Grandview Surf Beach

Beach · Encinitas

Grandview Surf Beach

Beach · Encinitas

1

1700 Neptune Ave, Encinitas, CA 92024

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Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null
Grandview Surf Beach by null

Highlights

White sandy beach below cliff bluffs with a well known surfing break & clifftop parking.  

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1700 Neptune Ave, Encinitas, CA 92024 Get directions

encinitasca.gov

Information

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1700 Neptune Ave, Encinitas, CA 92024 Get directions

+1 760 633 2740
encinitasca.gov

Features

parking bike
crowd family friendly

Last updated

Jul 10, 2025

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"This popular surf spot is aptly named for its view of the water as you descend the wooden stairs, with palm trees framing you on both sides. At the bottom, a narrow, yet seemingly infinite stretch of beach is backed by iceplant-laced cliffs. Onlookers congregate on the stairs to watch a cluster of surfers dotting the horizon. Once you’ve made the climb back up and worked up an appetite, head over to Fish 101 restaurant and try the day's fresh catch. If you finished your surf session in the morning, check out Atelier Manna, a new restaurant in the neighborhood that offers globally-inspired healthy brunch dishes. Grandview stretches on far as the eye can see in both directions, though sunbathers should come during low tide. The lack of restrooms and any other facilities means most visitors don't stay too long, instead taking in the view from the stairs or going for a quick beach walk before moving on elsewhere. All of this means less-crowded waters that surfers will love." - Marie Tutko, Archana Ram

The Best Beaches in San Diego
View Postcard for Grandview Surf Beach

Pham Le Phu

Google
Wow, what a beautiful and scenic view. Ocean views for days! Many surfers. Very clean! I feel like this is a hidden gem but many people know about it! The stairs aren’t too bad to go down/up: must go if you are deciding whether or not to go!

Michael Erin Strong

Google
Damaged from the floods, but gorgeous beach. We liked the big stone pebbles and surfers.

Tisa Chappell

Google
Beautiful ocean view! But don’t plan on bringing your beach towels unless you like laying on rocks. 🪨

Abbey

Google
A very cool place to visit, if you are in the area!! I don't think you'll be lounging on the beach and getting a sun tan due to the rocks and pebbles, but definitely a place to come and see!! There was free street parking, if I remember correctly.

Cherilyn Jones

Google
One of my favs. It’s a jaw dropping view once you come to the top of the stairs. The sunsets are always phenomenal. Great surf spot. Parking lot is pretty good. Bike rack and porta-potty located there. Shower at the base of stairs. Excellent workout doing the stairs a few times! Watch the tide schedule. High tides won’t allow for a beach walk. Lots of Stones get carried up during winter months, makes for more adventurous walks, but amazing sounds when the waves trickle through. Enjoy.

Josh Kennedy

Google
Lived a block from here for a month and originally thought it was a little too low key but quickly fell in love with it’s charm. Great surfing, tide can be rather high to relax on the beach though. Go get leucadia donuts while you’re there!

Esther

Google
Great spot to park (for free!) when going to the beach! Porta Potty available in parking lot, showers on stairs Tip: check the tide for the time and day you want to visit. If it's high tide you may not be be able to use any of the beach at this access point. go to Moonlight Beach during those times

Karen Eibelheuser

Google
Grandview is the place to see the most amazing sunsets! It's definitely a local's surf spot, but to access the beach be ready to take the 100 step challenge. As the name says, it is the place with a "grand" view, you don't want to miss it!

Elisa G.

Yelp
Beautiful beach in Encinitas/Leucadia and there's a long staircase down so be careful! Tons of cute surfers to watch in their wetsuits! Gorgeous sunset too!! A++

Lotta S.

Yelp
Unless you're an avid surfer this beach might not be as appealing since the beach area is pretty narrow, tons of rocks and big waves. There is one lifeguard and a porta potty at nearby parking lot. Huge wooden staircase leading to and from the beach-one better be in some okay shape to manage to navigate. Parking lot is pretty small but street parking is available. Cliffs are unstable so DO NOT sit too close to the "wall".

Addy W.

Yelp
I love stopping at this beach when doing my morning or evening walks with the doggy. It's really peaceful and relaxing to watch the waves. This is definitely a spot where a lot of surfers surf, and not so much a lay out and tan as there's not much land to do so. Also can be a great workout as there are a lot of stairs to take to get down to the beach. Overall, I also enjoy the views.

Paul G.

Yelp
Simply stunning. While visiting friends at a beach property, I took a stroll along the shore and picked up some of the beautiful rocks that wash ashore. In my studio at home, I paint them. This beach is beautiful, and I plan to visit again.

Vladmir T.

Yelp
Quiet Little Rocky Beach This is a nice little out of the main way of things, quiet, little, rocky beach. Not so many people so it's a bit more peaceful than some others. You journey down some nice stairs to the beach area. Backed by cliffs at water level. My son loved playing with the rocks!

Vicki C.

Yelp
Everyone knows that Leucadian's love the beach. We are spoiled hippies who get to surf, walk or enjoy fabulous sunsets year round. This special beach boasts a private, free parking lot and steps all the way to the sand. Surfers, walkers, fishermen, divers, bird watchers, and sunbathers converge to enjoy the large sandy beach. There are no restroom facilities and it takes a few minutes to walk in, this means less crowds. Just to the north is Ponto, a state beach which is uber popular and in the summer cars wait in line for hours just to park there. Grandview is protected from some of the tourist infestation up the coast. My family gave it the name "neckcrackers" back in 2015. My friend broke his neck surfing here when the swell was up. Yes the surf can get big here, but he still comes back. In 2013 Leucadia got a large infusion of sand which was dredged up from outside of Cardiff reef. The sand quickly disappeared because the ocean hits the bluffs in this location causing erosion as you can see from my video here. https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/grandview-beach-encinitas?select_video=0Y7XVuuaDHZdsWuOkfvyoA The coastal comission and The Surfrider Foundation have been fighting to prevent seawalls to allow natural erosion for years, however wealthy homeowners have prevailed which creates a dangerous situation on the beach. I posted this photo in 2015 warning of the dangerous unstable cliffs. https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/grandview-beach-encinitas?select=A_79N_2qZMbQSEpoMfBHsg Unfortunately there was an even bigger landslide this week that devastated a fabulous family at this beach. Please stay at least 25 feet away from the bluffs at Grandview when you hit the beach, Leucadia style.

Miriam E.

Yelp
What a lovely spot! Stopped by with my husband and his daughter to watch the sunset and it was so beautiful! I definitely recommend this place. It's a pretty rad little spot!

Sharon W.

Yelp
LOVE this beach so much. It's honestly hard to pick a favorite beach in Encinitas because they're all amazing but the view going down the steps is always so beautiful here. There is a designated parking lot that is free and right next to the beach. As far as availability goes, it really depends on whether it's a popular surf time or not I guess. It's been hit or miss for us, but the few times parking has been full, we haven't had issues parking a little further down in the neighborhood streets and walking. Once you're down at the beach it's a pretty easy and scenic walk all the way to Moonlight Beach which I've done a couple times!

Elyse J.

Yelp
Gorgeous sunset but there's a lot of big rocks. U can't really sit there and chill. U just post up on a wooden stairway & chill with random ppl ‍ maybe it's cuz I went too late

Tonya M.

Yelp
As beautiful as the beaches are in this area, this one has a few drawbacks. Very little beach space, and we had a local surfer warn us to stay away from bluffs and cliff overhangs as many people have been injured in this area. Very rocky beach, hard to walk out into the ocean and lots of seaweed... definitely better beach areas to visit.

Jack M.

Yelp
This a great little stretch of beach. Just far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the city of Encinitas, but still close enough that you just have to find your way down a cliff on a well maintained wooden staircase. The life guard tower is right on the beach when you reach the bottom of the staircase, which is a good place to start to get information regarding the water conditions. I tool the liberty to chat with the young lady life guard, who gave me some great information. I did not know that they count sting ray incidents daily. The beach us mostly consist of soft sand with a few large prominently smooth rocks. The tops of the cliffs are line with residential housing and vegetation so I would not consider it a secluded beach by no means. There are a few places near the base of the cliffs were the sand is black caused by run off, but other than that, the beach is quite nice. I happen to come here on a Sunday afternoon. The beach was more crowded near the life towers and stairs that lead up to the neighborhoods. However, as I walked between Grandview and Beacons Beach, it started to think out, and that's were I parked my butt.

Jeremy S.

Yelp
Grandview is my go to spot, it is absolutely, without a doubt a fantastic beach. Located in the Leucadia part of Encinitas, this local beach is perfect for catching waves, grabbing a great sunset or just taking in the picturesque surroundings. This place is awesome in nearly all facets with the exception of the parking situation, lol parking stinks. I highly recommend checking out this little gem, especially if surfing is your thing, you will not regret it. Pros- Location Surf Beach Cleanliness Secluded Views picturesque Less crowded Cons- Parking situation Quite the stair climb to get down and back up Traffic

Rachel T.

Yelp
Never been here before & never will. I find out about this spot through the article below. It baffles and worries me at the same time how this place almost has a 5 star when in fact it is risky and dangerous because of its sliding rocks. People have passed away because of the sliding rocks & there is an article to prove it. This just shows how uninformed people are and not even Yelp reviews are not always reliable. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/public-safety/story/2019-08-02/at-least-one-killed-in-encinitas-beach-bluff-collapse%3f_amp=true

Jose G.

Yelp
Wow, just wow. This beach has it all, great laid back attitude with a vow. My kids loved walking down the giant staircase, enjoying the view of the sunset and throwing stones into the surf (when no one was nearby of course). Plenty of great shopping and eating nearby. Will most definitely be back in the near future.

Vincent C.

Yelp
A nice small beach where a lot of surfers come to catch some waves. This beach is not crazy packed like Moonlight or even Swami's. This is a real mellow beach and what helps that is the parking lot is pretty small. You have to know where you're going to find Grandview which is tucked in a corner of residential streets. Also if you're not in the best of shape the stairs to get to the beach can be a little brutal.

Krystal F.

Yelp
Nice little stretch of beach that's tucked away in Encinitas. I've never seen it very busy at all- mostly just surfers trying to catch a couple choice waves. But if you're looking for a good leg workout, those stairs and walkways will tear up your legs!

Lena H.

Yelp
Grandview Beach is very aptly named; the views here will simply take your breath away! Take a few minutes when you visit to be grateful for the nature's gifts :-) Tip: During the week, this beach isn't all that crowded and parking is easy. If you want to take a good walk while you're here, it's a lovely five miles to Moonlight Beach This beach is one of my favorites in the North County; it's a lot less crowded than Ponto and parking is free!

Scott S.

Yelp
Love this beach! No crowds and some really beautiful scenery. The staircase landings make for great places to watch sunsets every night. Easy walk north to South Ponto or for a longer walk head south to Beacons, Stonesteps or Moonlight.

Stephen I.

Yelp
If you like to surf then this is your beach. If you like to get a sun tan and play in the sand then this is NOT your beach! One of the best & most active surf spots in San Diego county. This hidden gem of a beach is fequented by the die hard surfers who live by the tidal clock. This beach is in Leucadia tucked away on a residential street. Decent size parking lot and a grand stair case leads you down the steep cliff to the sliver of pebbles and sand that make up this beach. From the city of Encinitas web site: Beach Parking: 5am - 10pm Beach Use: 4am - 2am No dogs, alcohol, or glass allowed Lifeguard Towers Open: 10am - 6pm during the Summer Season (late June to Labor Day) *All beaches and viewpoints are available on a first come, first served basis. Special Event and Special Ceremony Permits are available for select locations. For more information, please call (760)633-2740.

Liz E.

Yelp
Clean, beautiful beach. Most of the time it's not too crowded but it definitely can be on weekends or summer. There are no dogs allowed on the beach but I've seen a few people who take their dogs with them on a walk or a run on the beach. I don't know if they've ever been fined. You can usually take your dogs on a walk or a run on Neptune Avenue. When it is high tide, there will be no beach for anyone to lay themselves on. I tried walking with a friend down at the beach here while it was high tide and we both got drenched. Still, a great beach to go to when it is low tide. Walk further north and you'll see some volleyball nets and bonfires. Surfers seem to love this location.

Mirna E.

Yelp
Very nice secluded beach with free, yet limited parking. You are right below a cliff and it's pretty popular with locals and surfers. I really enjoyed this little hidden gem! GPS got me a little lost on Google Maps so do put in the address and not the name. Once you park, you have to walk down a pretty large stairway. The views from there are impressive and once you reach the bottom- a little getaway. To the right of the stairway there's a lifeguard station and the beach seemed busier in that direction so we forked it to the left. It was very relaxing and less crowded than Oceanside and Carlsbad beaches. Will definitely come again! :)

Carolini C.

Yelp
This is my favorite beach in the entire America. First off.. I am am AVID rock collector and this beach is packed full of rocks of EVERY COLOR OF THE RAINBOW. It's beautiful!! The scenery is beautiful with lots of flowers and vines coming down the cliffs. Its very zen here and kinda tucked away. Theres free parking! Dont be turned off by the amount of rocls this beach has,, if you can mamage to make it into the water about 20 feet, the rocks disappear and the soft sand is present!!

Anthony S.

Yelp
This is a great beach. Very consistent surf is the main reason I come here. There are mostly short boarders here, but also some long. It is mostly sandy bottom w a small section that has rocks. When arriving here on the weekends, plan to park on the street. There is usually ok free parking on non summer days and weekdays. There is a large staircase to walk down to get to the sandy beach. Many people workout on these stairs because there are so many. There is a shower at the bottom of the stairs. There is no bathroom at this beach. No lifeguards either. Mostly young adults come here with many surfers. This is a great tucked away local beach.

Matthew D.

Yelp
I love this beach! It's pretty clean, the water quality isn't as bad as some beaches in SoCal. There are usually surfers out catching waves at all hours. Other than that, this beach is simi secluded. The parking is free! This beach really does have a grand view! :D

Jen C.

Yelp
By far my FAVORITE beach in SD and there are a lot! I fell in love with this beach when I used to live across the street. I didn't realize how lucky I was living to one of SD's best kept secrets until I moved away. I just love how it gives a very adult feel and it's not too crowded. Yes, it is a smaller beach than most but not tons of people know about it and it is very clean. I now live in San Diego proper and still haven't found a beach I love as much as this one. The south beaches are over crowded with trash, people, tourists. I love this beautifu, peaceful, super local beach. And the stairs aren't a thing just gives you a little excerise. But yes do make sure to check the tides because that can mean little to no beach.

Rod A.

Yelp
Grandview is one of those super-secret, hard-to-find North County beaches. It sits at the north dead end of Neptune Avenue. The stairway is great and solid wood and because it sits on a bluff, every step going down the stairway is awesome. In fact it is so steep, that many people just go up and down the stairs for exercise. Note that at high tide you probably can't walk along the beach because the waves can come to the base of the bluff. During the summer a lifeguard tower is hauled in and placed at the bottom of the stairs - what a job... If you go south 1 mile you will come to Beacons Beach and if you go north 1/2 mile you arrive at Ponto beach. As a small bonus, there is a shower (cold water only) near the bottom of the stairway. It is mostly a surfer/locals beach as other places have more convenient parking. The only negative, should there be one, is that the small parking lot that does exist there sometimes has break-ins. You can see more at http://www.GrandviewBeach.com or follow local news at https://www.facebook.com/GrandviewBeach Whew, you made it to the end. Thanks. Read all my reviews here bit.ly/RodsYelpReviews I would be very appreciative if you could rate me below: Was this review Useful / Funny / Cool

Rhondi S.

Yelp
Great local leucadian beach. Free or street parking and plenty of locals, walking, jogging, biking, running with their dogs by this beach. Great mellow waves at low tides, a few surf schools teach at this beach because of the break. Plenty of sandy beach for running or tanning, a great local spot!

Zedar B.

Yelp
This may not be the greatest surfing spot anymore, but it's still a great beach!

Ash R.

Yelp
This is one of my all-time favorite beaches! Came here this past weekend and had an excellent time. The staircase is amazing! Also saw some dolphins, didn't have to deal with huge crowds, and located in a great area near good food choices. Can't beat it!

Heather B.

Yelp
Beautiful beach! We took a walk here from where we were staying. We didn't get to go down to the sand cause the water was high but we stood on the steps and watched the surfers surf . It was beautiful!

Sunil R.

Yelp
We stopped off for a surf lesson and loved it! Nice long clean beaches, great weather and this was Dec! Bliss!!

Curtis C.

Yelp
Great "locals" beach. Surf looks good at this spot. On a late saturday, it wasn't crowed at all. I dont know if I should even yelp this because of the "local" factor I noticed. Very quiant and serene beach tucked away in Leucadia. You have to catch the sunset!

GT W.

Yelp
Minimal cliffs on this section of beach compared to Swami's further south. Access is by stairway only still. Tiny public parking lot for this area. If it's full, street parking in the neighborhoods is very difficult and technical with windy roads, blind corners, and few curbs. If you go up the wrong stairs closest to the public access stairs, it takes you to a gated community and there is no pedestrian throughway to the public parking lot. You'll be trapped!

Kelly K.

Yelp
I love this beach! It's quiet and easy to get to. There are areas to surf and places to swim. Tons of tanning spots, but nicest of all it's kind of secluded from main traffic and not too many tourists. Lots of good-looking Brazilians can be found here, too!

Kristina C.

Yelp
Great neighborhood beach - never too crowded. GOod for surfing all year round. The stairs make access a bit of a pain for the lazy but parking is usually pretty plentiful even on summer weekends which is rare for north county San Diego. Keep in mind there is no bathroom access but there is a shower at the base of the stairs

Tyler H.

Yelp
I think the main break here (off the reef, just to the south of the stairs) Is very over-rated. It tends to break and then back off, giving you a slow, mushy ride until it hits the sandbar on the inside where it just dumps hard. Much better to surf the sandbars to the north or south of the main spot, which can get really good on summer south swells. Non-surfers can enjoy the beach, as it has a nice secluded feel, but watch out, as the water comes almost all the way up to the cliff on any High Tide higher than 5.something

Lawrence K.

Yelp
Goodbye Grandview Beach. You've been a Life-long Friend. I will miss you. Keep those sweet Left Breaks rolling in. Stay classy, #Encinitas.

Jill C.

Yelp
This is the first time I've been to this beach. I must say, I've drawn to like this place! It's secluded, quiet, and of course only the locals know about it! This will definitely be the it spot when I want to come here and relax without people running around and kids screaming and playing.

Micah C.

Yelp
Who doesn't like the beach? Keep in mind parking at this place fills up fast and you have to walk down for access to the beach. The beach is sandy and ideal for those people wanting to enjoy sun and sand. Plus you get a pretty good work out going back up the stairs. This is my go to if I want a beach some what tucked away.

Brooke M.

Yelp
This is the place for stair lovers who like a good climb with a great view. Be warned, the beach goes bye-bye during high tides - don't get stuck!

SJ O.

Yelp
Quiet, clean, beautiful beach! Small free lot across the street. Steep stairs but well maintained and wide. Little shower to clean sand off at the bottom. Neighborhood beach. No bathrooms or showers. Popular surf location. Love it!

Jas E.

Yelp
Beautiful spot for a beach day.. Popular surf spot.. Lots of activity.. Best during low tide provides plenty of wets and for a jog

Sherri H.

Yelp
My all time favorite beach! It's a secret spot that most people don't know about. The water is beautiful the beach clean and have always found a parking spot. Honestly makes me feel I'm on vacation on an island somewhere.....