Balboa Pier, Pier in Newport Beach, California, US

Balboa Pier is a long, flat grey walkway on thin dark pilings that runs diagonally from the Balboa Peninsula shore out over the Pacific. At its far end the deck widens into a rectangular platform holding a small low building with a dark roof, red patio umbrellas and white tables and chairs. Behind the pier lie the sand and a grassy field of Peninsula Park.

Balboa Pier was built in 1906 as a sister project of the Balboa Pavilion by the Newport Bay Investment Company, which sought lot buyers for the sandy Balboa Peninsula. Both structures opened alongside the southern terminus of the Pacific Electric Railway's Red Car line from Long Beach. El Niño storms in 1998 damaged a pillar and caused a partial collapse of one corner; the wooden posts were later reinforced with steel sheathing and braces.

The pier is accessible on foot with no entry fees, offering plenty of space for walking. Weather conditions can change quickly, and visitors should be prepared for wind and occasional rough water.

The pier attracts anglers who fish from dawn in hopes of catching halibut and other local species. It also draws photographers seeking ocean views and sunset shots over the water.