Brooks Street Beach

Any conversation about Brooks Street starts and ends with surfing. The beach is home to the most famous (and arguably best) high-performance wave in the city. Goofy-footed surfers will particularly love the left at Brooks, which breaks over a few different rock reefs, depending on the swell direction and size. Note that this isn’t a wave for beginners and on big days it’s expert surfers only. 

When the famed “Second Reef” at Brooks is firing, a skilled surfer (and the best of the best show up on these days) can ride nearly a quarter of a mile down the line, before the wave finally crashes on shore. These days are rare, but when they come around the whole town is abuzz with the news. In the summers, the annual Brooks Street Classic, the longest running surf contest on earth, gives itself an ultra-long window in order to score a huge south swell. The competition draws the whole community to the mosaic-lined concrete benches – a perfect viewing area to watch the action.

When the waves are pumping expect to have old timers and tourists watching you surf, calling out advice and cheering anyone who makes the steep drop. Parking on these days is rough, you’ll probably have to venture to the other side of PCH (though there are a handful of metered spots). Still, if you want to see serious waves in Laguna Beach, Brooks Street is the way to go.

FAMOUS FOR:

Surfers sipping their coffees and watching the waves every weekend morning.

BEST BEACH FOR:

Any goofy-footed surfer (or regular foot who likes going left).

DOG RULES:

Dogs must be on a leash that is 6’ or shorter, at all times.

• June 15 – September 10
  • Dogs allowed BEFORE 9am and AFTER 6pm
• September 11 – June 14
  • Dogs allowed during regular beach hours