Spiral Staircase Beach

Located in the city of Pismo Beach, Spiral Staircase Beach - also known as Spiral Staircase Beach Access - is a remote beach with light-brown sand and some rocky parts. The beach is situated below a blufftop restaurant named the Ventana Grill. The beach is named after an iconic spiral staircase that was earlier present here and provided access to the beach from the blufftop area above. However, the bridge connecting the stairway to the blufftop area above Spiral Staircase Beach was damaged by storms, and the bridge itself was temporarily dismantled in 2015. Plans are currently underway to restore this staircase. Spiral Staircase Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, so plan your trip accordingly.

Spiral Staircase Beach offers many fun activities including beachcombing, sunbathing, kayaking, canoeing, jet skiing, swimming, wildlife watching, and surf-skiing. If you are planning to go into the water near Spiral Staircase Beach, we recommend being extremely careful as the water here is known to have rip currents. Depending on the time of the year, you can see many kinds of animals in the water near this beach including seals, sea lions, and migrating whales. During low tide, you can explore the interesting sea caves present along the bluff sides around Spiral Staircase Beach. The blufftop area above the beach offers amazing Instagram-worthy views of the Pacific Ocean and the wonderful San Luis Obispo County shoreline.

Getting to Spiral Staircase Beach can be hard as currently, the only way to access the beach is via kayak. You can launch your kayak from a nearby beach named Margo Dodd Beach and then easily kayak to Spiral Staircase Beach. The stairway to Margo Dodd Beach is located near the intersection between Ocean Boulevard and Seaview Avenue, where street parking is also available. We recommend visiting this beach during low tide as during high tide this narrow beach is significantly submerged. If you are planning to simply view the beach from the blufftop area above, you can drive to 2575 Price Street, where a free parking lot is also available.

There are many attractions near Spiral Staircase Beach. If you like bowling, Pismo Bowl is a bowling facility that offers a fun bowling session. Chumash Park is a natural park spread over 38 acres. This park has a vibrant landscape with many habitats including wetlands and forests of willow and oak trees. The park also has two children’s play areas, picnic tables, and basketball courts. If you are looking for another attraction near Spiral Staircase Beach, Price Historical Park was built by John Michael Price, the founder of the city of Pismo Beach. This park is an important historical landmark and offers an interesting insight into the rich and vibrant history of San Luis Obispo County. In addition, the park also has many hiking, biking, and equestrian trails. Docent-led tours are also offered throughout the park premises. 

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Spiral Staircase Beach. Oyster Loft is an upscale restaurant that offers a memorable oceanfront dining experience. The restaurant also serves delicious seafood and steaks. Rosa’s Italian Restaurant offers amazing Italian dishes including pasta and pizzas. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Spiral Staircase Beach, the modestly priced Papi’s Grill is a Mexican restaurant that serves amazing tacos, ceviches, tortas, and burgers.

If you are looking for a hotel near Spiral Staircase Beach, there are many great nearby options. The 4-Star Inn at The Pier offers many amenities including a rooftop terrace with a pool, sun loungers, two restaurants, a lobby bar with a lounge, and a gym. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star SeaVenture Beach Hotel which offers many amenities including a restaurant and a massage center. In addition, the hotel is also located conveniently close to the major beaches in Pismo Beach. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Spiral Staircase Beach, the modestly priced 2-Star American Inn offers complimentary breakfast.