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Sunset is the opening music of the night -- Mehmet Murat ildan A lovely little area of Laguna with great sunset views, rocks to explore, and crashing waves to capture on camera. Highly recommended for now while it is still a hidden gem :-)
Shaw's Cove is a truly spectacular location and one of the high points of all of the Laguna Beach coast line. What you will find here is a vast array of tide pools and ocean rock formations that run along the coast line. There is also a beach area for those people who want to prepare for their scuba dive, snorkeling, a dip in the water, or to simply sunbath on a warm summer day. It is very easy to get to Shaw's Cove. You simply need to turn off of the Coast Highway onto Fairview and proceed West. At the end of the street, there you are. There's a staircase that will take you straight to the water. There are many things to see at Shaw's Cove. Certainly, the tide pools are a high point. There is a vast array of ocean sea life that live in these tide pools. It is a great place to watch the ocean waves crashing giving life to all of these living creatures. Overall, a very beautiful location and a truly great place to experience the Southern California oceanscape.
This a hidden gem in Laguna and beats the main beach crowd. Get here early during summer peak season. Slice of heaven!
A nice little beach to sit and chill for a bit. Can walk your dog but be careful of the rocks. I came during a weekday morning and there was parking but mind and respect the residential area. Finding the steps that lead down to the beach can be tricky so keep a lookout for the stairway.
Shaw's Cove is a series of beautiful, tiny cove beaches in Laguana Beach, CA. Walking distance from Diver's Cove, Fisherman's Cove, Rockpile Beach, Heisler Park, etc., unlike the other landmarks, Shaw's Cove is a treasure neatly tucked away in a residential neighborhood. The cove beaches are all really tiny (in terms of area) so you will be squeezed on a tiny strip of sand along other beachgoers. The coastline of the cove beaches tend to be more jagged than normal beaches. The geography also leads to incredible waves so you never feel completely safe from being splashed. I love the cove beaches for their beautiful shorelines, stunning cliffs, caves, and picturesque waves. Parking: There is metered parking near Heisler Park that is ~20 min walk to Shaw's Cove. (Good place to park if you intend to visit other nearby coves.) There is also a bus that will take you to Shaw's Cove. I'm not confident about the state of nearby residential street parking since I walked to Shaw's. Tips: * On low tide, you can walk over to Fisherman's Cove. This is a huge shortcut back to Heisler Park. * There is a lifeguard on duty * This is walking distance from Heisler Park, Main Beach, Fisherman's Cove, etc. If you are a tourist, I recommend budgeting 3+ hours and visiting more tnearby landmarks.
This is a very beautiful and peaceful beach spot. Get here early parking fills up super fast The lifeguards offer Wendy peppercorn level of life saving ability!
Love this cove. Street parking isn't too bad. Bathroom walking distance if needed. The stairs down aren't terrible l, just be prepared for them.
Beautiful cove to relax with friends and family. There were people enjoying the sunset, taking walks, people watching, tide-pooling, and scuba diving. Parking can be tough, but the stairs are not too steep to access the cove which makes this a top stop for us.
This is such a beautiful area in Laguna Beach, I'm surprised that it does not get busier here! There are rocky areas to explore, as well as a sandy beach area to lay out and relax and enjoy the waves crashing. Very clean and serene, this is one of our favorite areas in Laguna Beach! I deal for small children as it does not get very busy here. Highly recommended!
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.
A small beach, but very striking, with rocks, tidepools, on the other side of the palm trees on the buff that you see from Crescent Bay Beach. Popular with the scuba divers - we saw several going in and coming out in the short time we were there, and the waves were much calmer than some of the other beaches we had been to. Saw lots of sea anemones, fish and pretty shells in the tide pools, and enjoyed swimming and body-surfing; we could even see some fish without the benefit of a mask and snorkel.
3 months ago
One of my favorite beaches in all of OC. Great diving, always clear, good for swimming, a mix of shade and sun, tucked in where the waves are good, but not crazy. The only thing hard here is parking, but otherwise it's the best! :) read more
Snorkeling at Shaw's Cove was such a blast. You enter the water on the right side along the shore, and while there's an underwater arch you can swim through, that's more for the confident or better equipped snorkelers & divers. Visibility was pretty solid, and we spotted several fish cruising around. The waves were calm and totally manageable, which made it relaxing instead of stressful. There's also a vigilant lifeguard on duty, which adds a nice layer of peace of mind. Even if you're not snorkeling, it's a great spot to hang out and sunbathe. Seaweed was around but not overwhelming, definitely not like swimming through a kelp jungle. read more
1 year ago
Best beach in Laguna for sunrises! Easy to access and park and always completely empty in the AM. Love this beach, as someone born and raised in Orange County, this beach is a "secret gem" most tourists and people do not overcrowd. read more
1 year ago
Sunset is the opening music of the night -- Mehmet Murat ildan A lovely little area of Laguna with great sunset views, rocks to explore, and crashing waves to capture on camera. Highly recommended for now while it is still a hidden gem :-) read more
1 year ago
Shaw's Cove is a truly spectacular location and one of the high points of all of the Laguna Beach coast line. What you will find here is a vast array of tide pools and ocean rock formations that run along the coast line. There is also a beach area for those people who want to prepare for their scuba dive, snorkeling, a dip in the water, or to simply sunbath on a warm summer day. It is very easy to get to Shaw's Cove. You simply need to turn off of the Coast Highway onto Fairview and proceed West. At the end of the street, there you are. There's a staircase that will take you straight to the water. There are many things to see at Shaw's Cove. Certainly, the tide pools are a high point. There is a vast array of ocean sea life that live in these tide pools. It is a great place to watch the ocean waves crashing giving life to all of these living creatures. Overall, a very beautiful location and a truly great place to experience the Southern California oceanscape. read more
2 years ago
This a hidden gem in Laguna and beats the main beach crowd. Get here early during summer peak season. Slice of heaven! read more
3 years ago
A nice little beach to sit and chill for a bit. Can walk your dog but be careful of the rocks. I came during a weekday morning and there was parking but mind and respect the residential area. Finding the steps that lead down to the beach can be tricky so keep a lookout for the stairway. read more
Shaw's Cove is a series of beautiful, tiny cove beaches in Laguana Beach, CA. Walking distance from Diver's Cove, Fisherman's Cove, Rockpile Beach, Heisler Park, etc., unlike the other landmarks, Shaw's Cove is a treasure neatly tucked away in a residential neighborhood. The cove beaches are all really tiny (in terms of area) so you will be squeezed on a tiny strip of sand along other beachgoers. The coastline of the cove beaches tend to be more jagged than normal beaches. The geography also leads to incredible waves so you never feel completely safe from being splashed. I love the cove beaches for their beautiful shorelines, stunning cliffs, caves, and picturesque waves. Parking: There is metered parking near Heisler Park that is ~20 min walk to Shaw's Cove. (Good place to park if you intend to visit other nearby coves.) There is also a bus that will take you to Shaw's Cove. I'm not confident about the state of nearby residential street parking since I walked to Shaw's. Tips: * On low tide, you can walk over to Fisherman's Cove. This is a huge shortcut back to Heisler Park. * There is a lifeguard on duty * This is walking distance from Heisler Park, Main Beach, Fisherman's Cove, etc. If you are a tourist, I recommend budgeting 3+ hours and visiting more tnearby landmarks. read more
4 years ago
2 years ago
Nice place, good place to spend time with kids, especially when it is nice weather. Many things to explore around read more
3 years ago
Love this cove. Street parking isn't too bad. Bathroom walking distance if needed. The stairs down aren't terrible l, just be prepared for them. read more
6 years ago
Beautiful cove to relax with friends and family. There were people enjoying the sunset, taking walks, people watching, tide-pooling, and scuba diving. Parking can be tough, but the stairs are not too steep to access the cove which makes this a top stop for us. read more
This is such a beautiful area in Laguna Beach, I'm surprised that it does not get busier here! There are rocky areas to explore, as well as a sandy beach area to lay out and relax and enjoy the waves crashing. Very clean and serene, this is one of our favorite areas in Laguna Beach! I deal for small children as it does not get very busy here. Highly recommended! read more
3 years ago
Gorgeous spot with amazing tide pools . Best of both worlds , relaxing on the beach and climbing around rocks and seeing the anemones and crabs . read more
12 years ago
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. read more
A small beach, but very striking, with rocks, tidepools, on the other side of the palm trees on the buff that you see from Crescent Bay Beach. Popular with the scuba divers - we saw several going in and coming out in the short time we were there, and the waves were much calmer than some of the other beaches we had been to. Saw lots of sea anemones, fish and pretty shells in the tide pools, and enjoyed swimming and body-surfing; we could even see some fish without the benefit of a mask and snorkel. read more
5 years ago
Great place to go for photography especially in the winter time when there's fewer people. The parking can be tough in the summer and there's a few free spots down the street. Highly recommended. read more
8 years ago
I am hesitant to post a review of this gorgeous beach, due to the fact that a lot of its appeal is the serene nature of the location, but I decided to share anyways. This beach is stunning. There were very few people there this morning, aside from the group of divers exploring the clear waters. Parking was kind of bad, but a short walk made it a breeze. Will definitely be back read more
We got a tip to check out the sunset here on our last day in Southern California. What a great way to say goodbye to sunny SoCal! We had just enough time to drive over, find parking in the residential area, walk down the stairs, and relax while the sun set and the waves came crashing in. Shaw's Cove is a little beach and while we were told we would spend no more than 15 minutes here, I could imagine you could spend much longer if you wanted. When we arrived there were people taking wedding photos, families hanging out on blankets, photographers with their tripods set up, and a few fiddling around with drones. Times sure have changed when the first thing you think of is, "Wow, this would be a great place to fly my drone." We, ourselves, took a few snapshots along with a time-lapse. Gotta love that golden hour. The view is just so beautiful from Shaw's Cove. It's almost like you are in Hawaii or something. Weather was perfect in late January. When we left there was a little trolley that stopped by on the top of the hill. I think it goes all around Laguna. I would have loved to check out the rest of Laguna! Next time, I guess. read more
7 years ago
Such a beautiful beach, very natural looking with lots of sea life in the tide pools! So much fun to explore but please be prepared to get wet if you want to go explore during high tide and I suggest bringing water shoes or sandals to walk safely on the rocks and barnacles, there are also anemones that could hurt your feet so walk carefully not to disturb the sea creatures! read more
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! read more
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. read more
8 years ago
Beautiful Beach that is tucked in and out of the way. Be sure to enjoy the mussels, crabs and sea anemones but don't touch !!! read more
One of my new favorite beaches in Laguna. Street parking is easy to find, its not crowded, shore break water is clear and clean and the mix of swimming, tide pools, rocks, and whatnot make it a really fun quaint mix to spend an afternoon!! read more
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. read more
13 years ago
This place is simply beautiful! I love how there are no waves because it makes it easier for snorkeling. The north end (when you go down the stairs and turn right) has much more things to see than the south end. The tide pools here are very pretty- with starfish, sea anemones, crabs, etc. Just make sure to wear shoes. Shaws cove is better for diving than snorkeling, just to add. But, Overall, a very quaint little place. Great for kids. read more
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. read more
6 years ago
6 years ago
11 years ago
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 https://youtu.be/R31G8jXGBCg read more
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More info about Shaws Cove
1009 Cliff Dr
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
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https://www.californiabeaches.com
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Ask the Community - Shaws Cove
What time is the best time to go snorkeling?
The best time to go snorkeling is usually during low tide. When that is varies. You can use a website like surf-forecast to find the high and low peaks. https://www.surf-forecast.com/breaks/Laguna-Beach/tides/latest
Do you know if Shaw's Cove allow pet?
Yes they do but only as long as they are on a leash and you bring your own bags to clean up after them.
Can anyone tell me what the waves are like here? I'm looking for a beach with small waves, safe for little kids.
Hi so the best Beach for toddlers is baby Beach In Dana Point.. I went last year with my then 18mo old and it was perfect- easy free parking , no waves , clean bathrooms it's the best for a Mom venturing out with the kids
Is there starfish here, if so are they hard to find?
We were on the small beach by Shaws Cove and exploring some of the tide pools on the left and right of it, we didn't see any starfish so I'm guessing if there are they may not be very common.
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