Ventura River Group Campground

Biking

There isn’t biking in the park itself, since it’s a beach, but there’s a bike path connecting the park to Ventura and the coast highway. It’s a beautiful and scenic ride and makes it easy to hit the town!

Fishing

This beach is excellent for surf fishing—you can find corbina, perch, halibut, cabezon and bass. Two great fishing spots are the shore north of the park entrance and the mouth of the Ventura River, where it meets the ocean. There’s a tackle shop in Ventura in case you forget the bait. If you like fishing, you definitely need to check this little beach out!

Hiking

There aren’t many trails here at this beach, but you can wander along the Ocean’s Edge trail and take in the pounding surf, impressive artillery, and array of waterfowl. It’s more of a nature walk /peaceful stroll along the beach. You can also explore the river’s edge in a loop on the River’s Edge trail. Check it out from our friends at Hikespeak!

Wind sports

There’s a long stretch of beach and ocean winds here calling your kite board’s name. This is a popular spot for kitesurfers, but beginners probably should practice a little more before trying out these waves. There are also plenty of surf shops in nearby Ventura if you’re looking to surf or simply to get more information on the water sports here.

Surfing

Surfer dudes should try out Emma Wood for the excellent beach scenery and reliable surf, especially during the summer. There are plenty of surf shops in Ventura only a few minutes away. You can check out the surf forecast for more info!

Swimming

The water can be pretty cold, but if that doesn’t faze you, by all means jump in! Swimming weather is especially perfect during the summer, but it’s also the time that draws crowds. It’s okay though, since you have the whole beach to explore! You’ll find surfers and kitesurfers here, so don’t swim too far out.

Wildlife watching

There are schools of dolphins that call this area home, so you’ll have no problem seeing them play in the water from your campsite. This is one of the best spots in the area to go dolphin watching: you can catch glimpses of bottlenose, Pacific white-sided, and hefty Risso’s dolphins. The Pacific white-sided dolphins love to do flips, so keep your eyes peeled for those fellas. Keep you eye out along the shoreline for the tons of little sea creatures that wash up from the waves— take care not to step on them! There are also plenty of birds, from songbirds to great blue herons. The mouth of the Ventura River creates a bird estuary that birders and non-birders alike will appreciate.