Shaw’s Cove

One of my favorite areas in Laguna beach.
My grandfather used to own a beach house overlooking Shaw’s Cove, and when we’d visit on a weekend, I remember walking down the steps to the beachfront with the cool breeze and high-​banked rocks with the waves splashing.
That’s one of the things I like most about Laguna, is the dynamic and rocky tide pools you get along with the white sand beaches.
the best.

Visited Shaws Cove on a Saturday morning after two days at Disneyland. Despite cold water (early April– made the veins in my feet hurt!) my three year old was ready to run right in. She was also amused by the scuba divers suiting up. We had an easy time parking, but getting out proved to be more challenging since no showers led to water bottle spray downs next to the car. Don’t miss the tide pools!

This cove is really nice, peaceful, and quite — especially on weekdays…
This is one of the smaller size coves in the Laguna Beach area however is still one of my favorites. Snorkeling here is great! There is a lot of marine life following the ridge line… You can see dozens of different species of fish and stingray as well.
This place does not get too crowded either which is really nice and peaceful.
Parking is fairly easy in the residential area right up from the cove — sometimes you may have to park a couple blocks from the stairs (Beach access) however it is without a doubt worth a short walk.

This is such a beautiful, secluded beach. My husband and I went to visit the tide pools around low-​tide. It was really relaxing just to walk around and watch the waves here. We didn’t see a whole lot in the tide pools, though we might not have been looking in the right places… will definitely come back some other time to explore further!

For SoCal beach diving, this is pretty easy. It’s a bit of a haul to get gear down to the water, but the reef is great once you get there.

Come and check out the tidepools, they are amazing and serve as a reminder of Cali’s beauty.

Peaceful hideaway with lots of tide pools to explore… barnacles galore… your four legged friend can join on leash October through May.
(This entry written by my husband)

Beautiful beach. There are tons of nice beaches along the coast. I only had a couple hours to explore. Plus the weather was not cooperative. It was raining pretty hard at times. Would definitely return on a nice, warm day if i’m in the area.
Saw a few kids surfing at the cove. Saw a bunch of shrimps (?) that look like mini lobsters washed ashore. They looked dead so i touched one with my finger and it startled the heck out of me when it began jumping!

Came here last weekend for scuba diving. Although it’s hellish carrying scuba gear down 60 stairs, the spot is beautiful, from the water to the surrounding scenery. Parking is possible on Cliff Dr. if you get there early enough or on a nearby street, though you may need to feed the meters.

My husband is not a beach guy to say the least and dagging him there can often be a daunting task. So when I suggested we take the kids to the beach the other day he cringed as usual. «It’s messy, crowded and a pain in the butt to find parking», he will say. I assured him that I was looking for new unique spots that we could try and and so when I said «tide pools», he was game.
It didn’t take us an entire afternoon to find parking, but then again it was a Monday afternoon. We parked off of PCH and made the short trek down the stairs to the sand. It wasn’t overly crowded and everyone was excited to see the tide pools. Unfortunately we got there a little late and we didn’t get to spend much time on the rocks since they closed them shortly after we arrived, the kids still had a great time though.
It was a beautiful beach and we will most definitely be back there soon if my hubby permits!
Tips:
If you plan on going on a Sat or Sun, parking in the residential area can be a real pain.
Also, when we were there, I didn’t notice a bathroom/​shower available so that may deter some.
Bring your snorkel gear :-)

Shaw’s Cove is one of Laguna Beach’s hidden gems, well at least in comparison to its better known neighboring beach to the north, Crescent Bay Beach. It’s much less crowded than the larger Crescent Bay Beach and while there’s no bathroom/​shower here, if you’re really desperate you can walk over there in less than 10 minutes. The beach at Shaw’s Cove might be more low key, but that is not the case once you go in the water!
I’ve had some really great times snorkeling here, as the water can be incredibly clear and teeming with marine life when the conditions are right. Last time I went on a hot summer day with almost no tides and right from the start I saw fish everywhere. I found the underwater arch that I’ve read about, although it wasn’t exactly what I had in mind (I won’t spoil it for you all). I usually hang out on the north side because there is so much to see there with the rock formations, reefs, and kelp attracting marine life.
There are also tide pools to explore and if you follow it to the north around the bluff, you can walk right over to Crescent Bay Beach and Fisherman’s Cove/Diver’s Cove to the south. Overall, it’s a great beach to relax at even if you’re not into diving or snorkeling but it’s true beauty is under the water!

Beautiful little cove packed with the most breathtaking shoreline views! Many little nooks and crannies to explore. This is what the California shoreline so special!

Another nice spot in Laguna beach to scuba dive or go snorkeling. I love exploring this cove. First time I ever spotted a wild lobster while snorkeling was here. Luckily I saw a whole bunch of them together. This place is filled with underwater life.
video of my adventure

Best tide pools south of Long Beach.

Was here for my 1^st, second, third and fourth beach dive.
It’s a beautiful pArt of the city and I liked where it was located. The waves were difficult to surpass the first 2 – 3 times but it might’ve been because it was my first time.
The only part I disliked about diving here were the stairs! But now that I think about it, it’s not all that bad… considering most beach entrances are pretty similar.
The underwater life here is incredible… my first time experiencing such things. I would definitely keep coming back here to explore the reefs more.
Saw several different types of fish including a sting ray! Wish I got a picture: p

Beautiful beach! Small and not too crowded. Lots of tide pools and the waves were tame. Gorgeous!

Beautiful quiet little beach. Great place to snorkel or scuba. Tide pools for children. Enjoy! Keep clean and respect homeowners. One of the best spots in county.

What a wonderful beach! This is one of my favorite beach in all of Laguna! There is something for everyone!
There is lots of safe rocks to climb on and to explore the tide pools. These are great for kids, because what kid does not enjoy seeing little hermit crabs? The tide pools are very fun to take picture of too. Just bring shoes, because the rocks hurt.
The snorkeling here is amazing! There is lots to see! To the right of the beach there are channels that are fantastic for scuba diving and snorkeling (go when the tide is safe and low).
The waves are nice! There is a lot of kid friendly locations that are great to dig for sand crabs.
The few negatives are, that the stairs to reach the beach are a pain, but great exercise. Also, when it’s high tide, there is literally no where to sit on the beach.
Overall, this is a really great beach! One of the best in Laguna! I would recommend it to everyone! Be sure to bring walking shoes for the rocks, and check the tides for the day.

Love this place! So beautiful and not terribly crowded (like Main Beach). Parking can be hard sometimes (like Summer weekends), but I’ve usually never had a problem.
I have come snorkeling here quick a few times and it is a great spot. The water is gorgeous and you can see a good amount of animal life near the rocks and reefs. My friend who scuba comes here a lot as well — it is her favorite place to go.
The cove is protected, so the waves usually aren’t too big, but sometimes you can get a big swell.
I normally go in the morning and have always been able to park close. I’m sure around noon time it fills up more. The parking is street parking in the residential area.
There are stairs going down to the beach. They are not steep and not too many of them, so if you have a lot to carry it is doable.

Lots of people :(after 12:30 or so. Mobs at 1:30. Watch out for beach tar and the obscenely rich.
We got there right before noon on Sunday and were able to eek out a spot on the beach. It was crowded, but what did I expect? Everyone and their father has found this spot (haha get it, Father’s Day… eh, I know) Even though it was a teensy more congested than I typically like, the crowd was polite, and happy, and there were plenty of places to explore on either side of this picturesque cove.
There is no natural shade, so bring your sunscreen and umbrella
There is no bathroom facilities, so empty your bladder first.
There IS, however, a lifeguard on duty and he will tell you get outta the shallow tide pool area, you can’t snorkle there in the rocky part apparently. There are many snorkelers and scuba divers as well– never seen so many in one area of SoCal, honestly. You can catch some smallish waves for boogie or body boarders, too.