Crystal Cove State Park RV & Campground Guide

Fishing, including spear fishing, is permitted on the beach and in the park with a valid fishing license. The park is adjacent to the protected Crystal Cove State Marine Conservation Area, and species, size, and take limits apply. Guests must bring their own bait; sourcing bait from the park is not allowed.

Geocaching enthusiasts can enjoy hunting for treasure at Crystal Cove State Park. Players of all ages can participate in this high-tech scavenger hunt by using a hand-held GPS (Global Positioning System) or smartphone app to search for a hidden cache, take their prize, and leave something fun for the next adventurer to find.

With over 3 miles of beach and 2,400 acres of backcountry wilderness, the park is full of gorgeous scenery. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy birding and looking out for local mammals and reptiles as they trek through the canyons and over the bluffs.

The coastline at Crystal Cove State Park is one of the best places to stargaze in California. Travelers can watch the stars from the beach as they listen to the waves and enjoy the ocean air.

Crystal Cove State Park is home to coyotes, deer, and bobcats; gopher snakes; western fence lizards; hummingbirds; finches; and hawks. Visitors are encouraged to help the Crystal Cove Conservancy identify animals that have been photographed by the park’s motion-activated cameras. Guests who go tide-pooling in the underwater park may encounter abalone, barnacles, anemones, bat stars, sea urchins, sea hares, snails, and more. Gray whales are sometimes visible between December and April, and other whales can be seen throughout the year. The park is full of flowering plants, cacti, and trees, including lupines, California poppies, coastal chollas, caterpillar phacelia, and oak and sycamore trees.

Hikers can take on more than 18 miles of trails that run through the park’s backcountry and wilderness areas. Backpackers can set up camp in the canyons or on the bluffs. Trails at higher elevations offer gorgeous views of the landscape, its geological formations, and the Pacific Ocean. The lower trails will take hikers through the woodlands and along the bank of Moro Creek.

Visitors may launch or land kayaks, surf-skis, wave-skis, and stand-up paddleboards from the northernmost end of Treasure Cove to the south end of the Historic District and from Abalone Point to Muddy Creek.

The beach at Muddy Creek is one of the best swimming spots at Crystal Cove. Swimmers are encouraged to practice ocean safety and to swim in lifeguard-protected areas.

Climbing is only allowed in designated areas. Mounting, scaling, ascending, or descending any rock face or bluff that has not been identified or developed as a climbing area is prohibited.

Mountain bikers can ride several trails along Moro Canyon and Moro Ridge that range from moderately difficult to extremely challenging. The 5-mile-long El Moro Canyon Loop Trail features beautiful views of the ocean and a chance to spot local wildlife.