Huntington City Beach

Surf City's main beach runs along PCH on both sides of the pier, and lifeguards patrol it dawn to dusk every day of the year. The Huntington Beach Pier Swim, a half mile around the pier each June, has run more than 70 times. On big days rip currents can pull swimmers hundreds of yards offshore, so stay near a staffed tower and shuffle your feet for stingrays.

Directions

Photo: Henrique Pinto from Recife, Brazil · CC0

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Latest reading · SwimScore 79/100 (Good swim) for a typical swimmer: air 24°C, wind 15 km/h, waves 0.8 m, UV 8. Updated 23 Sept, 22:00 UTC.

Know before you go

Best conditions: Small-surf days, swimming near a staffed tower.
Getting in: Along Pacific Coast Highway between Goldenwest Street and Beach Boulevard, with the pier at Main Street. Open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Parking & transport: Lots north and south of the pier at $2 per hour with a $15 daily maximum (rates subject to change), the Promenade parking structure, and meters along PCH.
Lifeguards: Huntington Beach Marine Safety patrols the 3.5-mile Main Beach from Beach Boulevard to Sea Point Avenue dawn to dusk, 365 days a year, from 30 towers plus Tower Zero on the pier; staffing ranges from five officers in winter to as many as 65 lifeguards in summer.
Water quality: Orange County Health Care Agency's Ocean Water Protection Program (OC Beachinfo) samples for bacteria against state health standards and posts warnings and closures.
Season: Year-round lifeguard coverage; full tower staffing in summer.
Who swims here: The annual Huntington Beach Pier Swim, about half a mile around the pier starting on the north side, has run for 74 editions and draws hundreds of swimmers each June.
Watch for: Strong rip currents on big-surf days
Stingrays on the sandy bottom
Surfers around the pier
Facilities: Public restrooms and outdoor showers · Volleyball courts · Surfboard and bike rentals · Paved beach path · About 100 fire rings