Victoria Beach is a narrow, rocky beach in South Laguna, famous for its La Tour tower (commonly called the "Pirate Tower"), a 60-foot stone staircase tower built in 1926. The beach is less crowded than Main Beach or Thousand Steps Beach due to limited access.
The Pirate Tower
The tower was built in 1926 by state senator William E. Brown as a private staircase from his bluff-top home to the beach below. The concrete structure, faced with local stone, was designed in a Rapunzel-like cylindrical form. It is now a Laguna Beach historical landmark.
The tower is not open to the public (no interior access), but it serves as the most photographed structure on the Laguna Beach coastline. Best photographed at low tide when you can stand at its base.
Beach Character
Victoria Beach divides into two sections. The northern portion is sandy with some rocky areas. The southern portion, past the tower, features extensive reef and tide pool areas. A small sea cave is accessible at low tide on the north end.
The beach is narrow at high tide and can be completely submerged against the bluffs during winter storm swells. Check tide charts before visiting.
Access
Two public access points:
- Victoria Drive staircase — concrete stairs from the end of Victoria Drive off PCH
- Dumond Drive staircase — shorter staircase from Dumond Drive
Both are residential streets with extremely limited parking. No lot, no meters. Arrive very early on summer weekends or walk from farther away.
Tide Pools
The rocky shelf south of the tower hosts marine life typical of the Laguna Beach Marine Protected Area. Anemones, hermit crabs, and small fish in shallow pools. Same MPA rules apply: no collection, no touching, no overturning rocks.