Visitor Center & Programs

The Bolsa Chica State Beach Visitor Center is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day. California State Parks runs it with year-round interactive exhibits and displays on the local marine ecosystem, and it is the place to ask park staff questions, ask about borrowing the free beach wheelchair, or drop off a special event application. The park also runs free public programs, school programs and beach cleanups.

Visiting the Center

• Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., daily.
• Where: inside the state beach at 17851 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach; the park's campground map marks the way to the Visitor Center from the main entrance.
• Phone: reception, (714) 377-5691, daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Cost: no admission charge listed; you pay day-use parking (hours and fees).

The center is accessible, with accessible parking and restrooms. Staff can help with general questions and with the free beach wheelchair loan.

Do not mix it up with the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve Interpretive Center on Warner Avenue across PCH, which the Bolsa Chica Conservancy runs for the wetlands (wetlands).

Free Public Programs

State Parks offers free educational programs for everyone at Bolsa Chica. The headline program is the night Grunion Run, which State Parks lists as returning in March 2027 (grunion runs). Upcoming programs are posted on the State Parks events page for the park.

School Groups, Tours and Outreach

For teachers and group leaders, from the State Parks Education & Tours page:

• School programs (K-12): school groups get free parking when they come for an educational program. A donation of $1 per student is requested. Send the request at least 15 days ahead. Groups that come only to picnic pay for parking.
• Lifeguard Headquarters tours: free parking for the tour. School groups can stay at the beach afterward at no extra cost; other groups pay the day-use fee to stay.
• Outreach programs: 45-minute, hands-on programs that park staff bring to your classroom, depending on staffing. Request at least 14 days ahead.

Contact for education programs: Elizabeth Bailey, (714) 377-9073, Elizabeth.Bailey@parks.ca.gov.

Beach Cleanups and Volunteering

• Litter Getters: an hour-long, all-ages cleanup with State Parks staff every Tuesday from May through August, 3 to 4 p.m. No RSVP. Meet at the campground picnic tables; staff suggest parking by Beach City Provisions. Every volunteer gets a prize.
• Private group cleanups: companies, groups and schools can book their own; forms are due at least 15 days ahead.
• Adopt-A-Beach: groups commit to three cleanups a year (schools can do one) and get a certificate; sponsored by the California Coastal Commission.
• Big public days: Earth Day at the Beach in April and Coastal Clean-up Day in September.
• Long-term volunteers have helped monitor endangered birds, restore dunes and staff community programs. Scout projects are welcome too.

Good For / Maybe Skip If

Good for: families with kids, a midday break from the sun, school field trips and anyone who wants to give back to the beach.

Maybe skip if: you are after the wetlands' birds and boardwalks. That is the separate Ecological Reserve across the highway.