Hitting the Sand at Huntington, Bolsa Chica

Huntington and Bolsa Chica state beaches are the Bonneville Salt Flats of beaches: wide and long, and with more fire pits than Fiji. The state beaches (with Huntington City Beach sandwiched in the middle) extend about nine miles along northern Orange County’s coast, from the Santa Ana River to just short of the San Gabriel River.

In many ways, they have always been kind of blue-collar beaches. Until Bolsa Chica came under state control in 1961, nobody did much to keep it clean, hence its once-popular name of Tin Can Beach.

Despite a couple of boutique-lined blocks where Main Street meets the shore, and some upscale subdivisions more in keeping with Orange County’s inland ‘burbs, the city of Huntington Beach still has rough edges, including bad-boy surfers and shoulder-to-shoulder oil wells across Pacific Coast Highway.

Before Huntington Beach got its name, the long shoreline was a popular camping spot. In 1901 a town was laid out with the name of Pacific City, in hopes it would rival Atlantic City. In 1902 Henry E. Huntington, owner of the Pacific Electric Railroad, bought a controlling interest and renamed the city after himself.

This hike takes you north along wide, sandy Huntington State Beach through Huntington City Beach to Bolsa Chica State Beach and adjacent Bolsa Chica Wetlands Ecological Reserve. You can also make this a one-way jaunt by taking advantage of the Orange County Transit District bus No. 1, which makes several stops along Pacific Coast Highway.

This is an ideal trail to bike and hike. A bike path extends the length of Bolsa Chica to the Santa Ana River south of Huntington Beach. You can leave your bike at Bolsa Chica State Beach, take the bus to Huntington Beach and hike back up to your bike.

Directions to trail head: From the San Diego Freeway (I-405) in Huntington Beach, exit on Beach Boulevard and travel 5.5 miles south to the boulevard’s end at Huntington State Beach.

The hike: Walk north from the parking lot. The state beach blends into Huntington City Beach just before the pier. This area is best known as the site of international surfing competitions.

Beyond the pier is Bolsa Chica State Beach. The southern end has steep cliffs rising between Pacific Coast Highway and the strand. Huntington Beach Mesa--”The Cliffs”--is popular with surfers.

The northern three miles of the beach packs in all the facilities--showers, food concessions, picnic areas and more.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Bolsa Chica and Huntington Beach Trails

WHERE: Bolsa Chica and Huntington State Beaches

DISTANCE: From Huntington State Beach to Bolsa Chica State Beach is 6 miles round trip; to Bolsa Chica north boundary is 7.5 miles one way.

TERRAIN: Long, wide sandy beach.

HIGHLIGHTS: Excellent, surprisingly uncrowded, cold weather beach walk.

DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: Easy

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Huntington State Beach; tel. (714) 536-1454