As a welcoming community known for its beaches, it's important for everyone to be able to experience the sweeping sense of peace the crashing waves and sea breeze bring.
The City of Huntington Beach, including Public Works, Marine Safety, and Beach Maintenance, along with charitable organizations such as the Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs and Warriors with Hope, have been working to make attractions more accessible to individuals using wheelchairs, walkers, canes, and other assistive devices. Though there's still work to be done, Huntington Beach is proud to be in the top 10 of "10 Wheelchair Accessible Beaches in the US from Florida to Hawaii" by Conde Nast Traveler, and hopes to only improve in the years to come.
Photo: Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG
"The ocean has such a powerful way to heal, to address our mental health and make us feel good. I think about all the individuals who will now be able to have the benefit of rolling down or walking with a cane to dip their toes into the water, to sit there and listen to the sound of the waves crashing." - Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley
Paved Handicap Beach Access & Walkways
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The Bolsa Chica Multi-Use accessible Trail, also known as the Huntington Beach Bike Trail, is a flat, paved pathway that stretches nearly 8.5 miles from the northern tip of Bolsa Chica State Beach, down Pacific Coast Highway through Huntington City Beach and ends at the southern tip of Huntington State Beach.
Huntington Beach State Park currently has an additional four wide, concrete paved paths leading from the Bike Trail, providing access to the beach and bonfire pits. There are shade structures with accessible features available at both Newland Street and Brookhurst Street and designated accessible parking and restrooms are located nearby.
Bolsa Chica State Beach's concrete paved pathways are adjacent to Parking Lots #17 and #18, with access walkways to the beach off of the paved bike trail. State Parks intends to redo the beach concrete paths in 2023 so they reach all the way down to the ocean, according to Superintendent Kevin Pearsall.
Mobi-Mats
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Huntington Beach's two beach Mobi-Mats provide convenient shoreline access on Huntington City Beach. These mats lay on the sand and stretch all the way down to the water's edge during high tide. Made of 100% recycled water bottles, Mobi-Mats prevent wheeled devices from sinking into the sand and make wheeling down to the coastline much easier for wheelchair users, people pushing strollers, people using walkers, and more. The City is looking to add more beach access mat systems along the nearly 10-mile-long coastline in the near future.
