Shaw’s Cove Beach

Shaw’s Cove is a small sandy beach tucked away below homes in Laguna Beach. It has a laid-back vibe and is frequented by locals.

There is a public entrance to Shaw’s at the intersection of Fairview Street and Cliff Drive one block from Pacific Coast Highway. From there a long stairway descends to the beach. Visitors should be respectful of the nearby home owners and be careful to not block driveways when parking on these backstreets.

Tide pools are exposed at both ends of the cove during low tides. When exploring these tide pools don’t touch or take anything as this is a State Marine Conservation Area.

Scuba divers and snorkelers frequently enter at Shaws Cove and scuba classes are even taught here. Swimming and body-boarding are popular activities here too.

Unfortunately, like many of the coves in the area, Shaw’s Cove Beach is mostly wet at higher tides. There is an area of flat rock to climb onto at the south end of the beach which leads around the bend to Fishermans Cove, but avoid this area completely when swells are present. A similar shelf on the north side goes all the way around to Crescent Bay Beach (again, avoid during high surf).

Address

1009 Cliff Dr
Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Phone

949-497-0310

Owner

City Beach

Pet Details

No dogs allowed on beach 9am to 6pm June 15 to Sept 10. Ok on leash outside of those dates and times

Fees

Free street parking nearby

Activities

Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Fishing, Tidepooling, Swimming, Bodyboarding

Amenities

Tide Pools, Seashells, No Facilities

Links

Tide Chart
Water Quality
Water Temps