Best place to park and watch the sunset! Best place to get in a morning walk! Best place to meet…read morefriends for a hike and then a coffee or breakfast in Dana Point! Best place for sandcastles and playing in the waves! Stairs down to the beach and then a steep climb back up but totally worth it! Clean restrooms at the top and bottom! And if you can't handle all the stairs, there is a golf cart service to get you down into the Strands neighborhood to make the climb much more manageable! I'm here almost daily hiking through and enjoying the ocean breezes - and often see dolphins while beach walking!

As of Nov 5 2025 there is no more parking in the park or street. You will be fined if you are…read moresleeping in your vehicle and no parking from 11pm to 7 am. Word has got out about this gem and too many junkers are so obvious, are lining the streets to sleep and day living in the parking lot of this quiet upper class neighborhood beach community. It was a great place to enjoy but some people spoiled it for all by not respecting the neighborhood.

As part of our trolley tour down south OC, we visited the scenic Bluff Top Trail. Not far from…read moreDana Strand Beach and a short walk from the bus stop (Del Prado & Violet Lantern). It's still as stunning as before with fun photo ops everywhere on a sunny day. The trail is an easy walk path within the neighborhood, and I loved the ocean view and taking pictures of the arches.

5 for views, 2 for challenge! The Dana Point Too Trail is near the Del Prado Lantern District in…read moreDana Point. It is Cliffside behind a number of very nice homes and condos. This is a beautifully kept up and manicured trail with safety rails and a variety of places for photos such as a wooden bridge and some historic ivy covered arches. The view of Dana Point Harbor is breathtaking. The trail is very short with some serious stairs, so for distance you're not getting much challenge but for stairs you get a little. Overall, it is a beautiful find in an area where it's nice to be able to take a little walk before or after grabbing a drink and a bite to eat! I just wouldn't put on my hiking sneakers and sunblock to make a day of it.

Salt Creek Beach park is great for many reasons. People go for the surf or to have fun with the…read morekids on the grass, to listen to live music, for a picnic.... They've shown the movie Endless Summer numerous times, they host OC Summer Concerts and more. Parking is plentiful. (unless you arrive late for a big event!)

Parking is a travesty but it's because the park is amazing. 30 minutes to circle around and wait…read morefor someone to leave! There's a basketball court, shower for your feet, bar at the bottom on the sand, and benches and tables.

I was in the area for work and had some time to kill. The park itself is tiny but well-equipped,…read morewith restrooms, covered picnic tables, and a grill. There are several trail entrances, many of which offer great ocean views. If you're after a proper, low-key sunset without the whole circus, this is your spot. Quiet. Honest. The kind of place that doesn't try too hard and somehow nails it anyway.

Beautiful park. Clean and amazing views. I had a great time hiking the coastal trails of Vista Del…read moreSol park.

This was the highlight of my visit in Dana Point. Priceless beautiful views of the ocean, beaches,…read moreDana Point Harbor, and lushes landscapes. There's four conservation parks which makes the nearly 64 acres of the headlands. Will take approximately about an hour to two hours of completion to walk the trails. You'll come across scenic overlooks, beach access, and the Nature Interpretive Center. Glad we came on a breezy day and not have the sun beaming on us. We took lots of pictures with ocean and beach background setting. Beware of rattlesnakes and mice as signs are posted up along the trails, but we didn't encounter them. If you are in Dana Point, put this on your list of sights to see.

The educational center wasn't open yet, but there were open bathrooms in the back. The path is soft…read moredirt and would need to walk single file. There are a few benches and beautiful views. Just keep in mind it ends in a different gate area and it's a longer walk back if you don't reverse and go back to where you started. The gate does close at sunset, so don't get stuck in there!!

I like walks on the beach. Or more like, by the beach. A favorite of beach trails that I've enjoyed…read morecoming to - lots to see and explore with vibrant flowers, the horizon of the ocean, the sounds of the Amtrak and Metrolink trains passing by. All of it is just amazing. And the best part is, there's so many ways to just have a good time and a good workout on this trail. The Beach Trail is about 2.3 miles long in total, but it can feel like a pretty long walk. AND that's only one-way. Coming back, you have to do another 2.3 miles, if you're returning to the beginning of your route. But you'll really see everything. Love the Beach Trail!

We love weekend trips to San Clemente and loved the idea of this walking/bike trail that parallels…read morethe beach along with the metrolink rails. We parked at the Metrolink Avenida Estacion (North Beach). This is a paid parking lot which we initially missed seeing. Our destination from here was the San Clemente Pier which is about 2 miles. To find the Beach Trail, walk east, all the way to the end of the parking lot. Our walk started out great until we were about 1/2 mile in. Unfortunately, the trail was closed due to construction for the erosion happening in the area. A construction worker told us it would be a long walk through the neighborhood and he was right. We headed up the stairs into the neighborhood, hoping it would be a doable walk. With no sidewalks and no straight road towards the pier, we decided to turn around and head back to the car. It would have been helpful from the start if there was a sign indicating that a portion of the Beach Trail was closed. Make sure to check for closures before heading to this trail.

This is always been one of my favorite parks, especially for concerts in the summertime…read more "Yachty by Nature" was the star entertainment for Sunday. The park is very organized. People are so pleasant.. It's just a great community of partygoers. Dog, friendly kid, friendly. Everyone was very polite about putting their umbrellas down when the performers came on. We really enjoyed the kickoff concert at Sea Terrace.

This park is beautiful and one of my favorite places to visit when I want to enjoy some nature. I…read moreespecially love the abundance of Pride of Madeira flowers throughout the park. These vibrant purple blooms attract all kinds of birds, especially hummingbirds, which is a big reason I keep coming back. Most of my visits have been for bird photography, and the flowers provide endless opportunities to watch and photograph hummingbirds feeding on the blossoms. Even if you're not into birding, it's a wonderful place to take a leisurely walk, enjoy the scenery, and soak in a little peace and quiet away from the busy city. My only complaint is the parking situation. Street parking is very limited, so finding a spot can be a challenge, especially during busier times. Other than that, it's a lovely park and a hidden gem for both nature lovers and photographers.

One of my favorite places in San Clemente!…read more I love the view of the pier from here. There are several concrete tables and benches that are good for picnicking or stopping for a rest. (Because they are concrete, they aren't super comfortable for long periods.) You can also bring a beach chair and place it in the grass if you'd like to take in the view of the ocean from here. (Good place to hang if you like the beach but don't like sand ;) ) As others have mentioned, there are nearby parking lots. There is also some street parking -- some is metered (the closer spots are metered) and some is not. One thing that's great? The meters don't kick in until 10am. 2021: 55/100

Mesmerizing views, cool ocean breeze, plenty of benches and great shade provided by the many tree's…read moreis what you will find in this park. Adjacent to the San Clemente Pier, this is a definite spot to stop by if you are ever in San Clemente. I love coming here to relax either with a great book, taking a break after a long run, or simply sitting with that special someone and enjoying the view. I even have a favorite bench that I have been sitting on for many many years. Lot's of nearby restaurants nearby and plenty of metered parking nearby so don't forget your quarters. But parking is free before 9:00am and after 6:00 pm. Plenty to do nearby by and even catch a couple of trains pass by. This park has it all.