For the people who don't like beaches with stairs...just don't go there. The name of the beach says it 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. read more

See all

A must stop if you are in the area. There is limited parking at the access, but we had no trouble finding 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. read more

See all

You can access this beach from nearby Moonlight Beach if stairs are too challenging for you. Because there are plenty of steep stairs. The nearest bathroom is at Moonlight beach. Lifeguard tower with lifeguard til 6pm. Shower provided by the staircase down by the beach. I like this beach because it is deep. read more

See all

Nice little beach. Not the widest and got a bit crowded but it did the trick and was an easy walk from our lodging.

No parking and way too many stairs to go down for a tiny beach. Would not recommend - hit moonlight instead!

Place was decent. Lots of stairs and somewhat rocky. If you like seclusion then this place is great. It's all what a person is into. Beach was very clean. Cute areas to take photos read more

See all

A nice beach, but MANY stairs to climb. While I do not mind it -- would not recommend this beach to elderly people or folks with knee/foot injuries/issues. read more

Stonesteps Beach - Sunset - Beaches Near Me - Encinitas, California

Well Date of Visit : October 18, 2020 and the first thing is you have to park on the side street !! In front of people's houses but what I also noticed was that it was not to packed here !! But also the social distancing was good here it seems like most people here were social distancing but not to many wore mask . But Of course I had mines !! So there were signs posted that says masks required !! But as for how cool this beach is it is an beautiful beach with waves crashing against the sands and a good beach for a walk !! Also I noticed the stairs going down to the beach i!! There are a quite a few steps you have to take to get down to the beach and it can be a good workout as you go back up the steps !! But the views here are still beautiful and plenty of spaces for you to just lay out and get a tan of just relax or hangout with friends or family !! There are cool rocks in the sand also !! It's an good beach for all and another beautiful beach here in Encinitas California !! Overall Satisfaction: Fun Factor: 4 out of 5 Stars !! Lots of open spaces here and not to packed !! Good for walks and enjoy a tan !! Cleanliness: 3 out of 5 Stars !! Lots of sand on the Stairs and Sidewalks could use some TLC !! Parking: 2 Stars out of 5 because you have to park in front of people's houses on the side street !! Overall Grade : 4 out of 5 Stars and it is an great Beach and I say give it a look and enjoy a nice walk here !! I sure can see myself coming back and enjoying again !! read more

See all

We stumbled upon this place accidentally and so glad we did! We ate lunch near moonlight beach and decided to take a walk and ended up here. Not super fun having to carry the stroller down the steps but glad the beach was flat and hard enough to push the stroller. read more

Stonesteps Beach - Beaches Near Me - Encinitas, California

Best place to be without many people, we usually walk all around this area from moonlight beach to beacons beach, beautiful walk and we always come to stone steps. Lots of steps to exercise No facilities in this beach read more

Stonesteps Beach - Beaches Near Me - Encinitas, California

See all

It's to far of a walk down those steps for families with lots to carry ......................................,,,

So first thing is if you're out of shape the stairs will kill you. You have to use the stairs to get to the beach but once you're down there its pretty calm because not a lot of people come here which is nice. There are some great views if you're at the top of the stairs. Parking is pretty much not existing but there are a couple of spots at the top near the stairs. This is a nice spot to come chill and enjoy the day, the weather and a nice drink on the beach. read more

See all

Best hidden gem in Encinitas. Once you make it down all the stairs it is miles of sand and surfers and some local residents!! Highly recommend checking this beach out. Very chill spot. And great for my morning runs. read more

Stonesteps Beach - Beaches Near Me - Encinitas, California

See all

This beach has less people but it does have a very small beach space that has a ton of rocks. The stairs aren't that bad, about 100. Not a lot of parking but go get Pannikin after or before! read more

Beautiful beach conveniently located very close to Surfhouse hotel where I like to stay when visiting Encinitas. It's within easy walking distance and the neighborhood on the path is super cute! The only thing is, it seems to be high tide a lot here even in the morning compared to the other Encinitas beaches. read more

Stone Step, or is it Stonesteps. While beautiful, quiet and super-local is always a pain, it just depends on how much pain you want. You see Stone Steps are steps, but not stone - they are mostly cement, with some wood. First, the great news - if you can find Stone Steps. This almost secret spot is located just off Neptune Avenue in Leucadia, but there are no signs directing you there. Even locals who live over a mile away may not really know which street to turn off of to arrive at Stone Steps. The view from the top, is, well, dramatic. It is everything you would imagine in a California-cool beach scene. Panoramic views to the end of the Pacific Ocean, lots of nice sand (unless super high tide or a winter storm blow-out). The locals that go there are way, way laid back. Second, even more (for most) great news. The steps leading down from the top of the bluff to ocean are very, very, very steep. If you are fit you welcome the exercise. If you have kids, are an out-of-shape tourist or just someone who doesn't like to exert, just go 200 yards south to Moonlight Beach ( http://www.yelp.com/biz/moonlight-state-beach-encinitas ). It is flat and easier to gain access to the ocean. Back to the "even more great news." There is a contingent of locals who somehow receive pleasure from not only going up and down the stairs once, but over and over and over. It is the best free aerobic workout you can get in all of San Diego County. And after you have worked up a sweat, just go to the bottom of the stairs and step into the cool Pacific. If you surf here, you will tell everyone you meet that the waves are better elsewhere - which is generally true, until you factor in the super small crowds. A word to the bladder and irritable bowel syndrome challenged... there are no restroom facilities. Be forewarned: No dogs, no fires, no beer on the beach. And due to the close proximity to the Moonlight Beach lifeguard station, this beach is frequently patrolled. In the summer a small lifeguard tower is installed (that is the job I want). Super local photos are here bit.ly/StonestepsBeachPictures There are additional resources for the Stone Steps at the website http://www.StoneSteps.com and updated local news and events at the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/StonestepsBeachEncinitas Whew, you made it to the end. Thanks. Read all my reviews here bit.ly/RodsYelpReviews I would be very appreciative if you could rate me below: Was this review Useful / Funny / Cool read more

This place is PACKED on the weekends, but during the week it is pretty mellow. I like just walking the beach from one end to the other. I'm not much of a beach person unless there is exploring to be done. I recommend checking it out, ideally on a weekday. I saw surfers out yonder, so I gauge you can do that as well, if that's your type of thing. Otherwise, ya know, it's a beach. Come for the sun and sand, stay for the cold Pacific...that's my new beach motto. read more

See all

This beach has horrible access, no parking, the surf sucks, the locals are mean and territorial, and no one is observing Covid protocols. There are no facilities, the beach has no sand and is super rocky. For a happier and safer beach experience (especially if you have kids or elderly people in your group), visit Moonlight beach just a short distance to the south, or Beacon's beach just a short distance north. Both of those beaches have welcoming people and Moonlight has a playground, restrooms and a snack bar. Lots of beaches in San Diego, with the southern beaches at PB, Mission Beach and Ocean Beach being the best for all things beachy by far. Dont waste your precious vacation time at StoneSteps. read more

Because the beaches are at the bottom of large bluffs, be in shape. The bluffs are unstable and the beach smells like old seaweed. Tourist should stay away. Tourist love L.A. and should go there for a treat! read more

Pros: Clean. Big. Nice people. Great scenery. Basketball courts. Volleyball courts . Food stand. Life gaurds. Cons: Parking can be a wall in peak hours . ???. read more

One of those "hidden" beaches along the coast that is only populated by locals or those renting vacation homes immediately nearby. El Portal ends at the bluff, street parking only, then take the stairs down to the beach. The stairs are STEEP, but it's not too far. Just enough to weed out the really big hippos. There's a lifeguard station at the bottom of the steps - always nice to know there's an official nearby if you scream. The waves today were funky, so I can't say it was good for surfing or boarding. We didn't even try. Dang. But we'll go back another day and try again. The tide comes up pretty darn close to the bluff, so watch where you lay out your towel! If you're too involved in your book, you might get wet! (...) Pros - not crowded, quiet, maybe good waves, easy parking Cons - no bathrooms (wait, that big, big ocean out there...), potential for sucky parking, read more

DANGER A few years back part of the bluff fell on and killed a sunbather. Much safer beaches can be found in Carlsbad. Also stairs are very steep - If you are looking on Yelp for a beach - You are more of a Carlsbad type beach goer ;) read more

The steps have smelled like pee for 30 years. To the hippos comment guy, I think you need to be looking at bears at Blacks, not hippos at Stoney Steps. All the bad reviews are true. Sand fleas, seaweed flies, 130 steep ass steps, parking, no bathroom. Also, the high tide does remove the beach option. Found that out once while boogie boarding, had to swim a mile north and walk a mile back. The cliffs are unstable, there are older people than me that have come here longer than my 45 years. You will get older and the mouthy kids will get younger. Such is life. I hate the word "local" and I grew up here. Hate the tourists. Who doesn't? So, keep your asses on La Jolla Shores, ya dig? Everyone else that's in the know, knows. See you at Roberto's after. read more

If you're not interested in walking up and down a huge number of stairs with all of your beach gear in tow, this isn't the beach to visit. There is no parking, not enough bike rack room, and at Hugh tide there is no beach to lay on or set up camp on what so ever. There are also no bathrooms. Go .3 miles south to Moonlight Beach where there is parking, no stairs, and bathrooms. read more

Not sure what a hidden gem means anymore, but some taggers found their way here last week, drawing an ugly mural halfway down the steps. It is gone now, but the beach down below all those steps is nothing special to chill out at with lots of little flies, seaweed and rocks down there. The locals are locals, I don't think they own the territory, this is not a gangland beach (well maybe) and I didn't encounter any hostility. Also, the sunset is a sunset and you can see it from anywhere along the coast just fine. Plenty of "locals" break the no dogs rule also, so they are not angels either, but the funniest thing of the week was the Mexican cleaning guys using their blowers to blow sand from the steps. Really? There is tons of garbage just over the fence and on the bluff and your worrying about clean steps. Stick to leaves. read more

I treat Stone Steps like my little secret. Well known to locals, difficult to find for tourists. Perfect. The view from the top of the steep concrete stairs is breathtaking. The fact that you have to go up and down the long set of stairs ensures the beach is relatively whale free (unlike Moonlight). The surf is never very big so it's a decent learning spot for surfing. Best of all, in the middle of the summer, I always know I won't be crowded by people, and I'll always fine a plot of sand to plop down on. It's also Juanita's adjacent, so it's perfect to grab a pre or post beach meal at. Living downtown, I still regularly drive to Stonesteps when I want to lay on the beach for a few hours. I hope it stays secret and that they never put up signs directing the summer Speedo-wearing Euro crowd to this coastal treasure. read more

This is a hidden gem in Encinitas. The entrance is located off of Neptune, on a side street. The view from the top of the stairs at sunset is amazing!! Well the view is good anytime, but especially sunset. This beach is a great spot for family, it is never too crowded. It is a quiet beach, however there are steps to get to this beach. Hence Stonesteps :) read more

Never crowded, a real neighborhood gem. Stairs are great to do stadiums on. The beach never gets too crowded. The surf can be good at times and even when it is good it never gets crowded. Needs a pretty straight west to really show. Friendly vibe, no bathrooms and there is a lifeguard tower right by the bar of the stairs. read more

Stonesteps Beach - Beaches Near Me - Encinitas, California

For my 50th review I thought that I would do it not on a restaurant or business, but of a place that I am frequenting quite a bit since moving to Encinitas. Stonesteps Beach is just an awesome place to watch a beautiful sunset, cruise the beach on a run/walk, or take out the paddleboard. As previously mentioned, the parking can be a sucker...but I live about 2 min away in walking distance, so I've never brought my car. There are a few benches at the top of the stairs that overlook the breathtaking views or just rest your tired legs after trudging the steep steps from the beach. High tide can sneak up on you, so be careful not to go to far down the beach because it goes darn near up to the bluff. Great place if you don't want to deal with the crowds at Moonlight beach park that just a few minutes away. Oh Stonesteps...you are my home now! read more

This is a slightly unknown little gem. This beach's entrance is located on a residential street between Beacon Beach and Moonlight Beach, with only off street parking (which there is almost always plenty of). You'd never find it if you didn't know to look. I like this beach because of the view from the top of the stairs and because I never find it crowded. It's a great spot for the family on a nice summer day without having to deal with any crowds or pushy tourists stepping on your stuff. This beach also has the added "benefit" of having a ridiculous number of stairs as its access point (hence the name), which doubles as a great spot for exercising. FYI...no bathrooms read more

Which of you rocket scientists figured out how to destroy a hidden gem first? First off at Stone Steps there are over 130 very steep steps down to and far worse, UP from the ocean. Very difficult for both young and old as well as those who are not in top shape. There is just about enough parking for the local residents so if the sun is out or the waves are up, any parking becomes scarce very fast. The holidays are impossible! There are no showers, rest rooms or other facilities at the steps and limited lifeguard service. If the tide is high, there is no beach! Many of the old time local surfers are not receptive to new faces. There are a bunch of old people (with nothing better to do) who constantly hang out at the steps and scrutinize everyone like a hawk. Even very minor infractions are immediately reported to the Sheriff. All and all, the true gem of Encinitas is Moonlight Beach less than a mile south. Now in the process of renovation, Moonlight has ALL the facilites including excellent food, showers, restrooms, lifeguards, its own parking lot and a wonderful huge beach just at the west end of Encinitas Boulevard. South Carlsbad also has a beach that goes on forever with many facilites just north of La Costa Avenue and Coast highway... read more

Awful beach. Bugs everywhere, seaweed EVERYWHERE on the beach. And 100000 steps of pure hell. I would much rather recommend going to moon light beach just a couple miles south from steps. read more

We just recently spent a weekend here for a friends birthday, and after seeing both the good and bad reviews... I'd have to say that I can see both points trying to be made, but i'm leaning more towards the good side. It may be because I'm from Northern California where the water is too cold and shark infested to swim in but this beach is beautiful!!! I agree that this spot is a hidden gem. Beautiful views, the water is the perfect temperature and it doesn't get too crowded here. Yes there are sand bugs, lots of stones on the beach and the Bluffs are unstable. But in all my trips to Southern California, even the nicest of beaches had sand bugs, and were covered in seaweed. As for the bluffs, well, there are signs posted everywhere and a little common sense goes a long way. The weekend my friends and I visited was absolutely perfect. It was a pretty warm day, the beach wasn't overcrowded and the water was perfect with nice rolling waves. A dolphin even decided to say hello while we were out body boarding. Hmmmm I feel like i'm forgetting something in this review.... OH YEAH the steps. OH GOD THE STEPS!!! Please pack lightly if you plan on visiting this particular portion of beach otherwise you run the risk of holding people up on the stairs or even worse, you risk taking a bad tumble. AND PLEASE make sure your cardio game is strong! Haha jk but seriously though, coming from an experienced runner, those steps are death but well worth it. All in all this is a wonderful spot for a day at the beach for locals and tourists alike. read more

Stonesteps Beach - Trying to catch some waves - Beaches Near Me - Encinitas, California

This is a hidden Gem and anyone that bad mouths it does so to keep the non-locals out. It is basically a private beach...you look south to Moonlight and see swarms of people. I do recommend you check the tide, although a simple walk north or south will 90% of the time find you a piece of sand to sit on and enjoy. Please keep this beach clean- leave it better then you found it. read more

I love Stone Steps beach . I lived 270 Neptune in a cute cottage for five years. This is 1/2 block to Stone Steps bluff side. One can walk the beach south to Moon Lite Beach or North to Beacons Beach. It's what you make of it. I love the area. Be sure to travel the street Neptune. It's a one way. I love the area. read more

Decent beach.. depends on what time you come. This is the only beach I've ever been to where locals flock to it at sunset for a walkathon. You go there and it's empty and you're getting excited to see the sunset and then suddenly, walkers.. in front of you. Nonstop. At least walk behind the people who are obviously watching the sunset/waves/etc. And especially walk behind the people taking photos... kind of rude.. but they did come down all of those steps so asking them to walk in soft sand and not the easier flat wet sand may be too much to ask. read more

Let's face it, very few things left are "hidden gems" but this beach (and aptly named set of steps) comes pretty close. If by "hidden gem" people mean rarely (as in never) crowded then, sure... A serene beach, a mural that is somehow WAY better in person (esp. when sunset hits, and this is a great beach to park off Neptune and watch the sunset. Some people i.e. lovers/stressed out types just drive over after work to sit silently at the stairtop as that orange fireball dips into the ocean. WELL WORTH IT.) The steps are a great workout on the way up, even better if you do it more than once. However, I recommend taking them SLOW on the way down regardless of how crazy fit you are. These babies are STEEP. read more

A hidden gem. Real local place. Like it better than La Jolla. Cool Encinitas vibe. A lot of steps to access but that why it's so private a special. read more