Peninsula Walks on San Buenaventura Beach

Ventura Harbor was constructed in 1963 to provide anchorage for both pleasure craft and working vessels. This it does with success, judging by the thickets of masts glimpsed by the harbor-side hiker.

Beaches fringe the edges of the two fun-to-beachcomb peninsulas that form the harbor entrance. Marina Park is on the northern peninsula; Marina Cove Play Area and Peninsula Beach are two of the names for the shore on the southern peninsula. The strands on both peninsulas are part of San Buenaventura State Beach.

Ventura Harbor’s construction all but eliminated a considerable estuary at the mouth of the Santa Clara River, whose headwaters arise about 70 miles away in the San Gabriel Mountains. A 20-acre salt marsh remains. The pickleweed-dotted wetland is a refuge for egrets, ducks, herons and numerous migratory birds.

Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center is at the harbor entrance. Outside, the center is landscaped with the islands’ native plants; inside are some excellent natural history exhibits and a bookstore. Park rangers and docents give regularly scheduled talks on a variety of topics, including island wildlife and recreation..

From atop the headquarters’ tower, visitors enjoy clear-day views of the islands, the harbor, Ventura and the westernmost Santa Monica Mountains. Next to the visitor center is the park concessionaire, Island Packers, which offers transport and tours to Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel and Santa Barbara islands.

Peninsula Trail

This is an easy beach hike down-coast from the visitor center. You will pass the Marina Cove Play Area, a breakwater-protected, family-friendly beach and a more open-to-the-ocean strand favored by surfers. Continue past waste-water treatment ponds to the Santa Clara River mouth. Turn around here or keep walking down the coast along McGrath State Beach.

For a change of pace, return via the pedestrian path along the developed side of the harbor past a New England-style village of shops and restaurants.

Access: From U.S. 101 in Ventura, take the Seaward Avenue exit. Turn south on Harbor Boulevard, proceed 1.5 miles to Spinnaker Drive and turn right. Follow Spinnaker Drive west, then north to its end at visitor center. Park in the lot closest to the visitor center.

San Buenaventura State Beach

When you walk San Buenaventura State Beach, you realize that this park didn’t simply happen, it was designed--obviously during the state park system’s pre-poverty era. Instead of the grungy tables stuck in the sand at many beaches, San Buenaventura features wide green picnic areas. It boasts volleyball nets, a fitness trail and even a pier.

The state beach offers plenty of room for all the popular beach activities: swimming, surfing, cycling, fishing and picnicking. It’s one of Ventura County’s safest swim spots because the sand slopes so gradually into the ocean.

Although San Buenaventura’s sands are easily accessible (Harbor Boulevard extends along its inland border), the low sand dunes fringing the state beach give it a feeling of isolation from freeway traffic and sounds of the nearby city.

This San Buenaventura stroll begins at Marina Park, a family-friendly enclave perched just up-coast of Ventura Harbor’s west channel. A little sandy beach, grassy hillocks and wooden windbreaks encourage spreading out the beach blanket and relaxing awhile. Children enjoy playing on the sand-locked two-masted San Salvador, a boatload of fun with plenty of places to climb.

From Marina Park, walk out to the end of the jetty, observe the many boats entering and leaving Ventura Harbor, then head up-coast. You can look across the harbor channel at an inviting sand strand, the southernmost segment of San Buenaventura State Beach.

The first mile of beach, lined with houses, is fairly narrow and stabilized by a series of rock groins extending offshore. The second, wider mile of beach sweeps toward Pierpont Bay and Ventura Pier.

Stairs lead from the sand up to Ventura Pier. The original pier was built way back in 1872. Today’s recreational pier has a restaurant and a gift shop. Stroll past the anglers and enjoy great views of the coast and islands, as well as Ventura and its mountain backdrop.

For a longer outing, promenade Promenade Park, which begins near the foot of the pier. You can continue to the Ventura County Fairgrounds or even the Ventura River.

Access: From U.S. 101 in Ventura, exit on Seaward Avenue. Head briefly coastward and turn left (south) on Pierpoint Boulevard. Drive three-quarters of a mile to the boulevard’s end and Marina Park.

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Peninsula Beach, Buenaventura Trails

WHERE: San Buenaventura State Beach

DISTANCE: From Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center to McGrath State Beach is 2 miles round trip; from Marina Park to the Ventura Pier is 4 miles round trip.

TERRAIN: Dramatic coastline of peninsulas, long sea channels and tremendous cliffs more than 1,000 feet high.

HIGHLIGHTS: Mellow Ventura beaches, bustling Ventura Harbor.

DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: Easy.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: San Buenaventura State Beach; tel. (805) 968-3294, Ventura & Santa Barbara Beach Parks; tel. (805) 968-1033.