Beautiful Beach, even on a cloudy day..... I will def. come back here when the sun is out b/c it is clean and it feels safe. read more

Beautiful little public beach with secured private paid parking. Great place to relax, lay on the beach, walk/run, or explore rock formations. Decent public restrooms, outdoor showers to slake off the salt, rings to have bonfires, and plenty of space to just enjoy. read more

Aliso Beach - Parks Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Love love love this beach it's by far my favorite location to take my clients too depending on their vision , if they want romantic and beach theme this is the best place to go!!! Pictures will come out AMAZING!!!! And it is never packed with a lot of people so it gives the clients a lot of comfurt knowing they aren't being watched :) read more

See all

I came here during the summer with my friends for a getaway trip, was not disappointed at all. Plenty of parking spots. The rocks were really cool and it was perfect weather so I took lots of shots I really like. I had a great time :) However, do watch out for the water & waves because at some parts of the beach (near the rocks) the waves can get really strong, my friend lost his sandal but luckily it got pushed up the shore later (but to the other side of the beach lol) Attached some shots so enjoy! read more

See all

First time went here.. "Fat people beach". Can't boogie board, no sand space, everyone is crowded together. If you wanna sit and not go in the water and get attacked by bees this is the spot for you BEES!!! They are everywhere!!! My 18 month old son got bit. I suggest Huntington Beach. We always go there and never had any problems. Parking is cheap there too, actual waves and lots of space. Most importantly no bees... read more

Great spot for family photos and a perfect little beach for families! The bathrooms are nice, snack bar is handy to have, and the view is amazing. Parking is cheap, $1 per hour, can't really beat that. For family photos, this is an awesome location. There is a pretty park setting near the parking lot on the other side of PCH, accessible by a tunnel. The beach has some great shady coves and a stunning sunset. The rocks catch some impressive sprays of water. Beware of the tide though, I would NOT attempt to shoot here any time other than very low tide. High tide can completely cover the entire rocky area of the beach. read more

Aliso Beach - Aliso Beach Laguna sunset family photos Asea Tremp Photography - Parks Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

See all

This was my first time here & it is VERY family oriented and no obnoxious ppl hahah...the rocks are gorgeous...very relaxing atmosphere! They won me with it not being super busy! They did close down a certain area that my nephew & daughter were using to swim for boogie boarders....kinda bites but they moved down the way & problem solved haha....this is my happy place! read more

Amazing beach the rocks were amazing! It doesn't even look like these photos were taken in California! Amazing beach in Laguna and definitely worth checking out !!! read more

See all

world class shore break is the initial draw of this place, but once there you realize that it has such great natural features that you want to explore and share with everyone you know. Spectacular sunsets make it an excellent photo op! The tall layered cliffs allow for sun protection while you spend your day at the beach! The people are great, seems that every regular there is just as beautiful inside as out! read more

Aliso Beach - Whoop! - Parks Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

I actually came across Aliso Beach by accident, I was looking for a different beach in Laguna. Glad I did, this beach is beautiful and well maintained. Like most beaches in California, you have to pay for parking. At least there was plenty of empty spaces even tough it was sunny and around 80 degrees. The first thing you will notice is all the trash cans so there no excuses for littering. The restrooms had to be the cleanest I had ever seen at a beach. The folks were friendly, it was nice to see the older couples sitting on the benches waiting for the sunset. I hope someday I'm one of those folks with my beautiful wife. Others were waiting for the night fall to light one of the multiple fire pits. The north side of the parking lot is a nice playground for the little ones to enjoy. Aliso Beach is beautiful, looking forward to returning and lighting one of those fire pits.. read more

See all

Came here with my family this past weekend. Great playground to keep any littles busy (especially those who aren't all that fond of the water and tide). Lots of friendly people and families. It was crowded, but what So Cal Beach isn't during the summer, so come early if want to secure a prime spot or fire pit. The little beachside restaurant surprisingly had some really tasty food; the fish and chips were deliciously crispy and not at all greasy. Lovely family spot to spend a fun afternoon! read more

What an amazing beach! I wish I could have taken photos and uploaded them! The water is clear, the rocks are amazing and there is even a little hiking trail. Its so small, and not many know of this place..but those who do are among the lucky few! If you ever visit Orange County in the summer, please make sure you visit this place! I was so inspired today! Even wrote some new poems, Enjoy! ------------- Today Today I saw you walking quite quickly as my eyes tried to follow just as quickly I watched you run and you were running to... A place where part of me tried to follow you... and I saw you slightly turn your head and then you stopped and you gave me a pause I didn't get a good look, yet I caught a glimpse I didn't come closer bu here and now, there it is.. I didn't see your face I didn't see your eyes I didn't see your feet move I didn't see your head turn Today you gave me a pause and in that moment I saw eternity -------- read more

This right hurrr is what I imagine most California beaches to be like. Just south of the green pedestrian bridge along the Pacific Coast Highway, Aliso Beach has plenty of sand and water, but the lush grass, swaying palm trees, immense hillside homes along the PCH, red cliffs on either side and large protruding rocks out in the water a la Pirates of the Caribbean gives this place character. It's a swell place to film a small scene or do a photo shoot. TAG YOU'RE WET Signs are posted indicating that swimmers stay on the north side whereas skimboarders stay on the south side. I didn't see any surfers so it's probably best to surf elsewhere. The waves are too close to everyone anyway. Enjoy the sand. It's not white or fine, but it's soft and relatively clean - definitely beats the ouchy rock beach along the French Riviera. Sacre bleu! I saw a few dolphins out there during the day and a large pelican combing the Pacific as the sun was setting. Yeah, it was THAT cool. CROWDS SCHMOWDS There were younger people chilling, playing volleyball and sunbathing closer to the south end and more families towards the north end. It's a mix of locals and out-of-towners and different cultures. It was definitely crowded or it seemed that way because it's a smaller beach. It started dissipating around 6 or 7 PM probably because parents have to work; that, or the high tide came in waaaaay too close for comfort considering how short the distance is from the sidewalk-sand line to the sand-ocean line. Umm... locals probably have different names for that. Also, the distance between the parking lot and the sand is just a few steps away for the lazy at heart. GUARDING LIFE ONE LIFE AT A TIME I only noticed one lifeguard and he was proactive. He told some kids not to bodysurf (probably because of the strong waves), told us that we can only grill in the pits (after seeing us attempt to cook near the grass), and patrolled the shores regularly. He seemed to have a few lifeguard friends hanging out with him though. It's a safe bet that all Aliso Beachgoers lived that day. Now if it was a hot female lifeguard instead, I would've purposely swam out to change that numberless statistic. HUNGRY? THIRSTY? There's a small cafe at the southeastern end that sells coffee, water, juice, energy drinks, snacks, chicken fingers, burgers, sandwiches, and ice cream, to name a few. Go ahead. Your body's sexy enough and buffed enough to earn yourself a few things to eat and drink. BEES' KNEES There are plenty of bees ready to buzz on your sweet food and sodas so watch out. Interestingly, none of us got stung and none of the strangers around us as well. It's nothing a smokey fire pit can't cure. REST-aaahh-ROOMS The toilet stalls are adjacent to the cafe and are hit or miss with regards to cleanliness and odor. There are a couple sinks outside and a couple public showers/foot showers to rinse yourself of sand you dirty beachgoer you. PITS Square bonfire pits are plentiful, but are snatched up quickly. Fortunately, there are friendly people who are willing to give you theirs if you're lucky. ...and by "lucky" I mean if you're "an attractive girl...or two or three." Just kidding. Make friends and stay close to a bonfire pit Gollum hoarder, or just ask around like a few losers did. Just kidding again. Seriously, be cool. PARK THAT THING UP I believe parking is $1 per hour. Park first, then pay at one of the many stations, located throughout its private lot and display your paid ticket on your dashboard. We got there around 11:30 AM Sunday (yesterday) and there were plenty of parking spaces. We went out exploring for a bit (aka getting lost) and got a bite to eat. We got back at 1 PM and circled the parking lot several times looking for parking. Luckily, I got free hilly parking along the south east side of the PCH. Even those get packed quickly. Watch out for the red zones. I dared to cross the dangerous PCH with the help of that two-way left turn lane/median. Whew! I'm only telling you this because I like you and want this to be our secret... or so Buddha help me. read more

- Parking was plentiful and decently priced at $1/hr - Short walk from the lot to the water - It wasn't crowded, at all - The waves started out mellow then got aggressive during our last hour or so - Restrooms, drinking fountains and a burger stand were in very close walking distance The only not-so-great was the rocky sand. My kids had no problem with it. I felt very exfoliated by the time we left, but still really, really liked this beach a lot. read more

My family and I went to this beach on Monday, 5/26/14 (the Monday of Memorial Day weekend). We wanted to hit the beaches for the holiday, and some research indicated that this beach, while maintaining the attributes of nearby Laguna Beach, was usually significantly less crowded. The beach itself was very nice. It's a relatively small-ish size beach right on PCH. There's a playground and lot's of bathrooms. The sand is a very nice white color, and the water is just amazing. I've lived in California most of my life, and have not been to a beach with this clear and blue of water (not as clear the Caribbean, but that's a pretty high standard). The water temp was also higher than what you usually find for Pacific Coast beaches, which made it that much more enjoyable. And even for being Memorial Day weekend, it wasn't very crowded at all--our family had plenty of space to run and suntan. I imagine this is because it's a family-friendly beach (there were lots of families with kids), and the singles/college students/etc. were probably all going to the main beaches. This is probably a seasonal issue, but the parking was bleh--if you go during peak season and arrive late morning (as we did), be prepared to park a ways up PCH and walk to the beach, or to do battle with at least three other cars for a single spot in the parking lot as other cars leave. We're planning on going during the week and seeing how different that parking stiuation is, but plan on getting there early if you can, if only for the parking. The only bad thing about the beach (and it's really a nit-pick and only a problem if you have no common sense) is that the Aliso Creek drains through the beach itself into the ocean. Apparently, this is known to sometimes have high concentrations of bacteria which can cause infections (nothing too serious, but who wants pinkeye?). I generally avoid stuff like that anyway, but it's not a big deal if you play on the beach itself anyways. Parents of little kids, be aware that the beach has a drop-off a couple yards out, which combined with the common shorebreaking waves can cause VERY strong riptides. Once again, common sense will prevent trouble, but this particular beach has stronger tides than most I've been to. All in all, we really enjoyed Aliso, and hope to come back again. read more

Nice beach, first time here we went yesterday (friday afternoon), not too many people there. A lot of empty parking, plus it only $1/hour parking fee. We had lunch at the small cafe in the corner. Clean public bath rooms is a plus too, good job City of Laguna Beach! read more

Beautiful beach especially since the demise of the ugly cement Pier. Aliso beach was once the stage for many Gidget movie's boy if I didn't just age myself!! remember Von Zipper!! Oh well the beach is well kept and is one of few County Beach's with fire Pits 10 Pm its lights out Its also a non alcoholic beach and we mean it. One con is that it rates a #2 in bacteria levels due mostly in part to those inland folk's,doggies poop and lawn fertilizer and of course the sewage treatment plant just out of sight on Aliso Creek is a nice added attraction illogically it's neighbor is a boy scout camp although I have never seen a boyscout near the camp. Enjoy the beach and fire pits get there early if you want one and the Beautiful Romantic sunsets. Just one thing "Stay out of the water" ALISO RANGER read more

Seriously the best beach I've ever been to. It has everything. Beaches, rock promontories, tide pools, chaparral. A little store on a destroyed pier for ice cream, cement rings for bonfires (rare!), a playground, a parking lot literally 5 feet away from the sand, great diving...and excellent waves for skimboarding. It's like everything you'd expect to find at an ocean front, minus a harbor, in one location. And it's small, and very few people know about it, so--at least when I've been there--it's NEVER crowded. Depending on what day of the week you go, you might even find yourself completely alone there. There's a picture above of the rocky part of the beach, where you can check out tidepool life. Told you the place was empty. Part of this may be attributed to the fact that the next beach down (not this one) is filled mostly with scantily clad men. 0_0 You can actually see the sunset from this beach, and it's beautiful. Seriously, it's the best beach in Southern California. The sand is sloshy and rich. I find I'm pretty happy and at peace when I go here. Hooray for Aliso Beach! read more

Aliso Beach has something for everyone. Be aware of the waves here. I've seen them wash all the way up into the parking lot and take everything out in its path. Check out the webcam too. read more

Aliso Beach - Mother natures fireworks - Parks Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Aliso Beach is a fantastic location featuring sandy beaches, surfers and crashing waves. Street parking is available. The parking lot is a dollar an hour. Aliso is part of a continuous stretch of beaches and bluffs stretching through Orange County although cliffs and rocks separate the beaches. Watch out for high tide! read more

Aliso Beach - Crashing waves... - Parks Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Best thing about this beach is the fire pits. However, the sand around them is filled with soot and is really hard to clean off your feet. Not a beach to swim or boogie board at. The lifeguard came over to tell our kids only to get their feet wet. There is a huge drop off and the waves crash hard on the sand and if you get pulled in, the water will suck you under. Just what every parent wants to hear. There is a play ground near the beach. Parking is convenient. read more

Nice beach, but a little dirty in some spots. Incredible amounts of seaweed along the shore (ugh) that smell. You can enjoy a walk for about an hour (down and back) before the big rocks get in the way. Don't park along the main drag (off 133S if you're coming from Irvine) you're only allowed 30 minutes max, and the meters seem to run a bit early if you ask me. Drinks at the shoreline bars can be quite pricey. Fortunately, we stumbled (not literally) onto a bar called The Cliff. Got there for happy hour (3p-7p) so the appetizers were half price, all drinks were $2 off (and the prices weren't too bad to begin with). Seating is first come/first serve unless you're planning to eat a meal. Our server - Gary was a lot of fun. The drinks never ran dry, and the cheeseplate appetizer would have been worth full price. On parking, I'd try the little side streets. A little walk is all you will have to endure, but once you see all the skinny chicks on the beach, you'll praise yourself for getting a bit more exercise. You can also park a little ways away from the beach, and ride free shuttles. Can't comment on that. We kept driving until we couldn't go straight any further, and fed a meter a bunch of quarters. They have change machines if you need them, but just bring your own, and save yourself the trouble. Hillside is gorgeous - filled with the glass houses of the uber-rich. read more

The good: Beautiful location surrounded by cliffs (Usually) clean turquoise water The birthplace of skimboarding- still one of the best locations in the world if you skim Easy access- convenient parking lot just steps from the sand. No long walks from your car to the beach here. (looking at you, Salt Creek) Playground with jungle gyms/slides/swings for the kids The not so good: Not a lot of sand real estate here. Can lead to VERY crowded conditions. Poor swimming conditions. The currents are very strong and the waves are all shore-breaks. Particularly dangerous for young kids who want to get in the water. Unpredictable Aliso Creek. Aliso Creek empties in to the Pacific in the middle of this beach. Problem is...the river basically cuts through the sand and is constantly carving a new and natural path to the ocean. All of this means that the usable sand space is constantly shifting and you might have to walk through the wet sand or creek if you want to get to the North side of this beach. Also, if it has rained recently, the creek can become contaminated and thereby contaminating the beach. Overall, a great beach- especially if you are a skim-boarder. Get here early, leave your boogie-boards and surfboards at home, and have a good time. read more

great beach, fire pits, great parking right near the beach. its a great spot for all kinds, family, singles, and skimboarders. beautiful views and friendly place. read more

A family friendly beach! Probably the only beach in Laguna with a (paid) parking lot. Located on south PCH, south of the Montage Resort, and just north of Dana Point. If the main lot becomes full, there's another lot across the street and you can walk in the tunnel located on the west side of the lot. The tunnel goes under the street for the kids' safety. The tunnel smells like vomit, pee, and ocean water during the summer months. If that lot also becomes full, try your luck parking on the street. You can walk down to the lot from PCH by going down some stairs. What makes this beach a favorite among locals and tourists is the convenience. Aliso Beach has few fire pits (maybe 6), but be there super early if you want to reserve it. You're not allowed to leave your belongings in the pit to save your spot, someone has to actually BE there. Other conveniences: playground, restrooms, the Sands bar for snacks, Goff's Cove is just north of the creek, on the bottom of the Montage, and there are gorgeous views of the ocean on Treasure Island, which you can also access walking north on the beach and go up the stairs to the Montage. read more

I LOVE THIS BEACH!!! It's definitely smaller and less populated than surrounding beaches...Parking is $2/hour, so bring change and prepare ahead of time. The parking is steps from the beach so you don't have a far walk while lugging all your beach items.. It's so beautiful here and has great areas for BBQ'n and bonfires! Came here for both with some family friends and had a great time hanging out all day. Great for skimboarding since the waves break so close to shore.. and there's a nice rock area to climb/walk... just be cautious because it can be slipppery. read more

I am a photographer and shoot here for Yuen Lui Studio, CA and love this beach! It has something for everyone. The beach itself is protected in a bit of a small horseshoe that traps the water and brings out its greens and blues, which makes it perfect for photos. Don't let the cove effect fool you though, the waves that break against the huge moss covered rocks are strong, stunning and very exciting when the tide is coming in! Because this beaches sand shifts from season to season, it makes it a new adventure every time you go. The beautiful tall cliffs that surround the beach make for a great place to get some shade and protect yourself from the elements on a windy day. There is plenty of parking, the bathrooms are excellent (but right now under construction) and the burger and snack shack is tasty! Come and visit to see for yourself! read more

This beach has some of the best sunsets in South Orange County. Great views of Catalina Island on clear days. There are 5 fire pits. Restrooms, a snack bar, and a playground for the kids. It's not unusual to see dolphins and sea lions close to shore, and we've spotted whale spouts on two occasions as well. Parking is $1.00 per hour and is enforced. Parking may also be limited during the summer vacation season. read more

See all

Beautiful beach! There are life guards on duty across the beach. It was hard to find a parking spot. It wasn't over crowded and was children friendly read more

See all

This is one of the best dog friendly beaches. The beach is clean and well maintained. It's long so there's plenty of space and areas to explore. Tide pools on the northern end of the beach and interesting and fun. I highly recommend this cool beach. Oh yea, your dogs will love it. read more

Aliso Beach - The beach - Parks Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Great local beach and nice little gem if you're looking for some peace and quiet. Not a lot of people around in the early morning. Took my dog out for a walk and only a handful of people out and about. Beach is pretty much as expected easy parking and inexpensive. Beach was clean and well maintained. Great spot to walk or run if you're trying to get away from the crowds. read more

Great spot. There are fire pits too. Parking can be non existent at times. Sometimes there are dogs. Overall, great! read more

Aliso Beach - Sunset - Parks Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Wow, this beach is fantastic. It's bounded on the east side of PCH by a small park and a parking lot and you walk under a tunnel to get to the actual beach itself. This is a great place to lay out a towel and spend the day. Sure, there tend to be a lot of people, but it's a lot of fun to just relax in the sun. For the more adventurous among us, you can climb in the hills or play on the playset. Also of note, for the arachnologist in all of us, this is one of the few places in SoCal to find Argiope argentata. Look in the bushes around the tunnel in the summer and fall. read more

Beach was beautiful - but the high tides took all our belongings and almost killed us ... so make sure you check for high tide alerts before visiting - the water goes all the way to the parking lot .... read more

I came here for the 4th of July. We came for a bonfire. Woke up at 4 am to grab a pit. Stuff went down early as a couple parties were fighting for the pits... but there was a bit of calm after. The beach is not cleaned until around 6-7am... but it's cleaned very well. The bathrooms were relatively clean for a public area, and the trash were mostly taken out. The parking situation sucked -- again, 4th of July. Some of my frineds had to park an hour away... in that hot hot heat... what we do to celebrate Uncle Sam, right? Overall, a great beach. read more

I've always lived here in Cali yet I've never been so shocked when I came to this beach for the first time. Whenever friends or family schedule a beach day, it would usually be at the Huntington Beach. When I was invited to go to this beach, I gladly took it. My very first impression of this beach was," The water is actually blue?!" It was seriously the bluest water I had seen compared to Huntington's. The scenery made it even better with the lovely rock side(GOOD PHOTO OP). I could have spent all day there but we visited on a bad day when the waves were crashing way too high and hard-there were many incidents that day. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the time spent staring at the water although I didn't actually go in. Hopefully I get a chance to visit when the waters aren't so rough. :) read more

Aliso Beach - We were on the cliff side with a steep cliff with no transition to the water. That's how high one particular wave crashed. - Parks Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Love this beach. Clean beach, decent bathrooms, food onsite; and it's super easy to keep up with the kids here. It even has a little play structure for the kiddies to get the wiggles out. read more

Great beach... Love the view and location. Perfect for sunsets or just hang out with friends. Plenty of paid parking by the beach and also a few free spots available by the PCH. Aliso beach is really close to "1000 steps beach" so is a perfect spot after a killer workout! read more

See all

The water is clear and nice but the waves may ruin your trip there. It's sometimes unpredictable to a point where the lifeguards will clear the water of swimmers for safety purposes. Parking is pretty good with an overflow across the street which is not too far. Only one snack bar in the area. The sand is a little too coarse for my liking. The sand is somewhat close to Dana Point Beach. This will be an ideal beach for day surfers and skim boarders who want good waves to surf on. There are fire pits for use and parking is close to the beach. Verdict: not a great beach for swimmers but good for picnics and surfing. It's pretty far if you're living anywhere inland. read more

This place is AMAZING just breathtaking I couldn't stop saying how beautiful it is, parking is kind of expensive if you are the the whole day but I love that it ha a playground, fire pit, and if you walk about a mile or maybe less up north you find yourself this secluded beach that I couldn't get to because the tide was high but if you can swim you can get to it, water is crystal clear. I'm in love with this beach. read more

Aliso Beach - Beautiful beach - Parks Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

See all