Bolsa and a Nano Brewery

Hike Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington Beach

Whether you’re a bird nerd or just like beautiful views, the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington Beach is a must-do in these parts. Its 1,341 acres of coastal estuary are home to over 200 avian species. Wander the 3.3-mile lollipop loop trail to explore the varying habitats here, from riparian lowlands to marshes and mudflats and coastal dunes.

Start at the Mesa Trailhead on the east side of the parking lot. You’ll immediately cross a bridge and get to a waterside pathway lined with coyote bush and coast sunflowers. Follow this route for 0.8 mile to the Mesa Trail Overlook. This is the perfect spot to take in the surrounding wetlands and read up on the local flora and fauna.

A few steps down and you’ll find a low bridge across the water. It’s one of the best spots for spying ducks, loggerhead shrikes, and snowy egrets. From the Mesa Trail Overlook, turn left onto the Pocket Loop Trail. This 1-mile loop around the Bolsa Pocket gets you up close to the mudflats full of nesting great blue herons. The route follows the shoreline then curves uphill and bridges to the crest of a sand dune, linking back to the Mesa Trail Overlook.

BEER BONUS: Huntington Beach’s Riip Beer Co. is directly off the Pacific Coast Highway and just across the street from Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. As the home of the Super Cali IPA, the 2016 silver medalist in the Great American Beer Festival IPA category, Riip Beer Co. is definitely a place for IPA lovers. Founded in 2014, Riip Beer Co. made a name as one of the first nano breweries in SoCal and operating on only a 3 bbl nano brewing system. Their small-batch beer is handcrafted, and though they specialize in IPAs, their brews range from blondes to stouts. With plenty of outdoor seating, Riip is an essential stop on a Huntington Beach adventure.

The north entrance of Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve is located at 3842 Warner Ave.,Huntington Beach. Take the Bolsa Chica St. exit from CA-22 and head south. Turn right on Warner Ave. then left into the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve north entrance. The parking lot accommodates bicycles; no bikes on the trail. No dogs.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Serene Las Gallinas

    A serene stroll alongside marshland, passing ponds and grasses frilled in seasonal wildflowers, with Mount Tam a beacon in the background … how nice. As part of the esteemed Bay Trail, San Rafael’s Las Gallinas Valley Birding Loop and Wildlife Ponds comprises about 3.5 miles of wide-open trail.

    View
  2. Paint Brushy

    This time of year you’ll have good reason to head for the hills—the electric-green rolling hills of Brushy Peak Regional Preserve in Livermore. This 4.5-mile loop hike is like stepping into a plein air painting.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    2025 POST Wildflower Walks

    Get flower empowered! POST’s complimentary 2025 Wildflower Walks guide blooms with the best places to see a variety of florals across the Peninsula and South Bay this spring.

    View
  4. All right, Almaden!

    Take a trip through time on this 5-mile loop in Almaden Quicksilver County Park. Explore the ruins of an old cinnabar mine and enjoy the first hints of wildflower season.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Weekend in Reno Tahoe

    Weekend plans? Reno Tahoe! Just a few hours by car or a short flight away, Reno Tahoe springs to the moment with great ways to combine adventure and relaxation in its beautiful mountains-meets-desert setting.

    View
  2. Hiker walking along the North Bluff Trail on Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Park

    Purely Wild

    Channel Islands National Park lives up to its nickname as “North America’s Galapagos.” This less-traveled national park is an undeveloped and isolated series of five dramatic and distinct islands reached by boat. Hike the largest of the islands, Santa Cruz.

    View
  3. Woman hiking the South Kaibab Trail in the Grand Canyon

    Truly Grand Day Hike

    One of the best spring day hikes in the Grand Canyon? See layer upon layer of the park’s grandeur—including the river—on this 3-mile (one-way) journey to Skeleton Point via the South Kaibab Trail.

    View
  4. A woman stands amid an array of yellow and purple flowers at Descanso Gardens in Los Angeles

    Petal Paradise

    Tulips, lilacs, and daffodils—flower power is in full bloom at Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge. Sprawling across 150 acres surrounded by mountains, the gardens are putting on their best show right now.

    View