Salt Creek Beach
Dana Point, CA
Parking ~$1/hr
By Simir Shah
★★★★★4.8(2,290 Google reviews)
What parents say
AI summary of 5 Google reviews — not a first-hand visit. How we write these
A grassy bluff park sits above the sand, with a paved path, benches and picnic space that reviewers say rarely feels full even when busy. Parking is cheaper than most Orange County beaches by their accounts. Be ready for a noticeable climb back up to the lot with tired legs.
A grassy bluff-top park rolls down to a wide surf beach with tide pools — great for kite-flying, boogie boards, and picnics. Surfers have ridden the offshore reef here since the 1940s, and the beach only opened to the public in the 1970s after a hard-fought "Save Salt Creek" campaign against private development plans. Today the seven-acre bluff park anchors what's considered one of Orange County's best surf breaks.
Good for
- Ages 0–2
- Ages 10+
- Works for a wide age range
Happening near here
- Dana Point Harbor Dogapalooza (2nd Annual)Dana Point · 2 miFree
- Pumpkin Rescue at the Aquatics Center (Laguna Niguel)Laguna Niguel · 3 mi
- Día de los Muertos Altar at Mission San Juan CapistranoSan Juan Capistrano · 4 mi
- First Thursdays Art WalkLaguna Beach · 5 mi · First Thu 6–9pmFree
Salt Creek Beach, California 92629, USA
Map
What visitors say
- Barry G★★★★★
Excellent and very picturesque beach. A beautiful grass park/hill that leads down to a nice beach. The best part is that there is a pretty large parking lot that is only $1 per hour. It's a steep hill that leads down from the parking lot to the beach. Walking back up could be challenging for some. There is a shuttle like a golf cart that runs between the parking lot and the beach. There is a bathroom in the center of the parking lot. Near the bathroom is a tunnel that leads you down to the beach. There are also additional bathrooms and showers near the beach. There is also a small restaurant near the beach.
a month ago
- Matthew Tiger★★★★★
This is the most beautiful beach in the West coast and one of the few that can be compared to Florida’s beaches. Great place to watch the sunset too. And parking here is so much cheaper than most beaches in OC.
5 months ago
Showing 2 of 5 Google reviews · Read them all on Google Maps
Nearby places
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Eat nearby in Dana Point
- Truly PizzaPizza & Italian · $$
- The Shwack Beach GrillBurgers & American · $
- Coffee ImportersBreakfast & Brunch · $
- Kawamata SeafoodAsian · $