Abalone Cove Beach

Located in the southern shoreline of Palos Verdes Peninsula, Abalone Cove Beach is a narrow beach that is part of the Abalone Cove Shoreline Park. Abalone Cove is surrounded by steep and unstable bluffs, and the water around it features great underwater biodiversity. Abalone Cove Beach has both rocks and dark brown sand. 

There are limited amenities at Abalone Cove Beach. The beach has lifeguards during summers and weekends and also has restrooms and walking trails. In addition, there is a picnic area that is a short walk north of the beach. Dogs are not allowed on the beach. 

Abalone Cove Beach offers numerous activities including diving, snorkeling, surfing, boating, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, swimming, tide-pooling, wildlife watching, and hiking. If you are planning to go into the water, we recommend being careful as the water near Abalone Cove Beach is known to have rip currents. The water around the beach is home to seals, sea lions, and migrating whales from December to April. This beach is popular among divers who often explore the underwater kelp beds and rocky reefs around the beach shoreline featuring a variety of interesting animals including senorita fish, crabs, horn sharks, halibuts, octopus, and electric torpedo rays. We recommend being careful of torpedo rays while snorkeling or diving here as these fish can deliver a serious electrical shock. The rocky Portuguese Point is located to the south of Abalone Cove Beach which offers numerous rock formations including a sea cave that can be explored during low tide. If you like to fish, the nearby Inspiration Point is a great fishing spot; popular catches here are salto, cracker, perch, bonito, and halibut. You can also explore the coastal scrub present around Abalone Cove Shoreline Park through numerous hiking trails present near Abalone Cove Beach.

Getting to Abalone Cove Beach is easy - it's located near 5970 Palos Verdes Drive West. Once you arrive, you can use the paid parking lot for Abalone Cove Shoreline Park which is open between 9am to 4pm. You can access Abalone Cove Beach from the parking lot via a walking trail. We recommend being careful as the walking trail to the beach can be steep.  

There are many attractions near Abalone Cove Beach - The Wayfarers Chapel displays breathtaking Organic architecture and is a popular venue for weddings. The Portuguese Bend Reserve offers hiking and biking trails for exploring unique varieties of flora and fauna in the Palos Verdes Peninsula. If you are looking for another attraction near Abalone Cove Beach, The Palos Verdes Arts Center regularly holds exhibitions and offers lessons in a variety of fine and digital arts.

If you get hungry, there are many great options near Abalone Cove Beach. Mar’sel is a fine dining restaurant offering California Coastal cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients and serving great seafood and steak. Avenue Italy offers excellent seafood risotto and pasta. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Abalone Cove beach, Swan Thai Rancho Palos Verdes offers excellent Thai dishes including red and green Thai curries, massaman curry, pad thai, and drunken noodles.

If you are looking for a hotel near Abalone Cove Beach, there are many great nearby options. The 5-Star Terranea Resort features Mediterranean architecture and offers numerous amenities including eight restaurants, a spa, a hot tub, a fitness center, a nine-hole golf course, and four pools. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Pedro – Port of Los Angeles which offers a variety of amenities including a restaurant, a pool, a bar, a sundeck, bike rental, and a fitness center. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Abalone cove Beach, the modestly priced 2-Star Americas Best Value Inn Rancho Palos Verdes is located conveniently close to some of the best attractions in Rancho Palos Verdes and offers a restaurant.