Doheny State Beach - North Beach

Located in the city of Dana Point, Doheny State Beach – North Beach is a scenic beach with light brown sand, nestled within the larger state-managed Doheny State Beach area. This beach is not only a gateway to the beautiful Pacific Ocean but also features a unique creek, San Juan Creek, which flows adjacent to the beach before meeting the ocean. Notably, the beach and its surrounding area offer excellent opportunities to explore tide pools, especially during low tide, making it a prime location for tidepooling enthusiasts. This makes Doheny State Beach a distinctive destination among the many state parks in Orange County.

Doheny State Beach – North Beach is open between 6 am and 10 pm.

Doheny State Beach – North Beach is well-equipped with lifeguard patrols year-round, with staffed lifeguard towers from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend. Beyond safety measures, the beach provides a plethora of amenities. Visitors can enjoy the convenience of restrooms, showers, barbecues, fire pits, and picnic tables. Those looking to host a beachside gathering will find picnic facilities ideal for a family outing or casual get-together, with a dedicated picnic area that enhances the experience. For active visitors, the beach offers bike and water sports equipment rentals, volleyball courts, and a large grassy recreational area. Additionally, a nearby visitor center provides educational insights and there is a campground for those wishing to extend their stay.

Doheny State Beach – North Beach presents an array of engaging activities including swimming, sunbathing, fishing, and hiking. The beach is particularly favored for tidepooling, where the rocky tide pools reveal fascinating marine life at low tide. For adventure seekers, it’s a hotspot for surfing, paddleboarding, scuba diving, boating, and a variety of water sports such as kitesurfing, windsurfing, parasailing, jet-skiing, kayaking, and canoeing. The shallow waters and manageable waves make it perfect for beginner surfers and paddleboarders, especially during summer when the Doheny State Beach surfline comes alive with vibrant surfing waves.

For those planning to swim or engage in water activities, caution is advised due to occasional rip currents and rocky ocean floors. The area may also experience high levels of microbial contamination, so staying informed about water quality is essential. Seasonal restrictions might apply to paddleboarding and kayaking, so checking with local lifeguards for current conditions is recommended.

The western end of the beach, with its rocky terrain, is a favored spot for scuba diving and fishing. The campground nearby accommodates both tents and RVs, providing a comfortable base for extended exploration. Information on camping rules and charges can be found on the California Department of Parks webpage and Recreation’s website.

Doheny State Beach – North Beach is a picturesque location perfect for photography enthusiasts. It offers stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and Southern California’s shoreline, especially during sunset. The visitor center nearby is a must-visit, featuring informative exhibits on local biodiversity, indoor tide pools, and aquariums.

Doheny State Beach – North Beach is accessible to all, featuring a wheelchair-friendly boardwalk and access mats. Beach wheelchairs are available to ensure everyone can enjoy the beach experience. For more details on beach wheelchair availability, contact local authorities at (949) 496-6162 or (949) 496-6172.

Whether you’re looking to explore the natural tide pools, enjoy the amenities of Orange County's state parks, or simply relax at a well-facilitated picnic area, Doheny State Beach – North Beach is an exceptional choice for your next outdoor adventure.

Getting to Doheny State Beach – North Beach is very easy – this beach is located near 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive and it is easily accessible from Pacific Coast Highway/California State Highway 1. You need to pay an entrance fee to enter this beach – the entrance fee here is $20 per vehicle in summers and $15 per vehicle during the rest of the year.  

Once you pay the entrance fee, you can then park at the paid parking lot here

 – this lot is located near the intersection between Park Lantern and Dana Point Harbor Drive. The paid parking lot here charges $3 per hour and visitors are required to park here for a minimum of two hours. 

We recommend visiting Doheny State Beach – North Beach early during summer weekends because this beach can get crowded and the parking lot here can also get filled up quickly during this time. Doheny State Beach weather is usually mild throughout the year – however, we recommend being careful because it can get stormy on very rare occasions.

Doheny State Beach was earlier a privately-owned coastal land that was owned by oil tycoon Edward L. Doheny – Doheny donated the beach for public use in 1931. Doheny State Beach was California’s first state beach and it received its current name in 1963. In addition, Doheny State Beach was also featured in the popular band Beach Boys’ songs "Surfin' Safari" and "Surfin' U.S.A."

If you are looking for attractions near Doheny State Beach – North Beach.  Pines Park is a recreational park that offers many amenities including playgrounds, water fountains, walking paths, benches, picnic tables, barbecues, and grassy recreational areas. The iconic San Clemente Pier is a 1,300 feet long pier that was initially built in 1928. This pier offers amazing views of the Pacific Ocean (particularly at nights) and it is also popular with fishermen – in addition, the pier also has multiple restaurants and shops. Mission San Juan Capistrano is a historic site that has ruins of a 1776 Spanish Colonial mission – this site offers an interesting insight into local history and it also organizes a number of events throughout the year including Latin cultural performances and music concerts. Dana Point Headlands Conservation Area is a protected headland that has many habitats including maritime scrub, chaparral, grasslands and coastal scrub – this conservation area also offers many fun activities including hiking and wildlife watching and it offers amazing views of the southern California shoreline and the Pacific Ocean. If you are looking for another attraction near the beach, Ocean Institute is a nearby educational center that offers interesting educational programs on marine science and maritime history.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Doheny State Beach – North Beach. Doho Cafe at Doheny State Beach offers many amazing dishes including tacos, poke bowls, salads, quesadillas, fries, and hot dogs. Monarch Bay Beach Club offers amazing California-inspired gourmet dishes including pastas, chicken, beef dishes, tacos, sandwiches, soups, and salads, along with a variety of refreshing cocktails. Coastal Kitchen offers many amazing dishes including seafood, baby back ribs, sandwiches, burgers, salads, and soups. Harpoon Henry's Seafood Restaurant is a popular restaurant that offers delicious locally-inspired dishes including seafood, salad, sandwiches, steaks, and tacos. If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby restaurant, Shwack Beach Grill offers many amazing dishes including hash browns, eggs, tacos, burgers, nachos, ceviche, salads, and baby back ribs.

If you are looking for a hotel near Doheny State Beach – North Beach, there are many great nearby options. The 5-Star The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel offers many amenities including multiple restaurants, a bar, a lounge, two pools, a hot tub, a spa, convenience store, a gift shop, a salon, a boutique, a gym, an art gallery, and yoga classes. Another upscale hotel is the 4-Star Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa that offers many amenities including multiple pools (including a kids’ splash pool), a whirlpool, a gym, a sauna, a spa, a restaurant, a lounge/bar, a bike rental facility, convenience store, a seasonal kids’ club, a gift shop, a dry cleaning service, and a hair salon. Another upscale hotel is the 3.5-Star Blue Lantern Inn - A Four Sisters Inn that offers many amenities including a gift shop, a theater, fitness center, loaner facilities for bikes, and complimentary breakfast and afternoon wine. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Doheny Beach - Dana Point that offers many amenities including a pool, restaurant, a lounge, and a fitness center. If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby hotel, the 3-Star Riviera Beach & Shores Resort offers many amenities including a fitness center, a pool, table tennis, a hot tub, a game room, bike rental facilities, a barbecue area, a gift shop, and a sauna.