Woods Cove · State Marine Reserve
Woods Cove Beach
Woods Cove Beach is a small cove below a bluff, about 1.4 miles south of Main Beach. Stairs at the end of Diamond Street, or one block north off Ocean Way, lead down to it.
Photo: ZacharyCrespin, CC BY 4.0
What it’s like
Woods Cove Beach is a small cove below a bluff, about 1.4 miles south of Main Beach in a straight line. The city’s page says Wood’s Cove and Lovers’ Cove are both accessible at this beach. It calls the beach one of the most active in Laguna and fairly small, and it says the cove can become very crowded on summer weekends.
The city lists swimming and exploring the tide pools at low tide as the popular activities. It also lists hazards from the rocks and rip currents, and it says the area can be extremely dangerous for visitors who do not know the tide and surf conditions. A dive-shop guide lists depths to about 50 feet.
The homes above the cove are a mix of older beach cottages and newer contemporary houses.
Getting there and parking
The Coastal Commission lists two ways down. There are stairs at the end of Diamond Street, and a second stairway one block north off Ocean Way. Orange County Coastkeeper’s directions for marine protected area monitors say to enter the stairway between two houses from street level, just past Diamond Street.
There is no beach lot. The Coastal Commission lists on-street parking and no fee. The Coastkeeper directions say parking on the one-way street beside the cove, Ocean Way, has very few spaces, and they suggest Diamond Street too. The city mentions three-hour meters in some areas and very limited neighborhood parking in others. The parking guide covers permits, enforcement hours and the summer lots.
The Coastal Commission lists no restrooms at the cove. The city’s recommended restroom beaches are Main Beach, Treasure Island Beach and Crescent Bay Beach.
Pearl Street has the next stairway about 740 feet to the north, and Moss Street has one about 700 feet to the south.
Tide pools and reserve rules
At low tide the pools open up. Check a tide chart first and wear waterproof shoes, as the city advises, and follow its Good Tide Pooler Rules: no collecting, no touching animals, walk gently and leave rocks as they are.
The city also asks you to check with a lifeguard before exploring the northern rocks. It describes them as hazardous during surf and high tides, and it says there is no diving or jumping off any of the rocks.
The cove lies inside the Laguna Beach State Marine Reserve, which runs from Abalone Point south to Goff Island. Injuring, damaging, taking or possessing any living, geological or cultural marine resource is unlawful there. The city’s page says not to take or collect rocks, shells or marine life, and fishing is not allowed. The dive-shop guide calls the cove a no-take area.
Good to know
Beaches close between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., and alcohol, smoking and fires are banned. Dogs must be on a leash, and in summer, from June 15 to September 10, they may be on the beach only before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m.
Housing around the cove has its own page: Woods Cove.
Live from NOAA
Tides and water at Woods Cove
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 Woods Cove
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Living nearby
Woods Cove, by the numbers
The closest neighborhood to Woods Cove Beach. Read the Woods Cove guide.
CRMLS: homes for sale today; closed sales in the 12 months through October 19, 2026. A median needs 5 sales.
Questions
Where is the Woods Cove Beach access?
The Coastal Commission lists stairs at the end of Diamond Street and a second stairway one block north off Ocean Way. Orange County Coastkeeper describes the Diamond Street stairway as running between two houses from street level.
What is Lovers' Cove?
The city says both Wood's Cove and Lovers' Cove are accessible at this beach. It describes the beach as fairly small and one of the most active in Laguna.
Are there tide pools at Woods Cove?
Yes. The city lists exploring the tide pools at low tide as a popular activity. The beach lies inside a marine reserve, so take nothing.
Is Woods Cove crowded?
The city says the beach can become very crowded on summer weekends.
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Last reviewed
Sources (13)
- Wood's Cove entry: west of Coast Highway between Pearl Street and Diamond Street, stairs at the end of Diamond Street plus one block north off Ocean Way, on-street parking, no fee, no restrooms, sandy beach, rocky shore, bluff, wildlife viewing; coordinates: api.coastal.ca.gov, checked 2026-10-09
- Woods Cove Beach page: Wood's Cove and Lovers' Cove both accessible, swimming and tide pools at low tide, crowded on summer weekends, one of the most active beaches, fairly small, rock and rip hazards, dangerous for visitors unaware of tide and surf conditions, check with a lifeguard before the northern rocks, no diving or jumping from rocks, no taking marine life, no fishing (read via Wayback capture of March 9, 2026): lagunabeachcity.net, checked 2026-10-09
- City beach list: Woods Cove Beach is a marine protected area (read via Wayback capture of July 12, 2026): lagunabeachcity.net, checked 2026-10-09
- Coastkeeper route guide: access just past Diamond Street, stairway between two houses from the street level, parking on a one-way street with very few spots or on Diamond Street: coastkeeper.org, checked 2026-10-09
- The one-way street beside the cove is Ocean Way (OpenStreetMap way tagged oneway=yes): api.openstreetmap.org, checked 2026-10-09
- Woods Cove dive site: Marine Protected Area, no-take area, depth to 50 feet: beachcitiesscuba.com, checked 2026-10-09
- Woods Cove homes: older beach cottages and newer contemporary homes; closest neighborhood: the page lists homes on Diamond Street and Ocean Way: realatrends.com, checked 2026-10-09
- Three-hour meters and limited neighborhood parking; restrooms at Main Beach, Treasure Island and Crescent Bay; tide pool, tide chart and waterproof shoe advice; closing hours; alcohol, smoking and fire rules (read via Wayback capture of June 14, 2026): lagunabeachcity.net, checked 2026-10-09
- Good Tide Pooler Rules: 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: 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
- Woods Cove beach position and the stairs at Diamond Street and Ocean Way (OpenStreetMap steps way): api.openstreetmap.org, checked 2026-10-09
- Woods Cove position: nominatim.openstreetmap.org, checked 2026-10-09