Beacon’s Beach

Four stars because even though this secluded stretch of beach for the locals and surfers is one of my favorites, it is secluded and in a neighborhood where there is very little parking. You have to know where this entrance is. Once you do get there, everyone needs to be in decent shape because it is a very steep de/​incline to get up and down the beach since it is surrounded by cliffs to give it the more secluded feel. Once you’re down there though its worth it for this small stretch of heavenly real estate. I love this beach, and I hope I can forever make it up and down the Cliffside trail.

My boyfriend loves this beach. Beach is great, not so crowded, good work out to down to the beach. I gave 4 stars because I wish they have a bathroom and shower… you need to go up the trail and buy something at Kotija Jr. to rent the bathroom.

Picturesque, great for people watching, but at least during our summer visit, the surf was virtually non-​existent. That didn’t keep the local surf set out of the water — more power to ‘em — but I came to do some rad bodysurfing and found nary a wave over 2 – 3′. Of course, the whole North County shore was hurting (real surf happens in the winter), but that’s what most tourists and day-​trippers are going to find. For surfing and bodysurfing, I’d greatly recommend Carlsbad or Cardiff and of course, Windansea and Blacks as more viable alternatives. If you want to watch people or just laze, however, Beacon’s fine, it’s mostly populated by locals, without the tensions that plague more-​accessible, crowded beaches in the area.
Parking is a bear. The one lot available on the bluff above the beach holds maybe 20 cars … and that’s it. The streets are hardly big enough for the locals to park, let alone tourists. Bring your own refreshments and be prepared to walk down a zig-​zag path maybe 100′ from top to bottom. Everyone we saw had no trouble and people were very polite, but those who have difficult walking and climbing stairs perhaps should seek a more accessible situation.
We loved the Leucadia neighborhood. We stayed in a bluff-​top B&B with parking and easy access to the casual shops and cafes on Highway 101. The neighbors are friendly as they come and the homes beautiful. But keep your retirement dreams in check: our nice but not exceptional place went on sale while we were there for $ 2.2 million. My longtime dream of living here in old age has become hopeless.

Not crowded at all. Surf is pretty good and the water is warm. Of course this comes from an East Coaster so take that with a grain of salt.

What a beautiful beach! I highly suggest taking a walk alongside the water away from the main area. It’s much more peaceful and serene, almost as if we had the beach to ourselves… and honestly, who doesn’t enjoy long walks on the beach?

Great beach because it’s usually not very crowded and its a very chill crowd. There is a trail to get down to the beach instead of steps which makes for a fun scenic walk. The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five is because there is no bathroom. I don’t mind but I know that can be tough for families. On the flip side, that’s probably what keeps it less crowded and relaxed.

When you think about it, Beacon’s is an interesting name for this laid back beach in Leucadia. A beacon, commonly visible reflectors or light stations are designed to attract attention help people navigate. Throughout history travelers have relied on manned beacons for traveling.
Crowds tend to flock to the other beaches in Encinitas and Beacon’s kind of flies under the radar. At Beacon’s beach access via a system of dirt paths and stairs prevents many of the kooks from invading a quieter beach. The little free parking lot is always bustling with activity, especially at sunset.
The beach is safe and good for both swimming and surfing and has a little more local flair than the big box beaches to the north and south.

— Locale Destination —
It’s on Neptune and Leucadia Blvd in Encinitas.
Great «low key» or «well kept secret» local beach. You’d pass here easily unless you were local or used « Unilocal».
Great for surfing (long lefts), paddle boarding, kayak (easy waves — low tide), swimming, chilling, swimming, or watching sunrises and sunsets. Very quiet and small beach. What a secluded nice beach!
Parking: It’s a very small lot, but you can find street parking spots within 5 minute walk. Neptune is an one way street so if you find a spot past the 700’s and take it.
The walk down: It is a switch back, so fairly easy to take down a surf board and to walk. It looks kinda cool — see my picture.
Sunset: So unreal and beautiful.
Surf: Yes
Bike lane: No
Beach volley coats: No
Bathroom: No
Showers: No
Surfing lesson: No
Rental bikes: No
Scuba: No
Sea creatures: Sea lions
Eateries on beach: No
— Conqueror’s Deduction —
A total hidden local beach.
They’re so lucky to have such a secluded and beautiful beach right by the residential area.

This is a beautiful small stretch of beach located at the bottom some tall ocean bluffs. Although it is a popular destination for beach goers and locals, it is a popular spot for many surfers because of the small reef located off the beach.
The beach is secluded, a perfect spot for picnicking or a romantic get away to watch the sunset. Parking is very limited I notice, mostly along residential streets with a small parking lot off Neptune Ave. It is also important to note that dogs are not allowed, alcohol for sure, and no glass containers of any kind.
There are no public restrooms at this beach, so plan accordingly, but the beach is worth an afternoon or at the least a quick stop over.

Love my local beach Beacon’s, two blocks from our house and a great gem of a beach. Small parking lit, but some beach and street parking on Neptune. Great beach for surfing (long lefts), paddle boarding (easy waves — low tide), swimming or hanging out watching sunrises and sunsets. No showers, so being ur own rinse water after surfing. Friendly locals that surf, paddle, kayak, walking dogs down Neptune, a bit hidden and that’s the way I like it — let the out of towers go to Swami’s or Moonlight!

The best beach in Leucadia! Here’s why:
— It’s the closest beach within walking distance from our house (0.2 miles to be exact). I jog here to begin my beach runs at least 1 or 2 times per week.
— It’s pretty low-​key, people don’t flock to it as much as Grandview because there’s no shower.
–Low-​profile since it’s a little more hidden. It’s mostly just surfers and a few sunbathers. The sand is nice, especially during low tide.
— I took my first surf lesson here from Kahuna Bob. He’s a real character and always out and about at Beacon’s.
–We often take our pups here for a little walk after grabbing some fish tacos at Haggo’s. Even though they aren’t allowed on the beach, they enjoy looking down at it from Neptune with the ocean breeze in their ears ;)
–And my favorite reason: My fiancé proposed to me at this beach one year ago. Pups in tow, it was simple, romantic and very us.

Love this place! The small parking lot, long trail down the hill and mellow waves are what make up its charm. The beach is tucked away in Leucadia and most people from out of town tend to go to Moonlight, which is a good thing! Some other cool things about this spot is that there is always a killer view of the sunset, lots of peaks to surf, and the lack of agro bros with stickers all over their boards!
Only tip I can give is, wear sandals on the trail during the summer time. The trail gets hot!

WONDERFUL beach for young adults [12 to 70]…
This beach has a small parking lot but the good thing is there is typically parking within 5 minutes of a walk. Neptune is a one way street so if you find a spot past the 700’s take it.
The walk down is a switch back… so fairly easy to take down a surf board /​stand up paddle board.
When you get to the beach you can go left or right. I always go left where if you walk down a block there is a beautiful area with the bluff, trees, sand. you feel like you are in another world.
The surfing is good… there are a few breaks. There are surfers out from dawn to dusk. There have also been a ton of stand up guys… where you can easily paddle out to a kelp bed not that far off shore.
The sunsets are unreal here ~ the colors in the sky to seeing many green flashes… People are always walking the beach — just realize that the tides vary pretty often… so check the tides prior to arriving.

This beach has amazing views from the parking lot, and yes there is a small parking lot available. It is a nice clean beach, bit of a walk to a scale down the steep cliff face to get to the beach. I mostly go for the views, when I am walking Neptune.

Very small and secret-​ish beach by my parent’s house in Encinitas, my most frequented beach over the years since it is just a short jog. Impressive in that it requires a bit of a walk to scale down the steep cliff face to get to the bottom. Not a lot of room for sunning but there is quite a lot of surfing activity around here usually. On lower tides you can jog north or south to the connecting beaches. The top of the cliff in the small parking lot is a great place to come watch the sunset with a panoramic view of the ocean.

Yet another super-​secret North County beach. Conceptually, it should be easy to find: From the I5 go west on Leucadia Blvd until it deadends at the Pacific Ocean. Having said that, most visitors can’t tell there is a beach there because the last of Leucadia Blvd is winding and the beach is at the top of a 100′ bluff. You just can’t see the ocean until you actually park in the lot.
There is a dirt path that looks more like an old Indian trial. And in true funky Leucadia fashion, that path is just wide enough for 1.5 people. Someone always has to yield to another person. Of course, this gives the locals a chance to chat about if the tide is rising, how the surf is and where to sit in the lineup.
Dogs used to be allowed here, but due to many «accidents» that privilege was lost. Some people try and sneak man’s best friend down there, but the lifeguards frequently use a Jeep to patrol this stretch of beach.
Most of the people going down the path are healthy teens and adults. Kids who go down the beach and play all day are especially prone to demanding that a parent carry them up the bluff. It isn’t easy just walking up, let alone carrying your surfboard, kid and assorted beach gear.
A few things not very many people know about Beacon’s:
* There are always surfers there at sunrise.
* There are always locals to watch the sunset and, hopefully, a green flash.
* When there is a red tide, many people come down at night to watch the water glow neon green. And when it is stormy, those «green» caps illuminate the night as far out as you can see.
* While we don’t have thunderstorms very often, when we do, especially at night, cars will pull into the lot — just like a drive-​in theater — and watch the lightning, hear the thunder and feel their car rock in the wind.
* Many times you hear that Southern Californians just are very friendly. But if you come to the beach and just stand at the top of the bluff for a while, you will find yourself meeting new people.
There are a couple of other resources for more information in Beacon’s Beach.
and a Facebook page for news just for the Leucadia locals
.

Love me some Beacons. The walk down is half the fun — and it’s a great longboarding spot.
Be advised that it is on a ONE WAY street people. If you miss the parking lot, you cannot turn around and go back. It’s a small lot, so if you don’t know where you’re going, keep an eye out!

Driving by on Neptune Drive over the Columbus Day weekend and stopped here to take a look see out over the cliffs. Nice area and watched the sun as it was descending over the ocean. Very pretty here.

Our family has a beach house on Neptune and the obvious highlight of our summer is walking down to Beacons beach.
There is nothing more beautiful than looking out our beach house windows and seeing the dolphins jumping and all of the surfers waiting to catch the next perfect wave. My daughters took their first surfing lessons their as well.
One of my favorite things about Beacon’s beach is that the main entrance to get to the beach is a somewhat steep climb… I know it sounds crazy but I enjoy the Leg workout that I get going up and down the beach. I also really like that they have a lifeguard on duty.
The only reason that I don’t give Beacon’s a 5 star is because they don’t have a bathroom.
This is a beach that memories are definitely made of.

You’re so ugly.
{I’ve never seen a more beautiful display of gold sand grains, teal water breaks, or tanned, toned surfers.}
You smell awful.
{That salty sweet air breeze that is your cologne must be an aphrodisiac.}
What a workout.
{Like sex on the beach. I mean… wait, what?}
You’re so unpopular.
{I hope to keep our relationship monogamous.}
I hate you.
{I love you.}