Best Surfing Beaches in La Jolla

Located in San Diego in Southern California, La Jolla Caves Beach is a rocky beach nestled between La Jolla Cove and La Jolla Shores Beach. The main draw of this beach is the collection of sea caves to the north, which have immense historical significance − they are over 75 million years old and were once used for smuggling by pirates in the 1800s.

Located only an 8-minute drive north of downtown La Jolla, La Jolla Shores beach is popular with families and active beachgoers because of its endless activities and many amenities including lifeguards, restrooms, and showers. 

Located in the neighborhood of La Jolla, Shell Beach is a small beach with light brown sand and some rocky parts, much like the scenic and popular Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo. The beach is located below the southern part of a blufftop park called the Ellen Browning Scripps Park. The bluffsides along this beach are composed of sandstone. Please note that Shell Beach should not be confused with another separate beach with the same name called Shell Beach – this other Shell Beach is located in Sonoma County.

Located in the community of La Jolla, South Casa Beach is a triangular-shaped beach with light brown sand. This beach is located below steep oceanfront bluffs. South Casa Beach is named so because it is located to the immediate south of another popular beach called Children’s Pool Beach, which is also known as Casa Beach. 

Located in the community of La Jolla, La Jolla Strand Beach is a narrow rock-and-sand beach with some interesting rock formations, similar to other San Diego beaches. This beach is situated below steep oceanfront bluffs and offers a mix of sandy beaches and rocky areas. The rocky portions of this beach are composed of sandstone, much like those found in sea caves along the coastline. It is important to note that this beach can be rockier during the winter season as winter storms can often blow away the sand. While La Jolla Shores Beach and Torrey Pines State Beach are more popular, La Jolla Strand Beach provides a quieter alternative with its unique landscape.