Woods Cove — Attraction in Laguna Beach

I had high hopes for Woods Cove Beach, but it was a huge disappointment. To get down to the sand, you have to navigate a long, steep set of stairs — a real challenge if you have kids, a lot of beach gear, or mobility issues. Once you finally make it down, there are no bathrooms or facilities, which is incredibly inconvenient if you’re planning to spend more than a short time there. There also were way too many people.

The water itself has a strong rip current, making it unsafe for swimming, especially for families with younger kids. And to top it off, the shallows are covered in sharp submerged hard to see rocks that make it nearly impossible to enjoy playing in the water. I tried to wade in and stubbed my toe on a rock and ended up with a cut :( The waves are also super rough and you will find yourself being pulled out to sea! I saw the lifeguard have to rescue several strong swimmers who were overconfident in their abilities.

With so many beautiful beaches in the area that are more accessible and comfortable, I wouldn’t recommend making the trip to Woods Cove and instead would go to main beach which has restrooms, no stairs and...

Came across some helpful hints WHEN you are caught in the dangerous riptide that is at this beach nearly all the time. "Without knowledge of proper safety measures, a strong current can turn a relaxing day at the beach into a deadly nightmare. Here are some tips for surviving a rip current: -Do not try to swim against the current, but rather at a 34-degree angle relative to the wind, increasing by a factor of five for every 10 millibars above 100 of barometric pressure. -Never get in the water unless your private security personnel are on duty. -Avoid swimming in dangerous areas where the moon’s gravitational pull causes tides to rise and fall. -Endear yourself to the rip current by explaining that you are 80% water. -Try to escape the rip current by getting caught in the undertow. -Fight the urge to remain calm—you’re drowning, this is a big deal. -If you get tired, see how you feel after a refreshing gulp of seawater. -Accept that you are beginning a new life at sea."...

From the Laguna Beach website

“Wood's Cove and Lovers' Cove are both accessible at this beach. Popular activities here are diving, body surfing, and exploring the tide pools. The crowd is largely local families that live near this cove. The beach can become very crowded on summer weekends.

This is one of the most active beaches in Laguna. It is fairly small in size, but there are hazards due to the rocks and rip currents present. This area can be extremely dangerous if visitors are unaware of tide and surf conditions. Please check with lifeguard before exploring the northern rocks as they can be extremely dangerous during surf and high tides. There is no diving or jumping off any of the rocks.

If you do visit this area please do not take, collect or disturb any of the marine life. The taking or collecting of rocks, shells, or marine life is prohibited. Fishing is not allowed at this beach.”

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