Los Angeles: Abalone Cove Shoreline Park

The rocky points of this 5.6-mile coastal hike offer some of the best tidal pool viewing in Southern California. Go at low tide to see crabs, sea stars, anemones, and sea hares.

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Trail Facts

  • Distance: 4.4

Waypoints

ASC001

Location: 33.7435493469238, -118.380821228027

Trailhead: Path begins @ SE corner of lot

ASC002

Location: 33.7414894104004, -118.377906799316

L @ 3-way onto paved road, then immediate R @ 3-way onto sandy beach trail

ASC003

Location: 33.7400436401367, -118.375938415527

Head S along beach

ASC004

Location: 33.738452911377, -118.375015258789

Tidal pools: Sea creatures hang out in salty holes; alcove ahead passable only at low tide

ASC005

Location: 33.7371482849121, -118.374382019043

Scenic spot: Waves carve an impassable alcove into W side of Portuguese Point; return to WPT 4 and head N

ASC006

Location: 33.7398567199707, -118.374946594238

R @ T; sea lions sunbathe on rocky beds

ASC007

Location: 33.7389259338379, -118.373886108398

Veer R @ 3-way

ASC008

Location: 33.7372550964356, -118.374122619629

Shady lunch spot with ripcurl views of Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island (25 miles offshore); in season, dolphins fish in the channel below

ASC009

Location: 33.7387161254883, -118.373458862305

R @ 3-way, then R @ T with gravel road

ASC010

Location: 33.7403564453125, -118.373153686523

Near park gate, turn R onto gravel shoulder alongside Palos Verdes Dr.; in .1 mile, turn R to beach

ASC011

Location: 33.7381896972656, -118.372985839844

R @ beach and descend to picturesque tide pools on E side of Portuguese Point; backtrack and continue along beach to Inspiration Point

ASC012

Location: 33.7363243103027, -118.369529724121

Multihued mollusks cling inside tidal pools on Inspiration Point; retrace route to car
Side trail: Scramble .1 mile to the upper reaches of point

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