Lost Winds Beach

Overview

Located in southern San Clemente, Lost Winds Beach – which is also known as Lasuen, Lasuens Beach, and Los Alamos Beach –is a narrow strip of beach area situated below a blufftop residential area. The beach is named after Padre Fermin Francisco de Lasuen, a prominent Franciscan missionary who was the founder of nine catholic missions in the California region. The beach is a narrow strip of sand with sparse amounts of vegetation. The beach rarely has dry sand due to constant contact with water during high tide. The beach has a railroad and the San Clemente Pedestrian Beach Trail (which is also called San Clemente Coastal Trail) running parallel along its length. The beach area is popular among surfers and volleyball enthusiasts. Although Lost Winds Beach has a lifeguard tower, lifeguards here are posted only when the beach area is crowded. There are many other amenities present in the beach area including volleyball courts, picnic areas, and restrooms (which are a short walk away). The beach does not allow pets. Lost Winds Beach is easy to access - the access route to the beach is located between residential houses near 2006 Calles Los Alamos. The access route comprises a set of stairs going down the bluff and a dirt trail passing through the railroad (watch out for trains) into the beach area. There is free street parking available at Calle De Los Alamos.

Attractions

Lost Winds Beach offers a number of fun activities including sunbathing, beach walking, biking, paddleboarding, surfing, volleyball, swimming, snorkeling, wildlife watching, and beachcombing. The beach area has some amount of dry sand during low tide which is a popular spot among beachgoers here for a quiet time sunbathing session. The beach has volleyball courts and locals often flock here for an exciting volleyball game. The waters around the beach offer a less crowded surfing space compared to other San Clemente beaches. If conditions are favorable, the waters here offer a thrilling surfing experience. If you plan to swim here, watch out for rip currents. The waters around the beach are home to sea lions, seals, and migrating whales.

You can walk along San Clemente Coastal Trail for biking and to visit other beaches along the San Clemente coastline including San Clemente State Beach, which offers a number of activities including fishing, hiking, and camping, T-Street beach which is a famous surfing spot and has fire rings and Mariposa Beach which has Tidepools. There are a number of attractions near the beach. The Surfing Heritage and Culture Center offers a variety of exhibits and galleries about the surf culture in California. Casa Romantica Cultural Center, which was earlier the house of Ole Hanson, the founder of San Clemente, hosts cultural performances and exhibitions and gives tours of the sprawling 19th-century mansion and its lawns. The cultural center also houses La Cristianita Monument which commemorates the first Christian baptism in southern California in 1769. The nearby San Clemente Surf School offers surfing lessons to complete beginners and trains them in key aspects of surfing including paddling, balancing, and wave judgment.

Restaurants

If you're looking for a restaurant, Nick’s San Clemente is a high-end restaurant offering a memorable fine dining experience that serves delectable and rich comfort food including fried chicken, sandwiches, and steaks, and is known for its signature butter cake with berry compote and ice cream. A family-friendly modestly priced option is LaRoccos Pizzeria, which offers delicious New York-style pizza generously endowed with toppings and features a kids menu. Another great dining option is The Sunrise Cafe which serves finger-licking breakfast dishes at great prices.

Hotels

If you are looking for a hotel near Lost Winds Beach, there are many great options nearby. The 5-Star Montage Laguna Beach is 20 minutes away and offers luxurious suites having an American Craftsman theme and features amenities including a spa, in-house restaurant and bar, a pool, and a fitness center. A more affordable option is the 3-Star Riviera Beach Resort which has multiple pools, a sauna, a fitness center, game room. The modestly priced 2-Star The Inn at Calafia Beach is another good option.