Open all year; 9:00 a.m. to sunset daily unless otherwise signed at gate. Fee charged. Crescent Beach State Park opened in 1966 and is located about eight miles south of Portland in picturesque Cape Elizabeth. Sandy oceanfront beaches, saltwater coves, wooded areas, and rock ledges provide seashore recreation for beachgoers, fishing and watersports enthusiasts, and nature observers. Crescent Beach State Park is a classic saltwater beach park with beach grass-studded sand dunes, ocean breezes, herring gulls, picnic areas and views of fishing boats and an offshore island. The park's signature feature and namesake is a mile-long, crescent-shaped beach ideal for strolling and sunbathing, where relatevely warm waters and light surf make swimming and boating a pleasure. A few feet from the crowded summer sands are trails for walking and nature watching. In the off-season when the park is closed to vehicles, walkers are welcome to enjoy the tranquility of the beaches and trails. In the winter, visitors can hike or cross-country ski on paths under a canopy of snow-covered evergreen boughs.