Beaches
11 places · Tide pools, surf breaks & sandy shores
Malibu, CA
El Matador State Beach
A pocket beach below the bluffs of western Malibu where sea stacks, arches, and caves stand in the surf, the most photographed stretch of the Los Angeles coast. A steep stair descends to sand that nearly disappears at high tide, leaving the rocks wet and reflective. Sunset backlights the stacks and turns the wet sand to copper.
Dana Point, CA
Strands Beach
A long, wide beach at the base of the Dana Point Headlands accessed by a paved trail from the Strand Vista Park overlook. The beach features a mix of sand and exposed reef rock that creates geometric patterns when waves recede. The headland cliffs above provide dramatic vertical backdrops for beach-level photography.
Encinitas, CA
Swami's Beach
A reef break beach below the golden domes of the Self-Realization Fellowship Temple, accessed by a long staircase down the bluff. The beach is known for its consistent surf breaks and the distinctive temple towers visible from the sand. The rocky reef formations at low tide create interesting foreground elements.
La Jolla, CA
Windansea Beach
A rocky beach known for its powerful surf break and a historic palm-thatched surf shack that has become a San Diego cultural landmark. The rock formations along the shore create dramatic wave-crash compositions. The surf shack, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, provides a distinctive foreground element.
Laguna Beach, CA
Crystal Cove State Park - Rocky Bight
A stretch of coastline within Crystal Cove State Park featuring rocky outcroppings, tidepools, and the historic Crystal Cove Beach Cottages dating to the 1930s and 1940s. The offshore waters are part of the Crystal Cove Underwater Park. The uneven rocky shoreline creates natural leading lines toward the ocean horizon.
Encinitas, CA
Moonlight State Beach
A wide sandy beach flanked by low bluffs in downtown Encinitas with reliable surf and a westward-facing orientation ideal for sunset photography. The beach sits below the historic Encinitas downtown area and near the Self-Realization Fellowship gardens. Lifeguard towers and surfers provide strong foreground subjects.
Encinitas, CA
San Elijo State Beach Bluffs
Coastal bluffs rising above a narrow beach with exposed reef formations and the San Elijo State Beach campground perched at the cliff's edge. The eroded bluffs display layered sandstone strata, and the reef below creates textured foreground during low tides. The southward-facing view stretches toward the distinctive profile of Torrey Pines.
Newport Beach, CA
The Wedge
Located at the tip of the Balboa Peninsula, The Wedge produces some of the largest shore-break waves in Southern California due to wave reflection off the Newport Harbor jetty. Waves can reach 20 to 30 feet during south swells. The dramatic wave action makes it a premier location for action and long-exposure water photography.
La Jolla, CA
La Jolla Cove
A small, sheltered cove framed by sandstone cliffs and protected as part of the La Jolla Underwater Park Ecological Reserve. The clear turquoise water and resident sea lions make it one of San Diego's most photographed locations. Tide pools along the surrounding rocky shoreline are accessible at low tide.
Laguna Beach, CA
Thousand Steps Beach
A pocket beach accessed by approximately 230 steps descending a steep bluff, resulting in a relatively uncrowded stretch of sand and rock. The beach features sea caves, rock arches, and extensive tidepool areas at its southern end. At low tide, several sea caves become accessible for exploration and interior photography.
San Clemente, CA
Trestles Beach
A world-renowned surf break located within San Onofre State Beach, Trestles takes its name from the railroad trestle bridges that span the San Mateo Creek outlet. The break includes several distinct zones including Upper Trestles, Lower Trestles, and Cottons. The area is protected as part of the San Mateo Creek watershed, one of the last undammed coastal streams in Southern California.