1. Strand Vista Park

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Dana Point, CA

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Strand Vista Park

4.9 (16 reviews)

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Sandy B.

What a hidden find! This is a great spot to watch the sunset. There is great free parking and lots of green patches to sit alongside and look out over the ocean. Picture perfect views. Bathrooms available.

John S.

I wanted to hate this park because at first it felt like some breadcrumbs thrown to the masses from the ostentatious and frankly ugly--most of them, at least--mansions recently built in the gated community between Selva Road and the beach, but the more time I spent here, the more I realized that the selfsame owners of those mansions are probably very annoyed that we riffraff have more or less complete access to the beach and even get to traipse down stairs right through the middle of their neighborhood to get to the beach. We don't even have to pay for parking, which is a rarity for beach parking in Orange County. You probably come here just to park and go to the beach, but if you forget your bathing suit or flip-flops or just don't want to get sand in your car or don't have much time, there are little trails up near the park that are good for wasting a half-hour or so, and you can catch some beautiful ocean views without going down a single step. The park is pretty well hidden, and it wasn't too crowded on the beautiful weekday we went. It's also very clean, and there is a constant trickle of people walking along the path, so it feels very safe. It really was nice to come across this spectacular place almost by accident.

Breathtaking views!
Angela W.

Breathtaking views. Free parking. What more can you ask for. Perfect for sunset watching. Stairs down to the beach. Loved it.

Sidewalk up top

I have never been to this location after being here for 12 years. I was impressed by this location. Free parking in the lot which is decent size. Beautiful view uptop and you can also take the stairs down to the beach. You do have to lug all your stuff down so pack light. there is an elevator but I heard it's not always working so you don't want to rely on that. There are lifeguards down on the beach and you can walk over to Salt Creek Beach as well. No weeds on the beach so that's always a plus. I would totally go back! SYOY!

Gorgeous view!!
Zach W.

By far one of the best beaches in Southern California. If you are visiting or even if you live locally you have to come to Strands. The walk down to the beach is steep but it is well worth your time. There is a elevator that goes down to the beach on the right side of the parking lot. You can choose between stairs or a pathway down with some stairs as well. This beach is definitely where a lot of locals hang out. This is my go to beach during the summer. The parking at strands is free and there is usually plenty of spaces available. It's a huge parking lot. Don't fight for parking at another beach or pay for parking at another beach.

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3 years ago

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Review Highlights - Strand Vista Park

“There is great free parking and lots of green patches to sit alongside and look out over the ocean.”

Mentioned in 7 reviews

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Thousand Steps Beach - Tidepool

Thousand Steps Beach

4.5(813 reviews)
2.6 mi

Pretty far walk from the parking lot to the beach but once there the steps going down is not too…read morebad. Because of the distance the bathrooms and showers are awkwardly placed closer to the parking lot and you might be dry already by the time you make it back. On the right side is a shallow sea cave, the cave itself isn't so deep but the rock formations around it are super unique and interesting. There is a viewpoint on top we saw people at so you can park a lot closer than we did. On the left you can go all the way down to another beach. There is an interesting rock shelf along the way. Some of the waves were quite high so I recommend coming with swim shorts if you are coming all the way to this area. The rock shelf area has mini tidepools to check out, depending on the weather you might also see a mini waterfall.

If you're looking for a great outdoor workout with an amazing reward at the end, Thousand Steps…read moreBeach is one of my favorite spots in Laguna Beach! Despite the name, there definitely aren't 1,000 steps it's closer to about 250 but don't let that fool you. You'll still feel the burn on the way back up! I love bringing my kids here because they're soccer players, and running up and down the stairs is an excellent workout for building endurance and strength. I usually only make it up once because it's no joke! If you're looking for a free cardio workout with a beautiful ocean view, this is the place. The beach itself is gorgeous, with clear water, soft sand, and stunning cliffs surrounding it. It feels a little more secluded than some of the other Laguna beaches because you have to make the trek down the stairs. That's part of what makes it so special. I've visited several times around 6:00 AM, and it's always been peaceful. It's never felt crowded, although you'll definitely see other people getting their morning exercise on the stairs. I've also gone during summer evenings around 7:00 PM, and it's still a beautiful time to visit with cooler temperatures and incredible views. I still need to check it out around midday to see how busy it gets. A couple of things to keep in mind: there are no lifeguards on duty at all times, so be cautious if you're swimming, and the climb back up can be challenging, especially if you're carrying coolers or beach gear. Wear comfortable shoes for the stairs and bring plenty of water. Overall, this is one of my favorite beaches in Laguna Beach. Whether you're going for a workout, relaxing by the ocean, or enjoying the incredible scenery, Thousand Steps Beach is absolutely worth the climb.

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Thousand Steps Beach - You can get to the top somehow but we parked and walked over to the beach

You can get to the top somehow but we parked and walked over to the beach

Thousand Steps Beach - Steps Down

Steps Down

Thousand Steps Beach - Sea cave is shallow and not much inside

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Sea cave is shallow and not much inside

Strand Vista Park - parks - Updated October 2026

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