Thousand Steps Beach: How To Get To Laguna's Hidden Pools

Hidden along the cliffs of South Laguna is Thousand Steps Beach, which is known for being the most beautiful spot in all of Laguna. This beach is also home to Hidden Pools, which have drawn even more summer visitors thanks to its popularity on social media. Just off Pacific Coast Highway, visitors will find the long stairs leading down to this stunning beach, along with the pools and sea caves that have given it its name.

The hike down the beach might sound simple, but it's anything but easy, and the pools themselves can only be visited during low tide. Finding these hidden pools is quite the adventure, and while visitors to the beach won't be descending 1,000 steps, they will be climbing down nearly 200 of them.

To say that the name of this beach is a big dramatic would be an understatement. Hidden Pools is home to two man-made swimming holes in the area, but this one arguably has the best views, along with some multi-million dollar houses surrounding it, to boot. Its dramatic scenery is only one reason that people visit; the adventure in getting there is another. The steps down to the beach are easy to find if one knows where to look but, fortunately for locals, most out-of-towners do not. With that being said, it does not stop the pools from being crowded on weekends, so the best time to go to avoid the crowds is during the week.

The easiest way to know where to look for this practically hidden set of stairs is to use a GPS to find Thousand Steps Beach. These coordinates should take visitors to the entrance of the beach where they can find the steps - making one's way down to the bottom (and back up) is the challenge.

The entrance to the first pool is fairly straightforward but does require a leap of faith. Climbing down 200 steps in California's summer heat is not always a fun time and visitors should be prepared with plenty of water and sunscreen to prevent burns in more ways than one. The burn that one will feel in their legs, though, simply can't be helped. Along with this being an incredible workout, visitors will need to carefully traverse the rocks down to the first pool (the second one is located further down and higher up) and the beach itself. The effort that it takes to get to the Hidden Pools, though, will be rewarded with views of the most scenic beach in SoCal.

Related: Visiting Laguna Beach On A Budget Is Possible... Here's How

Exploring The Nearby Sea Cave

Of course, this fairy tale landscape would not be complete without a sea cave, which can be found not far from the first pool. To get there, visitors will need to traverse rocky terrain and should be cautious about where they step, as the path is home to tide pools and small marine creatures. Once inside the cave, the walls are rough and the terrain is still tricky, so it's advised to wear good footwear (sneakers or water shoes with good traction, preferably). At the cave, visitors can find a variety of marine life such as:

Barnacles Mussels Limpets Sea urchins Snails Starfish Crabs

In order to determine the best time to visit Thousand Steps Beach, visitors can check the times of the tide changes online. Some additional tips for visiting the beach include:

Wearing appropriate footwear, pack sunscreen, and bring plenty of water. The beach is not remote, but there are no public restrooms available. Be prepared to commit to the 200+ steps it takes to get back up to the highway. Arrive earlier to beat some of the crowds. Avoid the beach at high tide as it is extremely dangerous during this time. There might be free parking available on the side streets for those who don't mind extra walking. There's a chance that lifeguards could close the sea cave depending on the tide conditions.

Visiting SoCal's most beautiful beach might not be easy, but it's certainly worth it. Finding the Hidden Pools at Thousand Steps Beach is not difficult if one knows where to look and is prepared for the climb down (and back up!).

Original author: Tedesco