Crystal Pier
Crystal Pier is a 475-foot pier jutting into the Atlantic Ocean that doubles as a restaurant, bar, and free fishing/strolling deck.
Crystal Pier sits at 4500 Ocean Blvd in Pacific Beach, San Diego, extending 475 feet into the Pacific on a wooden pier approaching its centennial in 2027. Light is the defining feature, offering reliable shooting conditions for beach photography against the wooden pilings and the adjacent Oceanic Restaurant's outdoor dining.
History of Crystal Pier
Crystal Pier stood off the shore of Santa Monica, California from 1905 until 1949, situated at the end of Hollister Avenue along what is now Will Rogers State Beach. Photographers visiting the site today can capture the coastline where the structure once stood off the shore, and historical accounts note it was the smallest of the Ocean Park amusement piers. The pier was also known at various times as Hollister Pier, Bristol Pier, and Nat Goodwin Pier, names that may appear in archival records or older images worth tracking down before a visit.
Best Photo Spots
Here are 2 oceanfront photo spots at Crystal Pier: the pier itself and the Pacific Beach Boardwalk.
Crystal Pier
Photographs of This Location
Crystal Pier History and Photography
Crystal Pier, at the foot of Garnet Avenue in Pacific Beach, opened as the White Star Pier in July 1905 and was completed in its present form in 1927. Cottages from the 1920s, refurbished and set directly above the water, provide overnight stays with wide views of the coastline. The pier's pilings, the ocean-side accommodations, and the surrounding beach give photographers several angles to work with throughout the day.
Common Questions
Crystal Pier Hotel & Cottages offers free on-site parking on the pier for registered guests, typically with one dedicated space per cottage or suite.
Dogs are allowed on the beach and boardwalk before 9:00 am and after 6:00 pm from April 1 through October 31, and before 9:00 am and after 4:00 pm from November 1 through March 31, and must be on a leash at all times.
Yes, Crystal Pier fully reopened to the public on Monday, July 7, 2025, after repairs totaling approximately $2.06 million were completed.
Crystal Pier Closure and Repair Timeline
Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach is a wooden structure split between the city of San Diego, which owns the outer third, and the Crystal Pier Hotel, which operates the shore section with its refurbished 1927 cottages and moderately priced rooms. The public portion closed in December 2023 after storm damage, with emergency repairs running in two phases from January 2024 through March 2025, so access status should be confirmed before a visit. As the pier approaches its centennial in 2027, it remains a working location for beach portrait photography.
Practical Information
Interstate 5, Garnet Street exit; Street parking along Ocean Boulevard and nearby Pacific Beach residential blocks is limited, with a mix of unmetered curbside spaces, time limits, and overnight and street-sweeping restrictions.; The pier sits in the Pacific Beach neighborhood of San Diego, which has nearby dining and treat options after a session.
Free street parking on Garnet; Parking near Crystal Pier is limited, with a few public lots and difficult street parking, especially on weekends and in summer.; $10
6am-9pm; July 7, 2025; The outer one-third of Crystal Pier was closed to public access as of May 2023, with no estimate for reopening due to storm damage.
Free; Budget rooms are available right beside the California Coastal Trail at Crystal Pier Motel.
The pier can be reserved through the Oceanic Restaurant for private events such as wedding ceremonies.
Session Tips
- Clients are advised to bring bribes for kids, a towel, and an extra change of bottoms for after the session.
- Subjects should remove gum, hats, hair ties on wrists, sunglasses, and smart watches or FitBits for beach photos.
- On sunny days at Crystal Pier, sparkles of light glow through the pier, adding extra beauty to images.
- Weekdays work best for Pacific Beach family sessions because the beach is very busy, especially in summer and early fall.
- If parking on Garnet Avenue is difficult, try the streets north of the pier, which usually have more availability than the south side.
What to Wear
- The photographer recommends wearing flip-flops that can be kicked off once on the sand.
- Going barefoot works well for beach sessions because it looks natural in walking photos and creates a relaxed feel.
- Light fabrics and neutral tones photograph best on the beach, while large logos and bold patterns can be distracting; coordinating colors between family members helps but matching is not required.
When to Shoot
Best Time to Photograph
1:20 PM - 1:44 PM
1:44 PM - 2:44 PM
12:30 AM - 1:30 AM
1:30 AM - 1:55 AM
Best Season
Year round
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 06:51 | 17:05 | 10h 14m |
| Feb | 06:31 | 17:34 | 11h 2m |
| Mar | 06:59 | 18:57 | 11h 58m |
| Apr | 06:19 | 19:19 | 13h 0m |
| May | 05:49 | 19:41 | 13h 51m |
| Jun | 05:40 | 19:58 | 14h 18m |
| Jul | 05:51 | 19:57 | 14h 5m |
| Aug | 06:12 | 19:33 | 13h 21m |
| Sep | 06:32 | 18:54 | 12h 22m |
| Oct | 06:53 | 18:15 | 11h 22m |
| Nov | 06:19 | 16:47 | 10h 28m |
| Dec | 06:44 | 16:44 | 10h 0m |
What to Expect During Your Session
Photographers should plan to meet subjects at the entrance outside the Crystal Pier Hotel office, then work under the structure for reliable open shade before stepping into direct light as the sun drops toward the horizon in the final hour before sunset. When Garnet Avenue fills up, the streets north of the pier generally offer more space than the south side, and the lifeguard-supervised swimming areas at the ends of Law and Diamond Streets provide additional backdrops. Clear days bring bright sparkles filtering between the planks, while the pier's adjacent dining, bar, and fishing areas fill any non-shooting time.
A typical session starts with photos under Crystal Pier, then moves to the shoreline, beginning north of the pier and possibly continuing south.
Getting There
Access & Transit
- Wheelchair access
- Visitors need to go down stairs to access the beach, shoreline, and pier, so Pacific Beach may not be ideal for people with walking difficulty.
- Parking
- Crystal Pier Hotel & Cottages provides free on-site parking on the pier for registered guests, with generally one dedicated space per cottage or suite.
- Public transit
- Garnet Avenue, Pacific Beach
- Walking distance
- Crystal Pier is located at the west end of Garnet Avenue, one of the main streets in Pacific Beach, and the photographer meets clients at the entrance to the pier.
- Bike friendly
- Bicyclists can ride bike paths and streets to reach Crystal Pier at Pacific Beach.