1,000 Steps Beach
1,000 Steps Beach
4.5
About
Not quite a thousand steps but certainly a steep and winding flight of stairs that descend down to this stunning beach. A popular spot for surfing, the waves here grow large and offer up a bit of a challenge. You can also take a kayak tour in the area to explore sea caves and spot sea lions out in the ocean. Due to the steep descent, this beach is not easily accessible for those with mobility issues and parking is a distance away and fills up early. Check tide schedules in advance as high tides can cover a great deal of the beach. – Tripadvisor
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Top ways to experience 1,000 Steps Beach and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
111 within 3 miles
Attractions
188 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
343 reviews
Excellent
239
Very good
82
Average
17
Poor
0
Terrible
5
Derek P
1 contribution
May 2020 • Friends
We went to the beach only to find out it’s the only county beach that’s closed. On top of that, the guard informed us that it will be closed indefinitely since they are going to start stair repair.
Save yourself the brutal parking and pointless walk. Wish someone had mentioned it here.
Save yourself the brutal parking and pointless walk. Wish someone had mentioned it here.
Written May 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hannah_mi_16
Okemos, MI39 contributions
Feb 2020 • Family
The 1,000 step beach was really beautiful. There weren't lots of people, since it's February, but there where a few groups out. The tidal pools were really interesting. The beach was pristine. A few tips for other visitors.. 1) the steps are right off the street with no obvious parking other than street parking. 2) Laguna Beach has free trolly service on the weekend, which was very convenient. 3) Google maps got us close to the steps, but was a little off.
Written February 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paigescelfo
Houston, TX13 contributions
Jul 2020 • Family
Stunning views.....Beautiful beach with massive waves. Kids could only get in knee deep most of the day but we had a blast. Not too crowded and wasn’t overtaken with surfers as much pf Laguna is. My favorite spot so far!
Written July 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hotelsnobb
Boston, MA1,066 contributions
Jul 2021 • Couples
About 250 steps down to the beach. Steep staircase...make sure to hold onto the handrail. Beautiful beach at the bottom, so worth the extra effort. The climb back up is tiring, but there are landings to take breaks, and most of the way is shaded.
Parking is on the street wherever you can find it.
Parking is on the street wherever you can find it.
Written August 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sondra D
Phoenix, AZ2 contributions
Jun 2024 • Family
Just came back from this beach, 2 days ago! Still sore from climbing 1000 steps down and then up!! We didn't think we'd make it, but we did! Wow, what a challenge, for the average person. The beach is quaint and beautiful, the tide was high, there were few people and it's indeed clean! The beach looks so beautiful, with the sun beaming down on it! It's a marvelous sight to see, there was a sailboat out yonder and a small yacht came speeding by. We lived in Cali for 26yrs, and this was our first time to this beach. I absolutely loved it! However, the steps are a challenge indeed. Going down, is a breeze, but coming up, that IS A CHALLENGE! I thought I was gonna die!! lol However, by taking my time and resting at each landing, I made it to the top!! Including , the steps to our car, parked on Pacific Coast Hwy. So, here I am two days later. Very sore, but in a good way! Motivated to keep on steppin! Would I do again? Yep, you bet I would, just won't forget to bring my drinking water and sneakers.
Written June 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chattyvon
Goodyear, AZ17 contributions
Jul 2013 • Friends
WONDERFUL!!!
Took my mother. She needed knee surgery. Getting down the steps was ok... about 1/2 down she said... How am I going to get out of here. I said...no worries I will figure that out. Upon arriving on the sand, I went to the lifeguard stand and shared my plight. He said, NO WORRIES, we will come get her in the lifeguard jeep. I said... SHE IS GOING TO LOVE THIS! He laughed and said how old is she... in her late 70's... He laughed and said... don't tell her... we'll make it good. When our time was up, I went over and sure enough- they loaded up the jeep with gorgeous lifeguards to come get the queen. What a precious memory!!!
GO it is gorgeous!
Took my mother. She needed knee surgery. Getting down the steps was ok... about 1/2 down she said... How am I going to get out of here. I said...no worries I will figure that out. Upon arriving on the sand, I went to the lifeguard stand and shared my plight. He said, NO WORRIES, we will come get her in the lifeguard jeep. I said... SHE IS GOING TO LOVE THIS! He laughed and said how old is she... in her late 70's... He laughed and said... don't tell her... we'll make it good. When our time was up, I went over and sure enough- they loaded up the jeep with gorgeous lifeguards to come get the queen. What a precious memory!!!
GO it is gorgeous!
Written June 27, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ebonyinkspot
Laguna Beach, CA21 contributions
Apr 2018 • Family
1000 steps is not 1000 steps to the beach but a good 200+ steps. It’s a smaller beach but very nice. No toilet facilities. When the tide is low you can travel through a tunnel. Be careful of waves and tide.
Written April 22, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
discjohn
Laguna Niguel, CA23 contributions
May 2014 • Friends
While this beach has been updated and now includes bathroom facilities, it still has a lot of it's laid back charm. This used to be the beach where women would frolic in the surf zone at 10th street, topless with their bongs on the beach towel. This location changes with different storms and surf that comes through the area, some years you will have tide pools, but those are mostly covered in sand now. This is still a great beach to go to on the most crowded days, as many don't want to make the trek back up the very steep stairs. The walk down is easy, but after spending the day at the beach, many have given up on returning because of the climb. As a result, you will always have a place to pitch your umbrella and beach chair at this location. This is not a surfing beach and used to be a great body surfing beach when the waves would kick off the reef past the house on 10th street and converge with the waves from off shore, that doesn't seem to happen as much now. So bring your skim board, your fins, possibly your sponge board, but leave your surfboard for a different location, try Salt Creek to the South or Thalia to the north.
Written May 29, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shswhit51
1 contribution
Aug 2014
There are 185 steps to go down *and back up* with this beach. Not too crowded but dangerous rip tide the day we went. Almost five foot waves right at the coast which then sweeps you into the ocean. Little sister got annihilated by wave. Not for beginner swimmers. Beautiful scenic view otherwise.
Written August 5, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Heather B
Parker, CO31 contributions
Jul 2019 • Family
Some of the other things the reviews said are true. No parking except along PCH. We parked same place both days we visited, and it was about 3/4 of a mile away. The walk was fine for us though, so much to look at along the way. The stairs are super cool. Hang on to the railing though since they are steep. Halfway down the steps is when you hear the waves crashing on the beach that you can't yet see.... daunting on a high surf day like the days we went. We went on a Thursday, not a ton of people, and easily found a place to lay down 4 towels and our stuff. Also plenty of room to play SpikeBall and throw the frisbee. On the Sunday we went it was definitely busier. But still room to spread out (minus the SpikeBall). There is a bathroom facility at the bottom of the steps. Here are a couple of wash stations so you can get the sand out before the trek up the steps. Really a lovely place to spend the day!
Written July 29, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Has there been bioluminescent waves at 1,000 Steps Beach recently (2024)?
Written February 26, 2024
I will be going to Laguna Beach this week and I want to know if its walkable to get to the hidden tide pools? I see that they are located near Three Arch Bay but you have to be a resident in that neighborhood to get there. Is the hidden tide pool walkable from 1000 beach, if so how long is the walk? Is it safe to get to early in the morning?
Written January 15, 2018
I have not visited the tide pools in Laguna, only those found in Corona Del Mar. All of the California coast is accessible to the public (California Coastal Commision) you need to go when the tide is low. Tide tables are available through several sites, Surfline
and visitlagunabeach look under things to do, beaches, tide-pools,this site has contact information to give you the answer you need. Good Luck!
Written January 16, 2018
A Tripadvisor member
Are there restaurants on the beach.
I saw a little whack down on the beach. What is that?
Written August 10, 2017
Yes, there are plenty of restaurants on the beach. I will suggest what I think will help you. One of the best views, cliff side, is The Cliffs. It is in a village which has a lot of little shops and the good thing about this place is you are right on the cliff over the ocean and the bar has a great happy hour and music. It is great for all ages. There is The Deck, but on certain nights, weekends mostly, it is a young scene with a DJ and it is crowded, not very calming. There is the Casa Del Camino hotel roof with a marvelous roof top 180 degree view of the ocean and the hotel itself was built in the 1920's and renovated keeping that era's integrity, downstairs is their restaurant K'ya which is fantastic and reasonable. I live across the street from Las Brisas which is a famous restaurant that is on the ocean side, has a view of the ocean, but not right on a cliff, like The Cliffs which I mentioned above and the drinks are far more expensive there than The Cliffs where drinks/foods are more reasonably priced, again, their happy hour is hard to beat. If you go further south, further down from the village, there are a couple of other ocean side restaurants with ocean views you should know about. 1. Coyote Grill -great Mexican food. 2. Mozambique -not on the ocean side, but the roof top bar and 2nd floor restaurant -both with views is great. They have music there also. But, if you are watching your costs, you must take advantage of their happy hour dinners. It is from 3:00 to 6:00 Mon. through Friday...$10.00 something for a choice of 3 or 4 awesome meals and wine/beer (including Stella Artois) are $5.00/ea. Mozambique has one of Laguna's best ambience as the interior is beautiful and there are live parrots on site in large, wrought iron cages. I know you are looking for restaurants on the ocean, but please, do not pass up going to the village and having a breakfast or lunch or dinner at The White House -an old Laguna tradition, all locals go there including me, food is great & reasonable, interior is comfortable. There is music many nights -different types and bar is great as well. If you go into the village... away from the ocean, I highly recommend two places that locals go, that are away from the crowds and offer a great atmosphere and good food -Zinc Café and The Lumberyard... Zinc café has a wonderful Jazz trio that plays there Fridays and Sunday evenings starting at 6:00, get there at 5:30 as the place is small and quaint... You will also get a different view of Laguna/the Village that tourists rarely see...in fact, we locals don't like to advertise this side of Laguna as we'd really like to keep it to ourselves to be honest. But if you venture into this part of the village, you will see old Laguna and hear the church bells ring...
Hope this helps, I have invariably forgotten things to give you, but I think I covered most of it. Let me know if you have any further questions and have a great time while here in our town!!!
Written August 11, 2017
Depends on if you want to walk through the cave or swim? Go at low tide to walk/hike through the cave and high tide to swim. Check the local tide charts to find out when high and low tides are!
Written May 2, 2017
Showing results 1-10 of 19
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing