Treasure Island Beach

What it’s like

Treasure Island Beach is the central beach below the Montage Laguna Beach resort. The Coastal Commission lists sand, rocky shore, a path and stairs to the beach, wildlife viewing and tide pools. Above it, Treasure Island Park runs along the bluff with a lawn, picnic tables and benches that face the water.

The shoreline here holds a string of coves. A visitor guide lists them from north to south as Christmas Cove, Goff Cove, Middle Man Cove and Treasure Island Beach, with Aliso Beach farther south. Treasure Island Beach sits at the south end of that run, close to the Wesley Drive parking.

Getting there and parking

Treasure Island Park sits at Coast Highway and Wesley Drive, seaward of the Montage resort. The Coastal Commission lists ramps from the park down to the beach, along with stairs and a path.

Two paid city lots serve the park. Lot 8, the Treasure Island Garage, sits at the southwest corner of Coast Highway and Wesley Drive and has 39 spaces. Lot 7, the surface lot, has 31 spaces between the Montage and the highway; you enter it from the resort driveway at 30801 Coast Highway and turn left. A visitor guide counts about 100 public spaces in Lots 7, 8 and 9, which includes Lot 9 across the street. Rates and limits change, so read the signs at the pay station. The parking guide explains how the city lots work.

The Coastal Commission lists restrooms and disabled access. Beach-friendly wheelchairs are available first come, first served at Lifeguard Headquarters. The free Coastal Route trolley runs from North Laguna through downtown to South Laguna; check the city’s trolley page for the stop nearest Wesley Drive.

Beaches north of Aliso Creek close between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.

Tide pools and reserve rules

The Coastal Commission lists tide pools at Treasure Island Beach, and the city counts Treasure Island with Main Beach and Shaw’s Cove among the tide pool sites in the Marine Protected Area network. Goff Island, the rock at nearby Goff Cove, marks the line where California Fish and Wildlife changes one protected area for another. The Laguna Beach State Marine Reserve runs from Abalone Point south to Goff Island, and the Laguna Beach State Marine Conservation Area runs from Goff Island south to Table Rock.

Both areas use the same wording: it is unlawful to injure, damage, take or possess any living, geological or cultural marine resource. In a tide pool that means you look, you step with care and you leave every animal and rock where it sits. Fishing is not allowed in either area. Swimming, wading and surfing are still allowed unless a sign says otherwise.

Plan a visit around a low tide. The Department of Marine Safety answers questions about tides and surf.

On beaches where dogs are allowed, the city requires a leash of 6 feet or shorter. From June 15 to September 10, dogs are allowed only before 9:00 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m. The Coastal Commission lists the park as dog-friendly and has no dog information for the beach itself, so read the signs.

Good to know

Treasure Island Park sits in front of the Montage Resort, and the Coastal Commission lists both the park and the beach as public access points. The Coastal Commission’s file has no separate entries for the coves to the north, so their access runs through this one.