Smuggler's Cove tidepools from the top of Palos Verdes

Hike from Palos Verdes hilltop (1100 feet) down to Smuggler's Cove tidepools and sea-caves at Abalone Cove Shoreline Park

We will start by checking out the view from the cliffs at Del Cerro Park, then walk down the wide roadbed that was once slated to be Crenshaw Blvd. (Crenshaw never made it to the sea as the hillsides started sinking becoming the famed Portuguese Bend landslide soon after the bulldozers started cutting the roadbed.)

We will cross Palos Verdes Drive and walk alongside the road, then drop down into Abalone Cove to the pools.

Tide will be at 2 feet above sea level at 3 pm and getting to really low (-0.2 feet at 6 pm), so we should be able to see a lot. We will explore the cove until a little before sunset (which is 4:52 on the 28th), then hike back up the wide fireroad to the hilltop with our flashlights.

WE SHOULD BE BACK TO OUR CARS BY 5:30

ELEVATION LOSS AND GAIN: 1100 FEET--THIS IS A DOWN THEN BACK UP HIKE!

DIFFICULTY: medium, ABOUT 6 MILES ROUND-TRIP

TIDE CHARTS: http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/noaatidepredictions/viewDailyPredictions.jsp?bmon=12&bday=28&byear=2011&timelength=daily&timeZone=2&dataUnits=1&datum=MLLW&timeUnits=2&interval=highlow&format=Submit&Stationid=9410650

RESTROOMS:

There is 1 porta-potty at the half-way spot at the tide pools

MAP TO THE TRAIL-HEAD:

"A" IS WHERE WE START. "B" IS WHERE THE TRAIL CROSSES PALOS VERDES DRIVE. "C" IS THE TIDEPOOLS AND LOCATION OF THE PORTA-POTTY

http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=33.75068,-118.36073&z=15&t=M&marker0=33.75753%2C-118.36734%2C1.3%20km%20W%20of%20Rolling%20Hills%20CA&marker1=33.74036%2C-118.35988%2C2.0%20km%20SxSW%20of%20Rolling%20Hills%20CA&marker2=33.73854%2C-118.37494%2C2.9%20km%20SW%20of%20Rolling%20Hills%20CA

FOR A PRINTABLE TRAILS AND TOPO MAP: http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/c/7/8/a/highres_81651082.jpeg

http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/c/7/8/a/event_81651082.jpeg

BRING: Plenty of water, at least 2 quarts, comfortable shoes, sunscreen, snacks, a hat, and a flashlight. The weather is supposed to be clear and sunny, but bring warm clothes just in case.

PHOTOS:

https://www.meetup.com/hiking-196/photos/all_photos/?photoAlbumId=3764612

https://picasaweb.google.com/Rare.Earth.fotos/PalosVerdesPeninsulaTidepoolsAndGeorgeFCanyon# (https://picasaweb.google.com/Rare.Earth.fotos/PalosVerdesPeninsulaTidepoolsAndGeorgeFCanyon)

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/b/b/8/2/event_61848002.jpeg

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/0/9/6/event_61928342.jpeg

http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/6/7/7/2/event_61886482.jpeg