Shaws Cove

Quiet place, especially near eve hours. during low tide, it is great to see life on the corals like purple sea urchins and crabs 🦀 stayed a couple of hours to relax from a long drive. parked in neighborhood and residents were friendly.

Nice little beach with lots of tide pools to explore, short drive from Irvine/Anaheim area. No designated parking, it's best to park on residential streets to the north, then take find the stairway that leads you down to the beach. Best to visit at low tide. It's fun to watch tide come in as waves crash through the network of rocks.

Shaw's Cove utterly captivated me from the moment I arrived. Just a stone's throw from the bustling activities of the coast, this beach felt like my own private haven. The first thing that struck me was the clarity of the water; it was like gazing into a turquoise gem. The gentle waves were perfectly inviting, making it an ideal spot for snorkeling, swimming, scuba diving and boogie boarding! However, this beautiful beach has a couple of potential downsides. One hiccup was the lack of bathroom facilities on-site, which I found a bit inconvenient. Furthermore, the descending steps to the beach ran alongside a sewage pump building — not the aromatic welcome I had in mind! However, a little whiff of reality didn’t detract from my beach day too much. I truly appreciated the quieter atmosphere, especially during the weekdays when the beach was notably less crowded. The rocky coastlines and tide pools were an absolute thrill to explore! There’s much to see if you choose to stay topside as well, from unique rock formations to those delightful tide pools teeming with life. Parking was no hassle! I parked for free along the street in the nearby neighborhood, a pleasant perk that added to the convenience of my visit. Overall, Shaw’s Cove is an absolute gem for those seeking a day filled with adventure and stunning views.

Tide pools and deep water (20+ ft) snorkeling to the right. Small snorkel-able kelp forest also to the right, about 30 feet past the rock outcropping in 15-20 feet deep water.

Love the tise pools here.

Love going to my grandmothers house.! It's the best view and love to enjoy the scenery. This was Xmas dinner from above Shaws Cove.

Beautiful beach! The water is clear and the waves weren’t too rough. There aren’t any bathrooms which is unfortunate, although the steps down to the beach smell like it since you pass a sewage pump building. It’s a bit too busy to be considered a hidden gem, but it wasn’t overly crowded. Exploring all the rocks and tide pools was really cool, there’s plenty of marine life to be found if you look close enough. Free parking is available on the street in the neighborhood near the stairs.

Small and tucked away, tide pools to see critters and sea life, best walk-in scuba diving, good to snorkel, a lot of active water for boogie boards, favorite family beach all ages! (No bathroom)