How to Find the Pirate Tower in Laguna Beach (Victoria Beach)

The irony of living in Southern California is that despite having some of the most beautiful beaches along the coast, we often don’t make time to enjoy their beauty. With businesses closed, I’ve had to get creative when it comes to family time outside of our home. We recently found the Pirate Tower in Laguna Beach, and it was well worth the venture. And because it is still largely hidden, Victoria Beach is the ideal swim and sun destination this Summer.

Victoria Beach and Pirate Tower

Located in Laguna, Victoria Beach is home to the historic Pirate Tower and the circular, man-made stone pool that is a site to see during high tide.

The beach is ideal because it is more secluded than Laguna’s more frequented beaches and features tide pools to explore, a volleyball court, and more.

I specifically set out to visit this beach to find the infamous Pirate Tower. Standing at sixty feet, the tower was built in 1926 as an enclosed staircase to the beach for Senator William E. Brown. Brown was a renowned painter and the tower was likely influenced by Laguna’s natural geography, particularly the adjacent cliffs. The spiraling staircase tower was an extension of Brown’s cliff-side home, which was at one time also owned by Bette Midler.

While you can walk right up to the tower and explore the area, the tower itself is locked.

How to Get to Victoria Beach

Parking along PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) can be tricky, so opt to arrive early. The public staircase that takes you down to Victoria Drive where the beach is located is opposite the coastal side, however, there are parts of PCH without a sidewalk. If you have small kids, strive to park close to PCH and Nyes Place/Upland Road on the coast side, then cross over at the light for the public staircase. PCH parking is metered.

Victoria Beach is located at 2713 Victoria Drive, Laguna Beach, California. The stairway down to the beach is located at Sunset Terrace and Victoria Drive. You can also access it via McAulay Place and Nyes Place. Once you walk down the stairs that lead to the beach, head to the right around the rocks and you will see the Pirate Tower.

If you plan to walk right up to the Pirate Tower, note that it is only accessible during low tide. Be sure to check the tides at Almanac.com.

Please note that there are no lifeguards on duty at Victoria Beach.

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Caryn Bailey

Caryn is a NICU nurse by day, blogger by night and mom 24/7. She savors the warm Southern California sun and loves to travel, shopping, baking, reading and frequenting her local tea room. Caryn created the column Lavishly Green for Peekaboo Picks Magazine to share her best tips for going green in style, she is the Former editor for Family Review Network, former OC Family Magazine online contributor, former Orange County Moms Blog contributor, former Evenflo Savvy Parent contributor, former member of the Totsy Advisory Board and former freelance writer for CBS Los Angeles.