Huntington Beach

Beach Wheelchair

Manual, beach wheelchairs are available for free check out at the gift shop.  Arrive early to get a one of these wheelchairs, as there are only a few available. These chairs are available on a first come, first served basis. If a chair is not available, please check with the gift shop to see if people have returned a chair for you to use. When checking out a chair, the gift shop clerk will ask for with a driver’s license or state ID.  Chairs must be returned to the gift shop before closing. Gift shop hours vary seasonally, so please confirm the return time before leaving the gift shop.

Track Chair

The Waymaker track chair is on loan and available to check out for free from April to November 15, each year. Go to their website to reserve the chair. Once on the website, watch the video, and check the box that you have read and understand the chair rules. Then, see if one is available, and reserve the date you would like to use it. You will receive an email confirmation once reserved. Show the email to the gift shop clerk, upon arrival at the park, along with your drivers license or state ID card. The chair is due back by the time the gift shop closes. Gift shop hours vary seasonally. Please confirm the time with the store clerk. The battery life for the chair is approximately four hours. Please be aware, the chair is too wide to go past the paved courtyard in Atalaya.

Gift Shop, Ranger Station

At the end of the causeway, turn right. The first building on the right is the Gift Shop/Ranger Station. This building houses the gift shop, ranger station and camper check-in. The building has a ramp for easier entry.

Restrooms for this area are on the porch of the building. Access is across decking boards and threshold transitions are small. The area also includes benches for resting.

Parking for the Gift Shop and Ranger Station includes two accessible parking spots with a shared door access and area to load and unload. Also, in the proximity are three shaded picnic tables, one of which is wheelchair accessible.

South Day-Use Recreation Area

At the end of the causeway turn right.  The South day use recreation area has many services that are accessible.  In the center of this area is Spoonbills ice cream shop and restrooms.  Within a short walking distance of this main building is a playground, two shelters and beach access.

Spoonbills ice cream shop includes hand scooped ice cream, drinks and slushes.  Seating on the outer deck offers inviting places to enjoy a frozen treat with an ocean view. 

Restrooms include large stalls, grab bars, changing rooms with baby changing stations and scald protection on the sinks.  There is also a companion restroom with a single stall that offers more room and privacy.

The playground has a wide sidewalk around the playground to hold in mulch and reduce barriers. The sidewalk has benches, shade and wheelchair accessible picnic tables. There is also a water fountain, a place to fill water bottles and a dog water bowl.

There are two shelters where you can rinse off from the beach. Shelter 1 has sidewalk access while Shelter 2 requires walking over grass and uneven ground.

Beach access for people with disabilities is at Beach Access #4.  This access is near Shelter 1 and can be seen from the parking lot.  It is comprised of concrete sidewalk and a roll-out access mat to get visitors to the dune line.  Beach Access #5 is located next to Shelter 2.  It has concrete sidewalk, boardwalk and stairs.

Atalaya

Atalaya is the former home of the Huntingtons and an online tour can be found here. Inside the building there are narrow hallways, turns and uneven surfaces. With some backtracking, Atalaya can be visited without using stairs. The main entrance of the building is the sidewalk from the South day-use recreation area. The entrance includes a visitor center, an oyster shucking yard, stables, dog kennels and two bear pens. These areas are not paved and may have uneven surfaces, dirt and grass.

The next arched doorway leads to the courtyards, interior rooms and restrooms.

From the courtyard entryway, turn right to get to the outdoor studio and indoor studio. There are stairs to enter the Huntington's side of the house from the indoor studio, but the same areas can be accessed by using the coal ramp in the back, right corner of the courtyard.

If you turn left when you enter the courtyard, you will get to the laundry drying courtyard and restrooms. These restrooms are up a set of stairs. Restrooms with a ramp are available at the Gift Shop and Spoonbills. Once past the laundry drying courtyard, a coal ramp will take you into the staff quarters and other areas of the home. You can leave this side of the building using a coal ramp that takes you back to the courtyard.

You may access the foyer and sunroom by entering the foyer.

North Day-Use Recreation Areas

At the end of the causeway, turn left.  The North day-use recreation area consists of a restroom, shelter 3 and beach access.  The restroom is the first building on the left and has three parking spaces with additional space for loading.  It also has a water fountain and water bottle filling station with a pet water bowl.  Access to the bathroom from parking is by sidewalk.  Sinks are mounted to allow for leg room and one stall is larger than the others.

Shelter 3 is located on the North end as well.  This shelter has a concrete sidewalk from the parking lot to the shelter and a concrete sidewalk from the shelter to the restroom.

Beach access #8 provides concrete access to the beach with a roll out walkway access mat at the end to get guests to the dune line.  On the beach access there is a concrete pad with shower to rinse off.  The beach access also has one accessible parking space.

Nature Center

On the north end of the park, the Nature Center is a great place to learn about the park habitats.  There is an accessible parking space in the lot and a ramp into the building.  There is seating on the upper deck, a water fountain and restrooms.  The restrooms have larger stalls with grab bars and scald guards on the sinks.  Below the Nature Center is a wildlife viewing/photography area.  This location can be accessed by a sidewalk.  There are also two picnic tables, one of which is wheelchair accessible.

Marsh Boardwalk

The marsh boardwalk is located next to the Nature center on the North side of the park. It has been damaged several times by storms and is not fully open, at this time. You can get to the marsh boardwalk by sidewalk.

North Campground

To enter the North campground, turn left after checking in at Camper Registration in the gift shop.  Accessible sites are #7, #9, #62, and #64.  Sites #7 and #9 are close to an accessible beach access, have gravel pads and water and electric hook up.  Sites #62 and #64 have a concrete pad, full service hook up and sidewalks leading to the restroom.  The restroom for sites #62 and #64 also has another bathroom that is accessible and private. You will need to a ask for the door code when checking in.

South Campground

To enter the South campground, turn right after checking in at camper registration in the gift shop.  Accessible camping sites are #145 and #146.  Both sites have concrete pads, full service hook up and a sidewalk to the restroom.  They are also close in close to beach access #1 which has a sidewalk and a wooden ramp to walk over the dunes.

The restroom includes a larger stall with grab bars and a large shower with grab bars and shower wand.  A coin operated laundry room with washer and dryer is located through a separate entrance.

Observation Decks

Observation Decks are places you can go to look at wildlife, marshes, and other things in nature. The Kerrigan Observation Area is behind the Gift Shop/Ranger Station.  The trail leading to the observation deck is about .25 miles and is not easy for wheelchairs and other assistive technology.  The observation area has decking and benches. From the end you can see Mullet Pond.

The Maxwell observation area is on the North end of the park and has great views of Sand Piper Pond.  The path to this area is made out of dirt. The observation area has a small threshold and a ramp to access the viewing area.  

Causeway

The causeway is a great place to look for wildlife.  There are two options for accessible parking.  One spot is in the main lot with an expanded area for loading.  From this parking spot, visitors can access the entire causeway by sidewalk.  A second accessible parking space is located by the road.

The first place to see wildlife is a raised deck with views of Mullet Pond.  You can access this deck by sidewalk with a small transition.  At the end there are two benches for seating.

The causeway has sidewalks on both sides with large views of the saltmarsh and Mullet Pond.  You can stop along the way to rest on benches.  There are also observation areas over both Mullet Pond and the saltmarsh with benches.