Bolsa Chica State Beach — Attraction in Huntington Beach

A month ahead of time I reserved a picnic area with a fire ring. $40 for the application and $100 for the site. On the application, which is 4 pages long, you have to list everything you intend to be doing and the times associated. I told them I'd be having a birthday party for my 13 year old daughter, about 20 people, and that it would be starting at around 4 pm. I intended to be there at 2 p.m. to set up the area. There was a very long line to get in to the parking area oh, but we finally made it Upon finally getting to the ticket booth to enter the parking lot at about 1:45, I asked if they had planned on closing parking anytime that evening. I was told within the next hour! My daughters guests were planning on arriving for the party at 4 p.m. You can see that closing the parking lot at 2:45 would be a huge problem as her guest would not be able to enter! I was not informed that this was a possibility. This was information that should have been told to me when I reserved the area. I was never told of the possibility that the parking lot would be closed. I panicked and told the people who would be driving the girls that they should try and contact everybody as soon as possible to get there before the parking closes. They didn't. They had to be dropped off on busy PCH, hop over barrier and get to the location. I'm surprised their parents still allowed them to attend the party. We wound up having to do the same thing at the end of the day when parents came to pick up the kids. They wouldn't let them back in even with the parking pass because it was 9:15, and a lot closed at 9. ( which I also wasn't informed of.) I guess the fact that I had to kick out a family who had already set up at 12 C, was the least of my worries. There was no paper saying that the area has been reserved. Of course it was Saturday and nobody answered the phone so that this problem could be easily resolved. I was lucky that another group that had a fire ring was nice enough to invite them to join them, or I don't know if they would have left. The mother threatened to hit me if I didn't stop saying that I was sorry.  She also told her 8 yr old daughter to get away from the "ugly white lady" who made you cry. I have been diagnosed with anxiety and depression and thinking I had all the bases covered was a huge weight off my mind. But the problem with the site and not being aware of the parking issue ahead of time, this experience was horrible. I will no longer be recommending to anyone the "convenience" of paying $140 ($40 application fee + $100 site fee) to ensure that a fire ring is available on the day...

Among the best of the best maintained beaches in the area! Of course state managed parks will usually be better than the others and this one is no exception. It’s got everything off the road and on the sand to make for a great time with friends, family or groups! There’s plenty of well maintained sand, volleyball nets, picnic tables, fire pits, day use and overnight camper parking. Lifeguards are stationed within view of swimmers across all of the beach here. Concierge service may be available to advise of park amenities and local attractions. Eateries provide refreshments and meals, sometimes including entertainment at their pavilions! Besides going to the sand, visitors may also be attracted to the local biking and hiking, with miles of surrounding trails. There’s bike racks and paved pathways. There’s clean restrooms and showers. All of this comes at a price, as a premium state park would have it, with top of the line facilities, staff and management. At $15 - $20 per vehicle for day use, I’d expect the average visitor to be a serious beachgoer and not a do drop-in! The water’s clean green at the shore, despite seeing oil platforms and ships in the distance. Likely pollutants from the ships have churned elsewhere. I think the wave action seemed possible for light surfing, if just to catch a wave! Maybe just settle down for some body surfing. There’s also kiteboarding along the stretch of beach south of the inlet near the foot of...

This was the absolute worst experience I've ever had trying to get to the beach. My students were having a beginning of the year gathering near tower 25. I was joining them about 7:15pm, except that when I got there the line for parking was all the way out onto PCH. After finally making it off PCH, I notice that the lane opens up to about 4 lanes... but there was only 1 lane open to pay. So cars were jumping out of line causing a complete traffic jam and then pushing their way into the line closer to the front. It was an absolute DISASTER with people honking and yelling at one another! Whomever placed the cones in that manner needs to have their head examined. When I was finally up at the booth the young girl said $15! It was very close to 8pm at this point the beach closes at 10! No hourly rate? Are you kidding me!? Well, I was not about to pay $15 (and neither were most people... just about everyone I could see was performing the same turnaround exit I did) so I exited the lot and went to park behind the Jack in the Box for free and just walked over. I'm happy to pay for parking because I know it supports the beach and covers more than just my parking fee... but $15 for what was ultimately going to end up being less than 2 hours of my evening... no way.

Once I finally got to the beach (about a 10 min walk and several crazy homeless people later) it was great. I always love the fire pits...