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Photos: Beach crowds seek relief from heat along the coast
Beachgoers came armed with canopies, umbrellas and bathing suits, beating the heat Saturday, Sept. 5, at local beaches to cool off in the chilly ocean water.
Some stretches of sand along Orange County’s 42 miles of coast were packed with people, while lifeguards at other beaches said crowds were busier two weeks ago, before most local schools got underway and summer started to wind down.
While beaches have always been popular for the Labor Day holiday weekend, authorities have been encouraging people to remember the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and practice caution. Orange County is on the cusp of being able to loosen some more restrictions on businesses and in-person learning, but another spike in COVID-19 cases would force another retreat toward shutdowns as happened earlier this summer when cases surged.
The dog days of summer are coming to an end as people flock to Baby Beach in Dana Point on Labor Day weekend, Saturday, September 5, 2020. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
People are out in full force at Corona Del Mar State Beach on Labor Day weekend Saturday, September 5, 2020. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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The parking lot at Corona Del Mar State Beach was full as people were escaping the stifling heat and perhaps enjoying the final days of summer on Labor Day weekend Saturday, September 5, 2020. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
People line the sand at Doheny State Beach on Labor Day weekend in Dana Point Saturday, September 5, 2020. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Surfers stay cool at Doheny State Beach on Labor Day weekend in Dana Point Saturday, September 5, 2020. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
People are out in full force at Corona Del Mar State Beach on Labor Day weekend Saturday, September 5, 2020. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mike Ames of Downey enjoys the comfort of his van as cyclists cruise by at Bolsa Chica State Beach in Huntington Beach on the first day of the Labor Day weekend on Saturday, September 5, 2020. Temperatures soared well over 100 degrees inland causing thousands to make their way to the beaches. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Kingston takes in the beach scene as he rides with Elizabeth Soulliere and Dustin Rich, right, at Bolsa Chica State Beach in Huntington Beach on the first day of the Labor Day weekend on Saturday, September 5, 2020. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
With temperatures well over 100 degrees inland, thousands flock to Bolsa Chica State Beach in Huntington Beach to enjoy the first day of the Labor Day weekend on Saturday, September 5, 2020. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
With temperatures well over 100 degrees inland, thousands enjoy the cooler temperatures and water at Bolsa Chica State Beach in Huntington Beach on the first day of the Labor Day weekend on Saturday, September 5, 2020. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A young beach goer gets a ride in a wagon at Bolsa Chica State Beach in Huntington Beach on the first day of the Labor Day weekend on Saturday, September 5, 2020. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cyclists hold hands as they ride pass by thousands of beach goers on the sand at Bolsa Chica State Beach in Huntington Beach on the first day of the Labor Day weekend on Saturday, September 5, 2020. Temperatures soared well over 100 degrees inland causing thousands to make their way to the beaches. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Various forms of umbrellas and shade structures were placed in the sand at Bolsa Chica State Beach in Huntington Beach as thousands made their way to the beach to enjoy the first day of the Labor Day weekend on Saturday, September 5, 2020. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dakota Tseng, 10, and his brother, Mason, 8, along with their parents, Tai and Amy Tseng of Huntington Beach roast marshmallows on a grill for s’mores in the parking lot at Bolsa Chica State Beach in Huntington Beach on the first day of the Labor Day weekend on Saturday, September 5, 2020. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A couple plays volleyball in the surf at Bolsa Chica State Beach in Huntington Beach on the first day of the Labor Day weekend on Saturday, September 5, 2020. Temperatures soared well over 100 degrees inland causing thousands to make their way to the beaches. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cyclists pass by thousands of beach goers on the sand at Bolsa Chica State Beach in Huntington Beach on the first day of the Labor Day weekend on Saturday, September 5, 2020. Temperatures soared well over 100 degrees inland causing thousands to make their way to the beaches. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
With temperatures well over 100 degrees inland, thousands flock to Bolsa Chica State Beach in Huntington Beach to enjoy the first day of the Labor Day weekend on Saturday, September 5, 2020. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A dog gets a lifts of sorts as thousand enjoy the cooler temperatures and water at Bolsa Chica State Beach in Huntington Beach on the first day of the Labor Day weekend on Saturday, September 5, 2020. Temperatures soared well over 100 degrees inland causing thousands to make their way to the beaches. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
At Huntington State Beach, the crowds were some of the biggest seen on a Labor Day weekend in recent memory, State Parks Superintendent Kevin Pearsall said.
The beach was at full capacity, with lines of cars waiting to get in throughout the day.
“We’ve had to close a couple of times due to capacity,” he said.
He said while there were a lot of people, most were staying in their own groups.
“The groups are in compliance, there’s just massive amounts of people,” he said. “People are behaving themselves. We don’t have big groups, but we’re being visited in high level. People are going to the beach.”
Crowds have been flocking to the beach all summer, as other entertainment options such as theme parks, malls and movie theaters have remained closed.
State Parks officials, like most agencies in Orange County, do not do coronavirus safety reminders over loud speakers, but have signs throughout the beach reminding people to stay six-feet away and to wear masks.
There weren’t a lot of masks seen at the popular Doheny State Beach or Baby Beach in Dana Point, though a couple of ladies wore them as they relaxed on rafts, floating a distance from other people.
Orange County has signs posted about social distancing and other coronavirus safety guidelines, but stops short of requiring face masks like Los Angeles County has been, where authorities sent out a reminder Friday that if beaches get too crowded, they would be forced to close.
“We cannot stress enough the importance of following the public health guidelines,” Department of Beaches and Harbors Director Gary Jones said in a release. “It is absolutely imperative that beachgoers avoid crowds. If the beaches get too crowded, we may be forced to close them again.”
Newport Beach Battalion Chief Brent Jacobsen said a strong west wind kept crowds at bay throughout the day, thought there were pockets in areas such as West Newport and the Newport Pier area.
“It’s super cool and there’s less people here today than the last two weekends,” he said. “There’s zero surf, and the water is around 65… it’s slow, we’ve had a handful of lost children. It’s not anything super crazy.”
It was the same story in Seal Beach, where lifeguard Mike Diller said crowds were busier two weeks ago.
But South Laguna Beach and areas of Dana Point, such as Salt Creek and Strands beaches, were popular with people.
“Population wise, there are a lot of people,” said Brad Herzog, OC Parks lifeguard captain.
With hot – possibly record breaking – temperatures the rest of the holiday weekend, lifeguards are bracing for more people coming to the coast.
“The hot temps are supposed to last through Monday,” Herzog said “we are expecting large crowds through the weekend.”
Staff Photographer Mindy Schauer contributed to this report.
