Scripps Beach

Quiet and tranquil spot. Not to many surfers to worry about and there is a nice café for brunch not to far away.

If you’re not into crowds at the beach, then this place is perfect for you! You can say that it’s somewhat secluded just because the area to sit/​lay at the beach is smaller. But it’s still a great beach with gorgeous views! Even when I’m not in the water, I still enjoy this beach very much. There’s such a nice and relaxing vibe to this beach and everyone seems to be so chill.
Overall, this is a great beach with beautiful views! Its perfect for your long walks on the beach!

I love this place! Easy to park and the beach was clean, peaceful and simply beautiful. I wasn’t prepare to get into water but the water was so tempting eventually we all walked in :-) that was a wonderful place to visit and enjoy God’s amazing creation!

Beautiful Beach, Pier was closed and the Local regulations site on the pier/​beach was very outdated. I went to go fishing and made it to the spot specified in the website to be legal however, upon setting up was advised the site was outdated and it was a no go. While I like the idea of a protected marine area I think artificial bait fishing should be allowed if even for catch and release.

This is a beautiful beach to spend the day on. There are a lot of families and friends here soaking in the rays. There are not too many food options in walking distance so bring a picnic. If you do want a restaurant experience, Caroline’s is right on the water (great view and great food). There are often weddings at the Scripps building right near the pier so its fun to see those happening. No dogs and street parking can be tricky, so get here early.

I’ve always seen the pier from a distance at La Jolla shores but I never actually went to the pier. I’ve been checking out piers whenever I can lately because I love the under the pier photos i’ve been taking so I decided to go here after lunch today. Glad I did. It’s beautiful beach for a nice walk. You have a closer view of the cliffs and you can still have a view of la jolla. It’s perfectly situated in the middle. Love San Diego and the perfect weather. Not that crowded in the winter but the water is freezing. It’s just nice to sit and relax for a bit.

If you don’t like crowed beaches with wayyyyyy too many tourists in things and big umbrellas harshin your view then this is the spot for you!
I love love love this beach. It’s away from all the craze and a more intimate setting.
For sure a nice and relaxing environment where you can take in the Rays and I joy the beautiful beach in a peaceful and enjoyable environment. Parking can be a bit nutty at times but it’s a great spot for sure.

Ahhh man I love this place. It’s pretty chill, surfers mostly, and your average folks. There is no parking lot so most people go down the street where there is a parking lot. There is some street parking if it’s not busy, but on the weekend the UCSD Scripps parking lot is available. Going to the beach is great here and it’s not crazy packed and touristy, so you should enjoy it.

Scripps Beach, aka La Jolla Shores depending on how far you stroll is one of my favorite SD beaches. Runs neck n neck with Torrey Pines.
If you park in the lot at Kellogg Park, that’s where majority of people lay out and where all the lifeguard stations are. I sometimes just park north of that on the street in the residential area and then you can take the stairs down to beach. I like to stroll north towards the pier, it’s way less crowded up that way, and if you’re with kids it’s fun to check out the sea life clinging to the legs of the pier. Then a little further up and you’re at the tide pools. If you’re a visitor to SD set aside at least one morning, bring your coffee, and do this. It’ll be the most relaxing thing you do!

Best clean beaches you will ever see in all of San Diego!
This beach has got amazing clear water where you can see such beautiful sea life in the water! Everything from bait fish swimming, surf perch and even maybe some beautiful leopard sharks.
Be sure to check the tides for the beaches because this can be amazing for you and your family!!! Just north of the Scripps Pier you can see some amazing tidepools! I’ve been around and seen everything from sea stars, lobsters and anemones.
Clean white sands, crystal clear water, some kayaks, and amazing sea life… wait, why am I still here! SEE YOU AT THE BEACH!!!

I learned to surf here! Great place for beginners. Small waves. Shallow water. Beautiful views. Just dont get caught near the pier, you can easily get smashed if you are new to surfing.

beautiful beach I loved it here, very clean
it was packed though but that didn’t bothered me as much as it usually does.
we checked out tide pools and such, pretty cool
totally look forward to going back

Nice clean beach. Parking is bit of a bear.

I love this place, how can you rate it any lower than a 5 star.
This is the spot for surfers and students and locals. Located north of la jolla shores.
If you have saltwater Aquarium in your house you should stop by here, they have free filtered saltwater… You don’t have to buy salt and mix it
I come here once ever week or two to get my saltwater for my fish tank.
Ima check in from now on to show this place some love and attention.

Living in LA, I come across a lot of dirty beaches where it’s not uncommon to come home with rashes or some kind of wood stuck in your feet. It has made me to really not like going to the beach. The water would be filthy and people just liter all over.
However, a group of us helped my boyfriend’s sister move out of her apartment at UCSD and we came here. What a change in cleanliness! For one, I cna take my flip flops off and walk in the sand without worrying about something pinching me. Secondly, the water is nice and blue, not murky and full of questionable items. There’s waves and quite a lot of people who came for surfing.
Parking was by street which wasn’t too hard to find though the road is narrow and has sharp turns, so drive carefully please. Overall, a calm pit stop on the way home from SD.

Hidden gem! Parking sometimes can be tough, but a lot less problematic than with LJ shores. People are chill and beach is not overcrowded.
Be respectful, don’t leave trash!

All newbie/​moderate surfers, this is the place to go! This beach is between La Jolla Shores and Blacks beach and the wave breaks are very surf friendly. It’s also a great place to boogie board, tan, relax, read a book, etc.
A CON about this place is that this portion of the beach is kind of secluded off on it’s own so there are no lifeguards. You’d have to run halfway to La Jolla shores if something happens. My roommate got hit by his surfboard this past summer and started to massively bleed on his forehead. He ended up having to run all the way to shores to the lifeguard to get it bandaged (yes, even with blood dripping down his forehead).
However, those are the extreme cases. The people here are very friendly and everyone is willing to help if you are in need! I got wrapped in a bundle of seaweed once and was being tossed around by the wave with my surfboard. A guy helped me out, without me even screaming or asking!
All the surfers here are nice and willing to share their wave. Unlike other beaches, whether you are a newbie or an expert, all surfers seem to be welcomed here!

When La Jolla Shores gets too crowded, this is the place to head. I’ll admit the beach isn’t as nice as La Jolla Shores, but what it’s lacking in «nice» it makes up for in being calmer (well, maybe not the waves) and quieter. Also more street parking over here.
I wouldn’t recommend surfing directly under the pier unless you are really, really experienced (I’ve seen some people try it and fail).
Just follow this little tidbit, and you’ll be all good: Swimmers, respect the sufers. Surfers, respect the swimmers.

Although the beaches around Scripps Pier are definitely not as «nice» as the ones at La Jolla shores, the lack of tighly clustered human bodies is a huge plus depending on what you’re looking to accomplish. Parking is very simple, as there’s lots of street parking across from SIO, and you can then cut through the building greens to get to the beach. There’s also a pay-​lot that is closer to the Shores side. Surfing is allowed north of the pier, and there’s plenty of open space so you don’t have to fight for waves. Those looking for a bit of peace and quiet can find it up by the rocks on the extreme north end, as very few people venture that far. However, families looking to lounge around on the sand will probably want to stick to the Shores side, as the Scripps side has giant pipes spewing out (recycled?) water at times, making for a most unpleasant backdrop. Also, people watchers and attention whores will most likely want to stay where the action and the audience is — down south. But for those seeking to simply enjoy the water or get away from the sardine-​fest that is Shores, Scripps Pier is a viable alternative.

I am specifically reviewing a certain part of La Jolla Shores beach which is located between Black’s Beach and La Jolla Shores Beach proper. You can access it by turning off La Jolla Shores Blvd., west onto El Paseo Grande and hope and pray there is some available parking. Stay out of the Scripps Oceanography parking lot unless you go to UCSD & have their parking sticker. If not-​I can guarantee you a ticket from the ravenous UCSD parking enforcement patrol!
There is a steep flight of stairs that will take you down to that part of La Jolla Shores beach that is right near the Scripp’s Pier and where surfing is allowed. What is so nice about this portion of the beach is the lifeguard tower that is right there and that it is usually A LOT LESS CROWDED that the rest of La Jolla Shores.
The Lifeguard tower keeps a good eye out because it is always telling the surfers to stay out of the swimming area and the swimmers to stay out of the surfer’s area of the water. I tried to swim around the Scripp’s Pier in preparation for Surfrider’s Paddle for Clean Water around the OB Pier, but there is just too many wires, lines, cables and all kinds of stuff hanging from the Pier and possibly snagging me, so I gave up that idea.
Curious types can use binoculars to gaze down the northern stretch of beach towards swimsuit-​optional Black’s Beach & see what’s cookin? I enjoy the swimming on this side also because the kid factor is not so heavy-​not that I don’t like kids at the beach. Just that they are all over down at the other end of the Shores & get in your way with their boogie-​boards. Not so on this end by Scripp’s Beach.
The other day I went out way far past the breakers and I was swimming around when I saw a pair of fins! A feeling of dread overtook me before I glimpsed a second pair of fins and realized that SHARKS don’t travel in pairs! It was a small school of dolphins cruising by and they were CLOSE! I could hear their little clicks and whistles they make and it was SUCH AN AWESOME MOMENT!
I always tried to swim with the dolphins when I used to go to Coronado and Imperial Beaches, but those elusive mammals always took off before I could get up near them NOT AT SCRIPP’S BEACH – they were right there and sooo amazing!
Unilocalers who wish for some space on the La Jolla beaches and in the water might wish to check out this nice little corner of the Shores and enjoy the ambience that Scripp’s Beach offers the discerning beach-​goer.