An easy drive up park n grab (but an area you can get plenty of outdoor exercise at). I've been exploring the local beaches lately and decided to document what I’ve learned. Leucadia has three beaches I have never visited before. Here’s what I’ve found:
Leucadia is a community located in the city of Encinitas. Its beaches are known for their seclusion due to the fact that they are all located below steep cliffs along the rugged coastline. You will have to do some stair climbing, and maybe even a hike, to get to them. All beaches in this area have no bathrooms, permanent lifeguards or facilities of any kind.
Grandview Surf Beach
Grandview Beach is the north beach access point at Leucadia State Beach, a California state park that is run by the city of Encinitas. Grandview Beach is a narrow beach below high bluffs topped with homes and condo buildings that have a “grand view” of the ocean. At high tide there isn’t much beach exposed, but otherwise this beach is excellent for walking. A long wooden stairway takes you down to the beach from the parking lot at the north end of Neptune Avenue near Grandview Street.
Leucadia State Beach (Beacons)
Swimming, surfing, fishing and picnicking are popular at this small, rocky beach. The beach access is via an improved, steep trail at the foot of Leucadia Boulevard. On the maps, it's “Leucadia State Beach,” but ask the locals, and they will just say, “It’s always been Beacon’s. Even the sign at the top of the bluff reads Beacon’s."
Encinitas Beach County Park (approach from Beacons or Stone Steps)
There is no direct access to the beach below. You will need either start at Beacon’s Beach from the north or from Stone Steps Beach from the south so it is a great spot if you are looking for seclusion. The tall walls that are preventing erosion for the expensive homes up on the bluff also provide a space to sunbathe that is not visible from above. Encinitas Beach isn’t anything special – it’s just a narrow strip of sand where locals can hide away. It makes for a great beach walk when the tide allows. At high tide Encinitas Beach can be all wet so check the tides before heading here.
Stone Steps Beach
Stone Steps Beach is a locals beach in Leucadia that is a little off-the-beaten-track. The city has signed it as “Stonesteps Beach Access” (spelled as one word), but most people refer to it as Stone Steps. The reason for this name is a large concrete and stone stairway that descends the steep crumbly bluff to the narrow beach below. It’s a great beach to walk in either direction, but be aware that high tides can cover the entire beach in this area. Walk north and you’ll get to Beacon’s Beach and walk south and you’ll reach Moonlight Beach.