Visiting Victoria Beach’s Pirate Tower in Laguna Beach, California

When I travel, I love checking out hidden gems and interesting photo locations along the way! I had seen the Laguna Beach Pirate Tower on Instagram and had it’s location on Victoria Beach saved for quite some time.  I knew I wanted to visit on my next Southern California trip!

Location

Pirate Tower Address: 2713 Victoria Dr, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

What address you can also put into your GPS: Sunset Terrace, Laguna Beach, CA 9265

The tower is located on the north end of Victoria Beach.

History of the Pirate Tower

The Pirate Tower, also known as “La Tour, ” stands 60 feet tall and looks like it’s grown out of the cliff. It was built in 1926 along with the house that goes with it for William E. Brown, an L.A. Senator and has a castle-like aesthetic. The tower gave access to a staircase which connected his home to the beach below.

The tower and the house have had many owners over the years and remains a place emulating myth and legend.

Why Should you Visit?

1. It’s an awesome place for a photo shoot, especially at sunset.
2. Visiting makes you feel like you’ve gone on a little fairytale adventure!
3. There’s also a tide pool. (which I forgot to get a photo of!)
4. You’ll see some beautiful mansions overlooking the beach.

How do you get to the Pirate Tower in Victoria Beach?

Though the Pirate Tower seems “hidden” it actually wasn’t too difficult to get to. The most difficult part is finding parking.

Be aware that the stairs down to the beach are steep, and may be difficult for anyone with mobility issues.

1. Park on the Pacific Coast Highway as close to Sunset Terrace as possible.

Parking is limited and restricted. ALWAYS read the parking signs. Parking in Laguna is definitely complicated and I actually saw someone getting towed. Anyways, there are some FREE spots available, but others are METERED. I went during the week and it wasn’t too busy.

If you can’t find parking near Sunset Terrace you look for a spot a little further down near the Montage Hotel.

2. Walk down Sunset Terrace to find the entrance to the beach steps.

Hopefully you’ve found a parking spot that isn’t too far away. Now you’ll want to head down Sunset Terrace until you reach the public beach steps entrance. Walk down the steps until you get to Victoria Beach!

3. Go to the right and walk around the sea cliff.

Once you get down to the beach, walk towards the water, there will be a sea cliff on your right. Walk around the cliff.

4. You’ll pass a pretty awesome beach set up on your right and start to see the Pirate Tower.

Before you see the castle-like structure you’ll see a private beach set up on your right, loungers and all! I was so surprised to see all of that on the beach level behind a cliff!

Keep walking between the sea and the cliff until you find yourself at the Pirate Tower and sea pool. It’s not far at all!

When to Visit

If you don’t want to get wet, visit at low tide. It wasn’t quite high tide when we visited and my dress ended up getting wet, but I didn’t mind! I had fun frolicking in the water as it came in and out of the cove.

Supposedly, it’s inaccessible at high tide so make sure to check the tide reports.

As you would assume, it’s busiest on the weekends and in Summer. 

In front of Pirate Tower, Victoria Beach

Is Victoria Beach a public or private beach?

Victoria Beach is open to the public, but it’s not as easy to access as some of the other beaches so feels “private.” It is frequented by locals, but anyone can go!

It’s a beautiful sandy beach with a ton of things to do including swimming,  exploring the caves, surfing, kayaking, admiring the mansions and utlilizing the volleyball courts.

Is Victoria Beach dog friendly?

There are no dogs allowed on the beach between June 15 and September 10 between 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m. Other than that, it’s totally friendly for leashed dogs.

Where to Stay near Victoria Beach in Laguna

Casa Laguna Hotel and Spa

• Address: 4 Lagunita Dr, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Casa Laguna is a luxury boutique hotel located across the street from Victoria Drive. It’s a property full of it’s own history and it’s own indoor/outdoor spa.

The Montage Hotel

• Address: 30801 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

The Montage Hotel lies on top of the cliffs between Victoria Beach and Treasure Island.

It’s a 5 star resort with a hotel, residences, pool, multiple restaurants and stunning grounds.

Luckily, Treasure Island Park, which lines the cliffs in front on the Montage, is open to the public. This means that even if you’re not staying on site you can still experience some of the grounds. However, as a guest, you’ll have more convenient access to Victoria Beach, Treasure Island Beaches and Park and even better views!