North Laguna · State Marine Reserve
Picnic Beach
Picnic Beach is a beach of about 700 feet below Heisler Park in North Laguna, reached by a ramp through the park.
What it’s like
Picnic Beach runs about 700 feet along the base of Heisler Park in North Laguna. Divers Cove meets its north end, and Rockpile Beach lies at the south end of the park. The Coastal Commission lists a sandy beach, a rocky shore, tide pools and wildlife viewing.
The city names skin and scuba diving, bodysurfing and tide pooling as the popular activities. Skimboarding is not allowed. Submerged rocks make swimming and bodysurfing hazardous, and the city says that is most true at the south end of the beach.
The city lists restrooms and outdoor showers at the beach. Above it, Heisler Park is a blufftop park with views, paths down to the shore, restrooms and a picnic area, according to the Coastal Commission.
Getting there and parking
A ramp runs down to the beach through Heisler Park. It starts at Cliff Drive opposite Myrtle Street. The Coastal Commission also lists paths and stairs between the park and the shore.
The Coastal Commission lists on-street metered parking for the beach and metered parking at Heisler Park. Pay with cards, coins, bills or the Laguna Beach Parking App. The city’s parking page lists enforcement from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., but its lot list gives 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the off-season through June 2027, so check the meter. The city says three-hour meters cover some parts of Laguna Beach while others have limited neighborhood parking. The parking guide covers permits and lots.
The free Coastal Route trolley starts at the North Laguna/Heisler Park stop and runs along Coast Highway through downtown. Getting around has the hours.
City beaches open at 5 a.m. and close at 1 a.m. Restrooms are open from dawn to dusk.
Tide pools and reserve rules
The Coastal Commission lists tide pools at Picnic Beach, and the city points to the table rock area for pooling. That area turns hazardous in high tides and surf. In large surf or at high tide the city closes the south rocks. Low tide opens the pools, so consult a tide chart. Wear waterproof shoes: the city says the rocks are sharp on bare feet and hard to cross in flip-flops.
The city’s rules for tide pooling are short: no collecting, no handling animals, no stepping on plants and animals, and no turning over rocks.
The city lists Picnic Beach inside the marine protected area, and the state’s reserve page names Heisler Park among the beaches of the Laguna Beach State Marine Reserve. Between Abalone Point and Goff Island it is unlawful to injure, damage, take or possess any living, geological or cultural marine resource, and fishing is off limits. The city’s page for the beach says the same.
Good to know
A leashed dog is welcome. The summer window runs June 15 to September 10, when dogs can come before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m.; the rest of the year any hour works.
Alcohol, smoking and fires are banned on city beaches. Some beaches have no lifeguard at times, so the city asks you to swim with a partner and near a lifeguard when one is on duty.
Rockpile Beach is about 0.2 mile to the southeast in a straight line. Cliff Drive and Heisler Park sit in North Laguna.
Live from NOAA
Tides and water at Picnic
Tide pools show best at low tide; the next low is below.
| 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 Picnic
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Living nearby
North Laguna, by the numbers
The closest neighborhood to Picnic Beach. Read the North Laguna guide.
CRMLS: homes for sale today; closed sales in the 12 months through October 19, 2026. A median needs 5 sales.
Questions
How do you get down to Picnic Beach?
A ramp runs from Cliff Drive, opposite Myrtle Street, through Heisler Park to the beach, according to the Coastal Commission. It also lists paths and stairs from Heisler Park to the shore.
Does Picnic Beach have restrooms and showers?
Yes. The city lists restrooms and outdoor showers at Picnic Beach, and the Coastal Commission lists restrooms at both the beach and Heisler Park.
Are there tide pools at Picnic Beach?
Yes. The Coastal Commission lists tide pools, and the city points to the table rock area. That area turns hazardous in high tides and surf, so check a tide chart first.
Can you skimboard at Picnic Beach?
No. The city's page for the beach says skimboarding is not allowed.
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Last reviewed
Sources (16)
- Picnic Beach: off Cliff Drive opposite Myrtle Street, ramp to the beach through Heisler Park, on-street metered parking, restrooms, path to the beach, tide pools, sandy beach, rocky shore; coordinates: api.coastal.ca.gov, checked 2026-10-09
- Heisler Park: blufftop park in the 400 block of Cliff Drive with views, paths to the beach, metered parking, restrooms, picnic area, blufftop trails: api.coastal.ca.gov, checked 2026-10-09
- Picnic Beach page: about 700 feet long below Heisler Park, activities, skimboarding not allowed, table rock tide pool area hazardous at high tide and in surf, submerged rocks especially at the south end, south rocks closed in large surf or high tide, no fishing, no taking: lagunabeachcity.net, checked 2026-10-09
- City beach list: Picnic Beach amenities are marine protected area, outdoor showers, restrooms: lagunabeachcity.net, checked 2026-10-09
- Divers Cove page: joins Picnic Beach at its south end: lagunabeachcity.net, checked 2026-10-09
- Rockpile Beach page: at the south end of Heisler Park: lagunabeachcity.net, checked 2026-10-09
- Parking page: parking enforcement hours are from 8:00am to 9:00pm; meters and pay stations take cards, coins and bills; Laguna Beach Parking App: lagunabeachcity.net, checked 2026-10-28
- Public Parking Lots page, Off-Season Parking (September 8, 2026 to June 25, 2027): parking enforcement hours are from 8:00am to 7:00pm, and every lot that lists hours shows 8:00am to 7:00pm: lagunabeachcity.net, checked 2026-10-28
- Free Coastal Route trolley on Coast Highway between North Laguna/Heisler Park, downtown and South Laguna: lagunabeachcity.net, checked 2026-10-09
- City beaches open 5 a.m. to 1 a.m.; restrooms open dawn to dusk: lagunabeachcity.net, checked 2026-10-09
- Dogs on leash; summer hours June 15 to September 10 before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m.; any hour the rest of the year: lagunabeachcity.net, checked 2026-10-09
- Tide pooling at low tide, tide chart, waterproof shoes; three-hour metered parking in some areas and limited neighborhood parking in others; no alcohol, smoking or fires: lagunabeachcity.net, checked 2026-10-09
- Good Tide Pooler Rules; tide pools are part of the marine protected area network: lagunabeachcity.net, checked 2026-10-09
- Laguna Beach State Marine Reserve runs from Abalone Point to Goff Island; Heisler Park is named among its beaches; unlawful to injure, damage, take or possess any living, geological or cultural marine resource; no fishing: wildlife.ca.gov, checked 2026-10-09
- Dangerous rocks; swim near a lifeguard; some beaches have no lifeguard at times: lagunabeachcity.net, checked 2026-10-09
- Cliff Drive addresses are listed under North Laguna: realatrends.com, checked 2026-10-09