Huntington State Beach
Huntington Beach, CA
Huntington State Beach runs south of the city beach and pier, wide and less crowded, with food concessions and multiple beach-level parking lots along Beach Blvd., Newland St., Magnolia St., and Brookhurst St. Talbert Marsh and the Huntington Beach Wetlands sit just inland, a real wetland trail worth a short detour from the sand.
A quieter, wider stretch than the pier area just north, with a genuine wetland trail nearby for anyone wanting more than sand.
How we score beachesThis stretch is genuinely less crowded than the pier area to the north, worth the extra few minutes' drive south if crowds are the concern.
Multiple beach-level fee lots along the length of the beach.
Dogs on leash are allowed on the paved multi use trail and in parking lots, but not on the sand, including near the snowy plover reserve.
Surf holds up nearly year round, but the water doesn't climb out of the 60s until July, most comfortable for swimming in September and October.
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