Hidden Gems in Laguna Beach

Victoria Beach Pirate Tower

Landmark · Moderate · Best at low tide

A 60-foot tower built in 1926 stands at the north end of Victoria Beach, which guides call one of Laguna's most private public beaches. The entrance is genuinely hard to find — a stairway off a residential street.

• Tide: The beach is cut off at high tide. Check the tide before you go.
• Parking: Street parking is tough. Arrive early.

Described from lavidalaguna.com, movingtolagunabeach.com, atlasobscura.com, diariesofwanderlust.com

Treasure Island Beach

Beach · Easy

Reached from the Montage lot or along the Montage Trail, and quieter than Laguna's main beaches. One local guide mentions free morning yoga classes held on the bluff.

• Parking: Access via Treasure Island Park, Montage lot.

Described from lavidalaguna.com, movingtolagunabeach.com, patch.com, whoorl.substack.com

Crescent Bay

Beach · Moderate · Best at sunset

A steeper stairway down to big sunset views out toward Seal Rock. Popular with bodysurfers, and busier than Laguna's smaller coves.

• Parking: Street parking. Arrive early.

Described from movingtolagunabeach.com, ocbeachinfo.com, lagunabeachsecrets.org, californiabeaches.com

Table Rock Beach

Beach · Moderate

Stairs lead down to a small cove hemmed by cliffs on both sides, with the large rock formation that gives it its name. Guides describe it as locally known and tucked away.

• Effort: Stair access.

Described from movingtolagunabeach.com, lagunabeachsecrets.org, diariesofwanderlust.com, californiabeaches.com

Moss Point Beach

Beach · Moderate

A street-end beach that locals and divers mostly have to themselves — one guide describes “the feeling of your own private beach.” The entire beach can be submerged at high tide.

Described from movingtolagunabeach.com, lagunabeachsecrets.org, diariesofwanderlust.com

Alta Laguna Park

Viewpoint · Easy · Best at sunrise or sunset

A fairly easy climb on a gradual incline to 360-degree views, about 1.5 miles round trip. One guide calls it one of locals' all-time favourites, best at sunrise or sunset.

Described from lavidalaguna.com, lagunabeachliving.com

Car Wreck Trail

Oddity · Moderate · Hike in

A steep, advanced trail down from Top of the World to a wrecked car that people come to photograph. The guide that lists it treats the two as one outing.

• Effort: Trail access from Top of the World.

Described from lagunabeachliving.com

Bluebird Park

Viewpoint · Easy

A neighbourhood playground with a three-storey rocket ship. The local writer who recommends it calls it “hands-down my favorite park in America.”

Described from whoorl.substack.com

Goff Cove

Beach · Moderate

A hidden pocket reached along the coastal trail from Treasure Island Park. The single guide that lists it says it stays quiet even when the neighbouring beaches are busy.

• Access: Reached via Treasure Island Park.

Described from movingtolagunabeach.com

The Greeter Statue

Oddity · Easy

A wooden statue commemorating a man who spent nearly 40 years waving hello to passing traffic. Listed on Atlas Obscura.

Described from atlasobscura.com

Emerald Bay

Beach · Easy · Private — view only

Sources disagree: one describes residents-only access with no public parking, another lists limited public access with a parking fee. Treat it as private unless you already have a way in.

• Access: Private gated community. Residents only. Not open to the public.

Described from movingtolagunabeach.com, ocbeachinfo.com

Three Arch Bay

Beach · Easy · Private — view only

A gated community with no public parking or gate entry. Listed so you know what is behind the gate, not as somewhere to plan a visit.

• Access: Private gated community. Residents only. Not open to the public.

Described from movingtolagunabeach.com

Thousand Steps Beach

Beach · Scramble

Despite the name it is about 250 steps down, though one guide notes it “really does seem like one thousand especially going back up.” Restrooms and showers sit at the base, and a cave at the south end opens only at low tide.

• Effort: Long stair climb back up.

Described from orangecountyoutdoors.com, ocbeachinfo.com, movingtolagunabeach.com, diariesofwanderlust.com

Shaw's Cove

Tide pools · Easy · Best at low tide

A small sandy beach tucked below the houses, down a short stairway — one local guide calls it the “ultimate locals' secret.” The tide pools only appear at low tide, and it does get busy on summer weekends.

• Tide: Tide pools are only exposed at low tide.
• Crowds: Busy on summer weekends.

Described from lavidalaguna.com, movingtolagunabeach.com, ocbeachinfo.com, lagunabeachsecrets.org

Fisherman's Cove

Beach · Moderate

Reached by the stairway at the Boat Canyon entrance, a few steps past Divers Cove. Sources describe privacy and intimacy rather than sand, and early-morning divers come here for the reefs.

• Parking: Street parking only. Arrive early.

Described from movingtolagunabeach.com, ocbeachinfo.com, lagunabeachsecrets.org, californiabeaches.com

Badlands Park

Viewpoint · Easy

Ghost Rock

Oddity · Moderate · Hike in

A sandstone outcrop about half a mile along the Laurel Canyon Trail in Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, known locally as Casper Rock or Emoji Rock for its shape. Reached from the Willow Staging Area off Laguna Canyon Road; an earthquake fault line with visible striations sits nearby.

• Access: Reached on foot from the Willow Staging Area off Laguna Canyon Road. Parking 8am to 5pm, $3 per vehicle.
• Exposure: Laguna Coast Wilderness Park has minimal shade and no water.

Described from enjoyorangecounty.com, reviewer-note

These places change and we do not get to visit them all. If something here is closed, moved, or just wrong, tell us and we will fix it.

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