We are often asked which of our beaches the Laguna Beach Locals love best. Here are the some of the best beaches in Laguna Beach according to the Jaleesa Peluso Real Estate Team!
There are more than 8 miles of coastline in Laguna Beach. The terrain of the beaches varies from flat sandy beaches -like that of Main Beach- to shear cliffs that drop right in to the Pacific Ocean. As many as 30 named beaches are spread along the Laguna Beach coast between Crescent Bay and Thousand Steps Beach. The water at Laguna is generally clean and calm, though occasionally the Pacific tends to be cool with strong tides and perfect surf. Clean and warm, the sands are perfect for strolling, volleyball matches or simply unwinding on a blanket.
When you visit the best beaches in Laguna Beach please do not take, collect or disturb any of the marine life, and remember that fishing is not allowed at this beach. Together we can preserve the natural beauty of our town!
Aliso Beach Park
– Great for families. Easy access and parking. Watch out for big waves.
Aliso Beach is an easy going family beach with picnic tables, firepits and even playground equipment for the kids. As one of the best beaches in Laguna Beach, it is fantastic for families seeking room to roam. Aliso Beach is especially user-friendly because of its easy access that many Laguna Beaches throughout the city do not offer. Most beaches are down a set of neighborhood steps, a ramp, or some hard-to-park and hard-to-access location, making them worthy of the more determined and capable beach-goers. Aliso Beach has a large public parking lot that sits smack dab next to the flat, sandy beach. Restroom facilities offer the needed amenity most beach-goers seek. Throughout the summer the beach cafe is open as well, providing beverages and snacks.
Swimming, skimboarding, surfing, skin diving and paddle boarding all take place here. In fact, this is a world famous skimboarding beach and whenever there are waves, there are skimboarders. If the waves are big, Aliso can be a challenge for swimmers so make sure you pay attention to the lifeguard flags.
Aliso Beach Park features sandy beaches, rock promontories, and scenic coastal foothills. The park consists of a beach and an island area surrounded by native coastal chaparral. Aliso Creek winds its way down from the Laguna foothills and empties into the sea at this location and is popular for children to scamper around. A marine life refuge borders to the north and south with rock outcroppings marking the park boundary.
Treasure Island Park
– Great for families. Relatively easy access. Beautiful park. Might get a little crowded.
Perhaps my favorite beach in Laguna Beach. The beautiful Treasure Island Park is located north of Aliso Beach and stretches along the Montage grounds and offers a beautifully manicured park as well as a family friendly beach. The park itself is perched atop a cliff, and there are steps leading to the beaches and coves. It is best accessed by the ramp at the southwest corner of the Montage Resort. The beach has a good amount of sand, but can still get crowded during weekends or hot summer days. This beach is mostly sandy bottom with shore-break type surf which can become large with numerous rip currents forming at the north end along the rocks and at the southern end as well.
Just north of the tide pools is another stunning sandy beach. It is difficult but possible to walk to this beach from the tide pools. You need to climb over some slippery rocks and wade though the water to get here.
Goff Island Cove
– Great for families. Climb stairs to access. Beautiful tide pools.
Goff Island Cove is a hidden gem to the right of Treasure Island Beach, perfect for families. There is a shower and drinking fountain at the top of the stairs that lead down to this intimate cove. Find yourself, a spot close to the water, and enjoy the calm waves for your younger children to frolic. Visitors can enjoy the usual ocean sports such as swimming, scuba diving and tide pooling. Goff Cove beach features a rock bottom and small shore-break. Because the beach is relatively sheltered, the waves tend to be smaller, making this a popular beach among families with young kids. Even so, you should always be careful when swimming in the cove because of the rocks and currents that can form.
Goff Cove is located between Treasure Island and Christmas Cove. It is best accessed by the stairs that lead down from the Montage Resort, just at the beginning of the park. The Montage Laguna Beach provides tide pool docents to educate the public during low tides and busy weekends and holidays.
Crescent Bay Beach
– Great for diving and snorkeling. Relatively easy access.
Crescent Bay is gets its name from its crescent shape, and is one of the best beaches in Laguna Beach. It’s very picturesque, with Laguna Beach’s signature fancy beach houses overlooking the immediate area. It’s very close to downtown Laguna Beach, and is an excellent beach for snorkeling/diving in additional to all of the other typical beach activities. Crescent Bay is a large cove about ¼ mile in length.
The scuba diving at Crescent Bay is on the east side or on the west side. In the center there’s LOTS of sand! On the East side Crescent Bay borders Shaw’s Cove and if you follow the reef around you will find yourself at Shaws. On the West side of Crescent Bay there is a reef that runs north and south. The reef abruptly ends and if the diver heads west you arrive at Seal rock which is visible from the shore. This is the hangout for the Laguna Beach local Sea Lions. Note: Rocks may be closed on both north and south end due to high tide and/or large or dangerous surf conditions, making tide pools inaccessible.
The facilities at Crescent Bay feature a men’s and women’s bathroom. The parking is available at Crescent Bay on a first come first serve basis. On crowded days you may have to park along Cliff Dr. Please remember that this is a private residential area. Be very courteous to the neighborhood, quiet and discreet.
Woods Cove Beach
– Family friendly. Climb stairs to access. Beautiful tide pools.
Wood’s Cove beach is one of the busier beaches in Laguna Beach. This beach is small but mighty! Offshore rock formations, a sandy cove (thus the name, Wood’s Cove,) and close shore breaks make this beach a true beauty. Wood’s Cove Beach make it one of the most exciting beaches to visit in Laguna. At high tides much of the beach is submerged by incoming water and waves which means you should always pay attention to the tides. Family friendly, Wood’s Cove is a scenic, hospitable cove frequented by residents and some tourists and locals who manage to find their way to this treasured enclave.
The entry stairs access both Wood’s Cove and Lovers’ Cove where beach-goers discover diving, body surfing, fishing, and tide pools. As you enter this beach check with lifeguards for local conditions, and keep in mind the rising tides.
Moss Point
– Great for snorkeling. Climb stairs to access. Keep track of the tides.
Moss Point is a secluded beach cove north of Rockledge and south of Wood’s Cove in Laguna Beach. I absolutely love this beach. The cove is very small, and even at low tide it doesn’t hold many people. The few people who come down are locals and divers. During large swells, the cove may experience large surf and strong rip currents that make this a beach to avoid for swimmers. Moss Cove offers two distinctive dive spots: (1) South-East or to your left from the stairway – You’ll find Scattered rocks and a series of Parallel reefs rising 20 feet from the sandy bottom. Several with a sharp drop-offs, all interesting to explore. (2) South or to your right from the stairway – there are several “mini” reefs with lots of promise for exploration. This area is generally shallower.
Access it by walking down Moss Street off South Coast Highway (If you are parked on the opposite side of PCH, please don’t cross where there is no crossing! This is a dangerous place to cross, walk to the nearest stoplight and cross there). Be careful of incoming tides and surf that will completely cover the beach.
Pearl Street Beach
– Great for families. Climb stairs to access. Surfing is black balled.
Pearl Street Beach is a popular local spot for those wanting to see the blow hole. Enter down the stairs at the end of Pearl Street. The area is fairly rocky, with reefs at the north and south ends. Earth-colored formations protect thousands of shorebirds and sea wildlife. Surfing is not allowed at Pearl Street, but is allowed at Agate Street which is the reef just north. Surfing at Agate Street is black balled (not allowed) between 12:00PM and 5:00PM each day through the summer months (June 15th-September 15th). Body boarding, body surfing, body boarding, diving, tide pooling and sunbathing are all OK. This is a great beach to visit at the end of the day, to sit down in the sand and watch the sun set.
What to watch out for at Pearl Beach: In addition to the steps that you must descend, then climb back up, hazardous rip conditions persist and are present. If in doubt about the water conditions, always ask a lifeguard.
Victoria Beach
– Great for families. Spacious beach with volleyball courts. Limited parking.
Victoria Beach is located south of main beach and is known for its white sandy beach, beautiful blue-green waters and unique residences (old and new). But the main attraction is the tower that stands tall at the north end of the beach. The 16th century looking Victorian turret or lighthouse type structure, built as a spiral staircase access to the beach from the towering residence above, was built in 1926. The castle like tower is a most see for tourists and photographers.
Victoria Beach is one of Laguna’s most private public beaches mainly because it is not easy to find and provides VERY limited parking.
Volleyball courts grace the north and south ends of the beach. Other popular activities are skimboarding (south end), body surfing, diving, and fishing. The majority of the people who use this beach are locals who live in the area and should be respected during your visit. Beware, there are no amenities at this beach, no water or restrooms. There are however, lifeguards.
Shaw’s Cove
– Great for diving, snorkeling and watching the sunset. Beautiful tide pools.
Shaw’s Cove is located at the base of Fairview Street and is approximately 500 feet in length. Shaw’s Cove is one of the most popular dive sites in Orange County and one of the best beaches in Laguna Beach. It is well-protected from large swells, making it highly suitable for diving. The reef consists of a jumble of very large boulders, separated from each other by a maze of trenches. During low tide, you can wade out quite a bit due to the flat bottom. The best diving is on the west side of the cove. Skimboarding is not allowed.
When conditions are mild enough to permit it, the rocks are pleasant for strolling and there is very good tide pooling on both sides. The Tide Water Docent program provides volunteers to educate the public during low tides or on busy weekends and holidays.
Shaw’s Cove is monitored by the Laguna Beach life guards so make sure you have a buddy and a snorkel – they check.
Thousand Steps
– Difficult access and limited parking. Waves can be dangerous. Great for beach activities.
Thousand Steps Beach is tucked away in South Laguna. The public entrance to Thousand Steps Beach is located directly across the street from 9th Street and South Coast Highway. There is a sign and approximately 230 steep steps leading to the beach. It is a trek going down and coming back up, yet it is worth the haul. You can find me here quite frequently during the summer and autumn months.
The beach stretches about seven blocks and is surrounded by high cliffs, resulting in the beach’s dramatic beauty. This beach, famous for it’s long staircase, is great for surfing, body surfing, volleyball and some good ole sunbathing. When the surf is up, you will get to see some spectacular waves crashing against the rock outcroppings. Because of the many steps, the beach is not easily accessible and mostly popular among young people. The south end of the beach is a popular spot among skimboarders, but can be less friendly to swimmers.
Parking is very scarce! If you park on the east (inland) side of Coast Highway, PLEASE walk to the light at the Hospital to cross Coast Highway, it can be very dangerous (and illegal) to cross anywhere else. The speed limit here is 45 mph and some drive faster.
Rockpile Beach
– Designated surfing area. No swimming. Beautiful tide pools.
Rockpile Beach is situated at a cove beach at the South end of Heisler Park. Rockpile Beach is one of Laguna’s three designated surfing areas. Surfers like the waves here despite the danger of the rocks. Swimming and/or body boarding are not permitted at this somewhat isolated beach. Most sun-bathers stick to Picnic Beach to the north. At low tides, it is an excellent spot to explore the tide pools, especially during the winter months. At high tides almost no dry sand remains on the beach, however.
Extremely low tides make it is possible to get close to Bird Rock, a bird sanctuary. Approximately 700 feet long, Bird Rock is a bird sanctuary nearby that visitors enjoy watching. People are not allowed to go to bird rock or disturb the birds.
Hazardous conditions are implied in the name “Rockpile.” The ocean floor is comprised almost entirely of rock and getting in and out of the water can prove difficult. Sea urchins cover most of the rocks which are often just below the surface. The water really is best left to the surfers familiar with the reefs and currents. Popular activities are surfing, and exploring the tide pools. The sandy strips of beach do provide for intimate sunbathing, reading a book and relaxing with tides permitting.
Oak Street Beach
– Easy Access. Family friendly. Surfing is black balled.
Oak Street beach is north of Brook’s Street and extends north past Anita Street. Popular activities include body boarding, body surfing and paddle boarding. Facilities at Oak Street Beach feature a nice grassy area, picnic table, trash cans and deck area. The observation deck is a great place to sit down with your coffee-to-go and watch the surf when it gets good.
Hazardous and rip conditions are present during increased surf. There are rips in front and to the right of the tower. The whole stretch of Oak Street also has a rocky bottom with a rock reef extending out from Brook’s Street. Usually the break will be about 90 yards from shore, but when the surf gets really big it will break off the outer reefs (300-500 yards off shore) south of Brook’s Street and continue up the beach past the tower.
Surfing is only allowed at Brook’s Street and not at Oak Street Beach during the blackball season. This makes Oak Street a more popular spot for families and swimmers when the waves are small.
There is very limited metered parking on Oak St. Metered parking is limited to 2 hours. Additional metered parking is available on PCH.
About Jaleesa Peluso
Jaleesa Peluso is a Real Estate Agent who specializes in Laguna Beach and Orange County Real Estate. For more Orange County homes for sale visit: www.jaleesapeluso.com. Contact: (949) 395-0960 or Jaleesa@JaleesaPeluso.com