I have been here a handful of times and love coming here to watch sunsets, watch surfers, meditate…read more Today, I stopped in to catch the sunset. I told myself if the parking lot had an open spot, I would stop, otherwise, I would get back on the road to go home. I got lucky tonight and got a spot. This lot is always full but I have managed to get a spot a few times. You either need to come real early or later in the day. Sunsets here are gorgeous, its a bit further south, so you're going to get the sun setting more to the far right, so it wont be directly in front of you, but still very beautiful and unique in its own way. Tonight, there was an impromptu band playing and music was great! They played one of my fave songs Fade Into You by Mazzy Star and I almost cried. The views were so gorgeous and while the song was playing I saw two sparrow like birds on the most beautiful red flowers and it just felt like life could not be any better. The benches up top are a hot commodity, but people come and go quickly so I got a nice spot and sat and watched the sun setting for about 30 min more. I saw a guy bring his own foldable reclining chair and thats a great idea! I think I am going to do that too! This is the best spot to relax for awhile... I love this place and will be coming back often. I also hope one day to be out there surfing with all those amazing surfers!! There were so many out there today, was a site to see!!

I don't know what it took me years if not decades to review this fabulous surfers beach. Well, not…read moreonly surfers can enjoy it but you will need energy to go up and down the long stairs and compete for space with the surfers and their boards. The feeling of being in a exotic location is overwhelmingly beautiful. Total vacation vibes, a place of peace and joy. I went there after a long time a couple days ago on my way to interpret in the area and stopped for a picnic at the little park before you get to the stairs. All very clean and perfect even if small. Restrooms, grass stra, picnic tables, perfect trees and plants, benches. Just a few parking spots which means most probably you have to park nearby and walk. The vistas from above the beach are spectacular. The sand is warm and thin, perfect for long walks or taking a quick nap.

For the people who don't like beaches with stairs...just don't go there. The name of the beach says…read moreit all. I think it was my first time ever yesterday and I enjoyed it to the max. Parking was not an issue and the streets nearby the beginning of the stairs are gorgeous, well maintained, safe, flowers and surf boards as decor. Even pink quartz on the pavement. Yes, that kind of level. The stairs were not an inconvenience for me but I. My case I wanted to make it a workout so in fact was perfect. By the time I made it to the steps I had already collected a mini flower bouquet and felt delighted just being there. Beautil long beach and not overpopulated. Everyone looks fit and happy. All was great.

A must stop if you are in the area. There is limited parking at the access, but we had no trouble…read morefinding a spot on a Friday morning in November. My husband surfed here almost 50 years ago, so was a trip down memory lane for him. Quite a few steps to the beach, but you get a great view from the overlook so the steps are optional. Very cool surrounding neighborhood, too.

It's a beautiful beach!! Beautiful view up the stairs at sunset! This a beach ,I come to when…read morevisiting the area just to stair at the view!

Came here on both Saturday and Sunday but the life guard closed it for beach access. Only surfers…read morecan go out. The water came up very close to the Bluff. We'll have to return another day when there is low tide. Lots of cobblestone rocks on the beach. There is a nice standing view of surfers having fun though.​

Difficult to find parking but my friend and I parked far away and were there as part of our daily…read more10K steps challenge. For people going there to surf I see the difficulty in having to carry the board walking for a while Beacons is a wonderful beach like everything in Encinitas/Leucadia. Enchanting atmosphere, beautiful houses around, trees, flowers, birds...is a piece of paradise. I don't like too much having to go down that zig zag to go to the beach but it is always magical, especially when you haven't been for a very long time and rediscover this great spot.

When I'm dog sitting I like to walk to this beach as the views are beautiful... especially during…read morethe sunset. The doggy enjoys this walk as well. The top area was a bit of a hazard, as they had a few sinkhole issues. From recent visit I see they have improved the area and it looks really nice, and much safer. I have walked all the way down to the beach a few times, but the long trail down can be exhausting especially when carrying all your beach necessities. Overall, love the views and will continues to enjoy the walks.

Restrooms and parking area available. It can get crowded on Summer months but less than La Jolla or…read moreEncinitas.

This is definitely a hidden gem amongst the San Diego beaches…read more There's a smallish strip of beach that sits between a bluffside hotel and a jetty. There's limited free parking, but there's a pay lot at the south end that is smallish for a beach parking lot. I think it is $15 but not sure. We arrived a little after 10am and some of the early crowd was just leaving so we got a spot off the road. This weekend....what a relief! It was 100+ degrees in most of San Diego but because of morning marine layer it was maybe mid-70s. Obviously, all of the beaches would be similar in that regard, but there weren't a lot of people while we were there and that was the huge win. There is an upper and lower beach that was separated by a rocky patch that was likely eroded sand. We set up shop on the beach that was closer to the water, unsure if the tide was going to come up and wash us away. It didn't though, so it was perfect!

Best kept secret beach of San Diego. Life guard, clean restroom , free street parking, 2 mile long…read morebeach, dog beach. Plenty of room to stretch out.

Another beautiful SoCal beach…read more I find myself here often. Far less crowded than many neighboring beaches because it's in a residential area making this type of beach for people like me who like getting away from crowds. I also seem to have great luck finding free parking even during very busy summer months along the side streets. You can walk or run for miles even allowing access all the way to Torrey Pines. Shops and restaurants are nearby as well. There are restrooms and showers on 17th. Dog friendly too! If you enjoy staying right on the beach there are also a good amount of rentals that are literally touching the sand. If you prefer a hotel there's a great one right on the sand as well by the name of Del Mar Beach Hotel.

Golden cliffs, crashing waves, and one of SoCal's last truly wild coastlines…read more Torrey Pines State Beach is a breathtaking 4.5 mile stretch of sandy shoreline where ocean views meet rugged sandstone cliffs. Whether you're here to swim, surf, or hike, every step feels like a postcard, especially along the Beach Trail with its unreal coastal panoramas. This spot is easily one of Southern California's most untouched and scenic coastal escapes. Pro tips: It gets very busy, so expect a line to get in. There's a large parking lot, but it fills up quickly during peak hours, arrive early if you can. Handicap parking is available near bathrooms. You can get California State Park Annual Passes, which covers day-use fees at most state-operated parks and beaches for 12 months.

I been here a few times one of the only beaches in southern California were you can park by tbe…read moreroad and not get charged . Its a nice little beach during the day or at night . I would recommend stopping by and checking it out if you never been. Its just off the 56 hwy and 15 in Torrey Pines California area. Its deserve a 5 star rating its clean and easy to get to. I be back again next time I down that way.

Gorgeous beach! So many good surfers to watch and it's kept clean. An amazing local find.0read more

"Out of water, I am nothing..." - Duke Kahanamoku…read more Duke's quote also explains why, at any given time, there are so many people in the awesome line-up at Pipes Beach. Whether you surf, run, bike, or just want a chillaxin stroll or picnic along the sand, this place ROCKS and was one of the first places I began surfing regularly since moving to N. County from UTC almost a decade ago. Before moving, I asked a few of my bros where to surf up there and they were all like, "Pipes, Pipes, Pipes..." and I was all like "Bong?" j/k The bluff above the beach sports a paved trail along Hwy 101 where you can run or walk from Encinitas to Cardiff and back. There's also a bike lane too! One funny thing about weekend warrior surfers is that many don't want to walk very far to catch a wave. With Pipes all you have to do is park on the spaces to the west side of 101 or along the dirt road to the east of it (make sure you don't block the white lines marking the bike lanes and BE CAREFUL opening you car doors!!!). The beach is about a hundred feet down the steep paved main entry path or you can access it via the wooden steps leading from the San Elijo campgrounds. If you like a reef break, head south along the beach towards Cardiff while north you'll find solid beach and combo breaks. There's tons of fun-in-the-sun stuff to do on the beach but be careful about leaving your unattended picnic baskets out, otherwise the squirrels and seagulls will go to town! I once had a squirrel chew through my entire backpack looking for the bag of peanuts I left inside! The only restrooms to be had are also on top of the hill and they keep the showers very well maintained. When the surf cooks the line-up here gets packed but you can almost always find a pocket somewhere to catch a wave. Just don't turn all aggro on your fellow surfers since no one owns the ocean, okay? Just think about what Duke would do!!!