South Laguna · Marine Conservation Area
West Street Beach
West Street Beach is a sand and rock cove reached by stairs at the end of West Street in South Laguna, between the Camel Point accesses and Table Rock.
What it’s like
West Street Beach is a short run of sand with rock along the shore. The Coastal Commission lists sand, a rocky shore and stairs to the beach at the far end of West Street. OpenStreetMap labels the sand around the stairs Coast Royale Beach.
The cove sits in a chain of access points along South Laguna. The Camel Point accesses lie a few hundred yards north, with stairs to parts of Aliso Beach. Table Rock Beach lies a few hundred yards south, reached by stairs at the end of Table Rock Drive. Thousand Steps Beach lies a little over half a mile south.
The streets above the cove belong to South Laguna, where beach cottages stand among modern homes along the coastline.
Getting there and parking
The stairs start at the far end of West Street. The Coastal Commission lists on-street parking and no lot, so park on a nearby street and walk to the stairs. Read the signs for time limits and permit zones.
The listing shows no restrooms at the stairs and no beach path. The Camel Point accesses to the north list restrooms, and so does Thousand Steps Beach. The free Coastal Route trolley runs from North Laguna through downtown to South Laguna, so check the city’s trolley page for the stop nearest West Street. Our parking guide and getting around guide cover permits, lots and the trolley.
Beaches south of Aliso Creek close between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. West Street falls in that group.
Rules and safety
West Street Beach lies inside the Laguna Beach State Marine Conservation Area. California Fish and Wildlife describes the area as about 1.2 miles of shoreline from Goff Island south to Table Rock, and a photo caption on its page names West St. Beach as part of it.
The area has the same no-take rule as the reserve to the north: it is unlawful to injure, damage, take or possess any living, geological or cultural marine resource. Fishing is not allowed. Leave rocks, kelp and every live animal where you find them. Swimming, wading, boating, diving and surfing stay allowed unless a sign says otherwise.
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. From September 11 to June 14, they follow regular beach hours. The Coastal Commission’s file has no dog information for West Street, so read the signs at the stairs.
Check a tide table before you go down. The Department of Marine Safety answers questions about tides and surf.
Good to know
The Coastal Commission lists no tide pools at West Street, and the access has stairs only, with no disabled access. If you need a route to the sand without stairs, Aliso Beach lies north of here, with a path to the sand and disabled access.
Live from NOAA
Tides and water at West 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 West Street
Living nearby
South Laguna, by the numbers
The closest neighborhood to West Street Beach. Read the South Laguna guide.
CRMLS: homes for sale today; closed sales in the 12 months through October 19, 2026. A median needs 5 sales.
Questions
Where are the stairs to West Street Beach?
The Coastal Commission lists stairs to the beach at the far end of West Street in South Laguna, with on-street parking nearby.
Are there restrooms at West Street Beach?
The Coastal Commission lists none at the stairs. It lists restrooms at the Camel Point accesses a few hundred yards north and at Thousand Steps Beach a little over half a mile south.
Can you fish or collect shells at West Street Beach?
No. The beach lies inside the Laguna Beach State Marine Conservation Area, where fishing is not allowed and it is unlawful to injure, damage, take or possess any living, geological or cultural marine resource.
When does West Street Beach close?
Beaches south of Aliso Creek close between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., according to Visit Laguna Beach.
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Last reviewed
Sources (8)
- West Street Beach access (opposite end of West St., South Laguna; stairs to the beach, on-street parking, sandy beach, rocky shore, no restrooms, no disabled access); Camel Point accesses list restrooms; Table Rock Beach and Thousand Steps Beach coordinates and facilities; coordinates behind the distances: api.coastal.ca.gov, checked 2026-10-09
- Laguna Beach State Marine Conservation Area runs from Goff Island south to Table Rock and covers about 1.2 miles of shoreline; it is unlawful to injure, damage, take or possess any living, geological or cultural marine resource; recreational and commercial fishing is not allowed; a photo caption on the page names West St. Beach: wildlife.ca.gov, checked 2026-10-09
- Swimming, wading, boating, diving and surfing are allowed in marine protected areas unless specifically prohibited; a state marine conservation area restricts some commercial or recreational extraction: wildlife.ca.gov, checked 2026-10-09
- Beaches south of Aliso Creek close between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.; dogs on a leash 6 feet or shorter, with regular beach hours from September 11 to June 14; the Department of Marine Safety as the contact for tides and surf: visitlagunabeach.com, checked 2026-10-09
- City rule: dogs must be leashed at all times; from June 15 to September 10 dogs are allowed on the beach only before 9:00 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m., and at any time the rest of the year (read via Wayback capture of 2026-09-13): lagunabeachcity.net, checked 2026-10-09
- South Laguna homes are a mix of beach cottages and modern homes along the coastline: realatrends.com, checked 2026-10-09
- OpenStreetMap labels the beach around the West Street access Coast Royale Beach: nominatim.openstreetmap.org, checked 2026-10-09
- The free Coastal Route trolley runs on Coast Highway between North Laguna/Heisler Park, downtown and South Laguna (read via Wayback capture of 2026-06-14; same row in the realatrends.com verified table): lagunabeachcity.net, checked 2026-10-09