There is a little neighborhood called El Porto and they have a beach. It is located in North Manhattan Beach between 45th Street & Rosecrans Avenue. To the north of 45th Street is the Chevron Oil Refinery. This is Manhattan Beach's second and lesser populated beach. Most people go near the Manhattan Beach Pier area. This beach is protected under the State Parks system.
To enter the parking lot for this beach, you need to go West on 45th Street. There's only parking slots to the left and right down a long area. All are metered and there is a 5hr maximum limit. The parking lot's hours are from 6:15AM to 8PM daily.
Between the parking lot and the beach is a bike path called Marvin Braude Bike Trail. The trail goes from Torrance Beach to Will Rogers State Beach. This 22 mile mostly cemented trail is mostly along the beach, but in some places it will take you near a road to avoid places like King Harbor and Marina del Rey.
Here are a few things you can do at El Porto Beach: Surfing, Volleyball, Biking, Skating, Walking, Running, Swimming, Paddle Boarding, Boogie Boarding. If you like to surf, there is an online webcam for El Porto as well as surf reports.
Restrooms with showers are located throughout the beach. El Porto does have Lifeguards on duty. No fires are permitted on the beach and dogs are also not allowed.
If you get hungry or thirsty, there is a Surf Food Stand near 41st Street. The bike bath goes right behind it. There are tables and chairs right on the beach (sand)! Anywhere you eat where seagulls are present, keep your food guarded!! I have seen them take food from inside backpacks! If you want to rent bikes and boards are rented from this area, too.
I don't venture onto the sand much these days, but when my children were young, we used to come here often. My hubby would boogie board and the rest of us would play in the sand and water. I remember we would have tar on our feet from walking through the sand and our towels would have tar on them as well. This spot is really great for surfers!
We just came here last night to watch the sunset (from the car). It was beautiful! read more