The Village · State Marine Reserve
Cress Street Beach
Cress Street Beach lies below steep bluffs at the dead end of Cress Street, about 0.9 mile south of Main Beach. The city places it just north of Mountain Road Beach and names its rip currents.
Photo: Sergei Gussev, CC BY 2.0
What it’s like
Cress Street Beach lies below steep bluffs at the dead end of Cress Street, about 0.9 mile south of Main Beach in a straight line.
The city’s Mountain Road Beach page places Cress Street Beach to the north of Mountain Road Beach. The same page places two rip currents in the Cress Street area and notes many submerged rocks. It says the reefs to the north and the shore break off Mountain Road can cause head and neck injuries, and it asks for extreme caution entering and leaving the water.
A dive-shop guide describes a secluded spot at the dead end of Cress Street. A staircase leads down to a rock wall and steep bluffs, and scattered rocks in the water shelter sea life. The guide names strong rip currents as the thing the beach is known for and lists a depth of up to about 35 feet.
Getting there and parking
The access is the stairway at the end of Cress Street. OpenStreetMap maps the stairs at the end of the street, and the Coastal Commission lists stairs at most street ends from Anita Street to Pearl Street. Brooks Street has the next stairway about 450 feet north, and Mountain Road has the next one about 350 feet south.
There is no beach lot. The Coastal Commission lists street parking and no fee for the stretch. Per the city, three-hour meters cover some areas while neighborhood parking in others is very limited, and its parking app shows open spaces. The parking guide covers permits, enforcement hours and the summer lots.
The Coastal Commission lists no restrooms for the stretch. For restrooms and showers, the city names Main Beach, Treasure Island Beach and Crescent Bay Beach.
Rules and safety
Cress lies within the Laguna Beach State Marine Reserve, which runs from Abalone Point south to Goff Island. Taking or possessing living, geological or cultural material is unlawful there, and fishing is not allowed. The dive-shop guide calls the site a no-take area.
The city’s standing advice is to swim near a lifeguard and with a buddy, and it says lifeguards are not at every beach all the time.
Dogs must be leashed. From June 15 to September 10 they may be on the beach only before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m., and at any hour the rest of the year.
Good to know
The city shuts its beaches from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. Drinking, smoking and fires are prohibited, and the alcohol ban includes adults 21 and over.
See The Village for the nearest neighborhood. The beaches on either side are Brooks Street and Mountain Road.
Live from NOAA
Tides and water at Cress Street
| Day | High and low tides |
|---|---|
| Loading NOAA predictions… | |
Sources: NOAA tide predictions, station 9410580 and NOAA NDBC buoy 46253 (owned by Scripps). The buoy reads open water offshore; water at the beach can differ. Check posted lifeguard flags before you swim.
Things to do
Things to do at Cress Street
Living nearby
The Village, by the numbers
The closest neighborhood to Cress Street Beach. Read the The Village guide.
CRMLS: homes for sale today; closed sales in the 12 months through October 19, 2026. A median needs 5 sales.
Questions
Are there rip currents at Cress Street Beach?
Yes. The city's Mountain Road Beach page places two rip currents in the Cress Street area, and a dive-shop guide calls the beach known for strong rips. The city also lists submerged rocks nearby.
How do you get down to Cress Street Beach?
By the stairway at the end of Cress Street. A dive-shop guide describes a staircase that takes you down to a rock wall and steep bluffs.
Where do you park for Cress Street Beach?
There is no beach lot. The Coastal Commission lists on-street parking for the stretch, and the city says some areas have three-hour meters while others have very limited neighborhood parking.
Can you dive or snorkel at Cress Street Beach?
A dive-shop guide describes scattered rocks that shelter sea life, with a depth to about 35 feet, and suggests being a strong swimmer or taking care because of the rips. The beach lies inside the Laguna Beach State Marine Reserve, so nothing may be taken.
Moving to Laguna Beach?
Get the printable moving checklist by email: what to do before you move, moving week and your first 30 days.
Last reviewed
Sources (9)
- City Mountain Road Beach page: Cress Street Beach lies to the north of Mountain Road Beach; the two rips are in the Cress Street area; reefs to the north and shore break off the beach can cause head and neck injuries; many submerged rocks; extreme caution (read via Wayback capture of April 16, 2026): lagunabeachcity.net, checked 2026-10-09
- Cress Street dive site: secluded area off the dead end of Cress Street, staircase down to the rock wall and steep bluffs, scattered rocks that shelter sea life, known for strong rip currents, be a strong swimmer or cautious, depth to 35 feet, Marine Protected Area, no-take: beachcitiesscuba.com, checked 2026-10-09
- Anita Street to Pearl Street listing: stairs at most street ends, on-street parking, no fee, no restrooms; Main Beach coordinates: api.coastal.ca.gov, checked 2026-10-09
- Three-hour meters and limited neighborhood parking; Parking App; restrooms at Main Beach, Treasure Island and Crescent Bay; swim near a lifeguard and with a buddy; closing hours; alcohol ("Even if you're 21"), smoking and fire rules; lifeguard coverage (read via Wayback capture of June 14, 2026): lagunabeachcity.net, checked 2026-10-09
- Dogs on leash, summer hours before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m. from June 15 to September 10 (read via Wayback capture of September 13, 2026): lagunabeachcity.net, checked 2026-10-09
- Laguna Beach State Marine Reserve runs from Abalone Point to Goff Island; no-take rule; no fishing: wildlife.ca.gov, checked 2026-10-09
- Location of the stairs at the end of Cress Street, beside Cress Street, Ocean Front and Gaviota Drive (OpenStreetMap steps way): api.openstreetmap.org, checked 2026-10-09
- Cress Street position used for distances to Brooks and Mountain Road: nominatim.openstreetmap.org, checked 2026-10-09
- Closest neighborhood: the realatrends.com The Village page lists 1337 Gaviota Drive, on the bluff at the Cress Street end, and 1494 Glenneyre Street inland: realatrends.com, checked 2026-10-09