Joseph R. Sweany Bench
Laguna Beach, California, United States
Found by Best Bench research
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A named memorial bench above Laguna Coast’s chaparral, with a Pacific panorama stretching from Newport Beach towards South Laguna. Exact bench pin is approximate.
Bench Score breakdown
Trail intel
Shared by walkers to plan the day, never to change the Bench Score
Just as important as the Bench Score, and often the deciding factor on the day — but none of it is a judgement on the view, so it stays out of the Bench Score.
The view is the whole Bench Score. Average of 2 scores submitted. How Bench Scores work
Point A to point B
- A · Start of the walk
- Nix Nature Center trailhead
- Find the three words for this start point
- 33.56620, -117.76480
Trail at a glance
- Walk
- about 1 hr 10 min each way, from the person who found it
- Grade
- Moderate walkwhat this means
- Start & parking
- Nix Nature Center trailhead · Paid parking at Nix Nature Center; it can fill around sunset.
- Fees & access
- Route sources: AllTrails Joseph R. Sweany Bench and Boat Road Trail. Dogs are not allowed. · Walkers on foot
- Route data
- Part-mapped
Know before you go
- Route sources: AllTrails Joseph R. Sweany Bench and Boat Road Trail. Dogs are not allowed.
- Exposed and largely unshaded; carry water and avoid peak heat.
Community-submitted, so check it yourself before you go. Read the disclaimer
Most of the walk is on recorded paths, but the last stretch is unmapped ground. Treat the timings as a range.
The dashed line is straight from A to B — check the walking directions for the real path. P marks parking.
Every step of the walk
About 1 hr 10 min each way — from the person who found this bench
Plotting the footpath route…
Plan it on a proper map
Many of these walks are well-known routes already documented in detail. Where that is the case, use the people who survey them rather than trusting us. These services are independent of us — some may ask you to sign in or subscribe for full detail.
For benches in national parks or on waymarked trails, the park or trail's own website is always the best source. Read our disclaimer.
Parking near the start
Looking for car parks…
Parking notes from the person who found it
Paid parking at Nix Nature Center; it can fill around sunset.
Car parks come from OpenStreetMap and may be out of date — check signage on the day. In the UK, pay-by-phone bays (RingGo and similar) are usually signed at the bay rather than mapped, so look for the location code on the sign.
Landmarks along the way
- 1Boat Road trail — Steady gravel fire-road climb
- 2Memorial bench — Pacific coast panorama
What the walk is really like
Seasons and conditions: Exposed and largely unshaded; carry water and avoid peak heat.
Before you go
Route sources: AllTrails Joseph R. Sweany Bench and Boat Road Trail. Dogs are not allowed.
Told to us by the person who submitted this bench — double-check anything seasonal.
What people said
Editorial starting score using the global view scale; community ratings will refine it.
Best Bench HQ · 17 Sep 2026
Editorial starting score using the global view scale; community ratings will refine it.
Best Bench HQ · 17 Sep 2026