone which is just a short walk. Our walk back was just as nice along the beautiful homes adjacent to the water.

    Photos
    Balboa Pier
    Balboa Pier
    Balboa Pier

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    Pirate's Cove Beach - beaches - Updated June 2026

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