Salt Creek Beach Reviews

Beautifully located in Dana Point and the beach parking and access is FREE. Only downside is that if the funicular is not working, you have to walk down a long set of stairs to the beach. Fantastic beach to watch the sunset...don't miss it.

We enjoyed a clean beach with ample parking and restrooms available. The surfing culture is strong and the lifeguards work really hard to keep everyone safe

Great, clean beach with lifeguards and a close break. Kids had a blast body surfing at this beach!!!

Salt Creek Beach is a spectacularly beautiful stretch of coastline with the Ritz Carlton perched on the cliff above it. Offering great hiking paths, picnic pavilions, a snack bar (seasonal), and green rolling hills, it is a favorite for locals and tourists alike!

This place is to far from everything, it has no waves to surf, and to top it off the sun is never out on this beach.

Nice beach to sit back relax or surf. The waves at this beach are well big enough to surf or body boarding. Nice walk path which is parallel with the ocean and convenient parking which is atop the hill.

Beautiful beach and fun to watch all the surf boarders. You can walk along the sandy shore or up on a cement path. There are life guards and bathroom facilities.

This is a beautiful site - rocky cliffs above and sandy beach below. The park is grassy and has lots of tables and picnic space. Lots of surfers and great waves. My only caution is that it's a relatively long walk from parking to the actual beach -- many steps and a substantial hill. Probably not the best for older tourists :).

A very beautiful beach!! Very popular with vacationers and locals. It was very crowded, however, we went on a Saturday in June so a weekday is likely less crowded.

The beach is very long with lots of room to spread out if you are willing to walk a ways. There was ample parking but the huge parking lot was full. We had to drive around with several other cars also looking to park until someone left. It is a large parking lot so it didn't take long to find a lot. Parking was paid to automatic machine and cost $1 per hour.

We walked to the rocks on the north end of the beach and crossed to some tide pools which was very neat. We saw many crabs and sea anemones.

The waves were great for boogie boarding and playing in the ocean. The sand was nice and soft and perfect for sandcastles.

Lowtide is perfect for walking this beach. Nice green park area as well. Dodge the seagulls though as there is a ton of them.

My favorite beach by far! Really clean, parking was a challenge, but its worth it. I got a lot of great photos here.

This beach was outstanding. Great views and wonderful waves. Plenty of room to set up shop and play in the ocean. Make sure to go to either side by the rocks. The tide pools had many wild life in them.

You do have to pay to park but it's super cheap and they take credit cards. As you walk to the beach you pass a huge grass hill area where you can picnic or hang out. Pavillion and playground area as well. Beautiful beaches!

Not my favorite beach in OC, but nice to come when the waves are good. Great place to watch the surfers. World class surfing spot, so always entertaining.

Take your kids, dogs, friends, self, book, food, blanket, sunglasses, music, chair down to the lawn area and set up for the luxurious views that people are paying $600+ a night for at the Ritz (next to the lawn) for free. If you surf like my boys do, make sure it is not red flag. Nice beach, put a lot of days of just shore pound. When the surf is good though, it is good. We meet up on the lawn, eat a pizza, and watch the sunset. Heaven.

**Do not forget your parking meter, they love to ticket up in the parking lot.

This beach is a must stop in the Southern OC area. The grassy hill is great for a picnic or small child area to play. The beach line has plenty of area for a great walk. The waves are always enjoyable to watch and with it being a local surf spot you'll enjoy seeing some great athletes do what they love. When the snack shack is open, grab an ice cream and a warm summers day!

Clean, soft sandy beach with good surf. There is a nice walkway all along the back of the beach. The surf is good and the sunset is great. There is a fee to park and a free shuttle to get you down to the beach and back if the walk is too strenuous.

Salt Creek Beach has a great vibe -- surfers and visitors - it's not easy to get too so it's not super packed. We had a great morning walk and then returned in the afternoon for a late afternoon read and nap ...

This is my wife's favorite beach for walking and mine for tanning. We also enjoy our picnics up on the hill and watching the sun set. Our 14-year old grandson, while not finding his California girls, enjoyed the beach and all the sports activities.

Salt Creek Beach is a beautiful beach below the cliffs and adjacent to the golf course. The entire area is beautiful, but this is a great beach to walk and not as crowded as most. The water is clear. It's a wonderful romantic place

This beach is active but not crowded in November. There was a Santa surfing competition that drew many colorful surfers and fans. It is a nice beach area with a wonderful walking path along the oceanside. THere is also a large green park area for lounging and play that is overlooking the beach.

Grassy knoll overlooking a beautiful beach with picnic areas, a cafe, and paved beach route. Public paid parking is convenient and city provides a trolly to carry folks to beach if necessary.

We have visited this beach many times over the pastew years but this Summer found that the ocean is encroaching on beach space.Even an hour before high tide there isn't any sand to sit on asthe sea has moved up to the hillside.
However a short walk south past the point there is a beautiful and quiet stretch of sand.The water can be a bit tricky so ratherthan go into the oceannearthe lifegard station walk south about 200 yards and the swimming is excellent.

It's good for family to get together picnic in there. Water is so clean and scenery is so beautiful. Lots of parking are on the other side of street. Houses by the beach are so beautiful. There is a nice golfing place.

Right at the End of Laguna Where it Meets Dana Point is this amazing beach. Huge fan of local surfers who always hit this place up. Parking you have to pay for. Amazing place on beach and green grass area to have picnics or hangout, walking trail with lights along the beach and sand make this an amazing spot. It is located right next to the Ritz Carlton Dana Point so you know the views and grounds are 5 star and to be able to hangout here is heaven. I would make a point of coming here 4-5 a week. Trolley from laguna will pick you up right in front of Ritz Carlton and take you to Laguna for free it comes every 15 minutes in the summer from may-September. Look it up online! Amazing

Came here on day 2 of the LA trip and it was soooo empty which was great... alot of surfers.so it made it difficult to swim but other then that this beach was on point and a great time. .

Best sunsets ever!! Parking is easy, never crowded beautiful beach for everyone. Concessions are avail along with a park that overlooks the beach.

This was a great beach with plenty of parking. Parking isn't free but there are plenty of spaces. You have to walk downhill to get to the beach from the parking lot and there are no ramps just stairs to get from the pavement to the beach so be sure to take a cooler that's easy to carry. Rolling coolers will be a pain. Chair, umbrella, & boogie board rentals are available in the snack area which is conveniently located.

Salt Creek Beach Park is a popular surfing location. A small, offshore reef creates some of the best left swells along the entire coastline. A popular destination for South Orange County residents, it features amenities such as a halfcourt basketball court, beach volleyball, and a seven-acre grassy Bluff Park, and offers opportunities for surfing, swimming, and fishing. It is located about 10 miles (16 km) south of Laguna Beach, 70 miles (110 km) north of San Diego, and 45 miles (72 km) south of Los Angeles.
Very beautiful and peaceful park, slope toward beach provides very very scenic view.

magical lovely beach to explore and swim in and visit the Ritz for lunch ... fun and quiet and good parking!

A great beach to walk. We were there in January so it was not crowded but still had lots of surfers. Very clean.

This is an 7-8 mile easy mostly downhill walk that is nice way to enjoy nature from Laguna Hills to Dana Point and Salt Creek Beach. Highly recommend!

There is a paved hill to walk down to get from the parking lot to the beach, but it was no problem for our group.

Idyllic scene overlooking the ocean and surfers. Especially great place to watch the sun set. Dogs allowed under strict control. Bring a picnic.

Went with family 3 times during the week. Each day there were huge waves. Lots of surfers, but they were set to one side of the beach. Great boogie boarding. The kids had a blast.

This was a great place to sit and watch or walk. The surfing was crazy with the high surf. The sounds of the waves is amazing! Favourite sound ever.
Didn’t see any whales off shore but lots of pelicans!
Returned November 2018. Great walking path above the beach which is dog friendly.
Such a beautiful place. Great for parking, washrooms, BBQs grass area above beach with picnic tables.

Every time we come to Southern California we stop at this beach. Fun little waves for surfing restrooms and the beach is kept very clean.

Beautiful beach near the Ritz Carlton Hotel. There's a hill to get down to it, but you are rewarded with a beautiful beach, nice walk, picnic areas, & beautiful homes overlooking the ocean

This beach rivals our love of the Newport/Balboa beach. The sand is perfect, the wave break is excellent for boogie birding and surfing and they allow skim boarding, which is not allowed on many of the other local beaches. You do have to make a bit of a trek down to the beach, with public parking up above. But well worth it. There is a guy with a large golf cart type thing offering rides down and back up for a buck a person.

Beautiful beach with amenities. You can rent two chairs and an umbrella for $20 a day. Get there early to get your spot though, because it is quite crowded.

Situated right below the Ritz Carlton, Salt Creek Beach is a lovely spot with great waves for surfing or just wading in the water. There is a nice park which has picnic tables. If you are staying at the Ritz, they provide shuttle service, chairs and umbrellas.

This beach is steep to walk to although totally worth it! Great beach with not too many people. Lots of seashells and creatures too. Our family really enjoyed Salt Creek.

This beach is very popular with the surfers and surfer chicks. Which also brings the tourists. The Ritz Carlton overlooks this beach making it a nice place to have brunch.

Salt Creek Beach is one of the nicest beaches in Orange County. Thee are always lots of surfers to watch, and the proximity to the Ritz Carlton and Monarch Beach Resort is excellent.

Seems to be one of the quieter beaches, probably because it is a bit further south. I would highly recommend this beach for anyone interested in body boarding or just hanging out and who wants to get away from the crowds.

From the parking lot ($1/hr) to the beach there is about a five minute downhill walk through a grassy park area (which by the way means a seven minute uphill walk). The scenery is gorgeous leading down the the beach.

The only real trouble I found was that Google Maps kept wanting me to take Hwy 73 which is apparently a toll road. Getting GMaps to avoid tolls is a bit harder than you would think; on Android you have to hit the options button one the screen where you select which route you want to take.

It is a long walk down to the beach and an even longer walk back to the parking lot. Parking was easy. The beach was beautiful. We were there for a rehearsal dinner and then the wedding the next day.

I've lived and surfed Orange County California beaches for more years than I can remember. And, I guess there are many ways to judge a beach in California. But in aggregate, in terms of beauty-- both ocean, beach and grassy park-- surf, and being uncrowded, this has to be at the very top of the list.

Note that I did not check wheelchair access, because while there's an asphalt access road from the parking above, it's fairly steep for a wheelchair. There is motorized transportation during certain hours in the summer months, but not all of the time.

I went here solo. Was really busy, but big enough to find a place for myself without being crammed up next to someone. Parking was easy as well.

A long walk down to the beach, but it was clean, relaxed and not too crowded. The waves were a little rough, but we liked watching the surfers and playing in the shallower water and sand.

There is a steep downhill to the beach. Once there, we walked down the beach a ways to distance ourselves from the Ritz Carlton guests that were congregating close to the resort above. Once we got situated, enjoying the sun, water and beach was easy. Liked that parking was $1 an hour.

It's a hilly walk from the Ritz Carlton but completely worth the stretch. Beach is wide and in January, only joggers, walkers were out. Next to the beach is a pier with a cluster of rocks. Apparently this is a big hang out for surf boarders. We talked to a few that said the waves were in the range of 8-12 ft while we were there. It must be dangerous too as we noticed a few tributes to surfers that had past away. The view from the point is breaktaking - we captured several panaramic shots of the Pacific. Unfortunately, not ocean life spotted while we were there. Sure there is many an opportunity in less crazy tides than the El Nino that was happening.

Salt Creek is beautiful, with tall cliffs, beautiful homes, great stairs to climb, and a long stretch of beach perfect for a nice long beach walk. You can often see porpoises off shore, and sometimes whales on a clear day.

Great sand, manageable numbers of people. We highly recommend this beach. Bring your own food and snacks!

Clean ,wide eye view, greatfor photograghy ,jems rocks for collectors ,best beach for all ages good parking with a fabulous view

We wanted to go to Thousand Steps Beach, but we didn't see the entrance for it, so we ended up at Salt Creek Beach Park. It's by the Ritz Carton, and there's a huge parking lot in front of the beach that charges $1 per hour.

The beach was nice but not the prettiest. The fact that it was cloudy didn't help. There was a lot of seaweed stuff washed up all over the beach. We stayed for about 45 minutes.

Recently visited Salt Creek Beach with my family and it was stunning. The rock cliffs come right down to greet the ocean. Tons of families and a great spot for surfing and skimming. Perfect spot for a day at the beach.

Came to Dana Point the end of February. Local surf shop suggested we go to this beach to bodyboard. I took my 13 and 17 year old boys with me. The beach is nice and the waves were ideal. We drove by several beaches and the waves here were clearly the best we saw. 3-4 ft waves were perfect for us as Midwesterners. Enough to challenge us and have fun. But not too much to overwhelm.

We also found the locals to be friendly. There were a lot of people by our standards surfing and bodyboarding but they were all polite and patient with one another. It really conveyed the laid back SoCal mentality. Loved it and highly recommend.

What a beautiful beach! The waves were perfect for body surfing. The climb is steep, but they have a shuttle to take you up and down for a small fee. This was great for my family member struggling with knee issues. So glad they had this service available.

Great beach in Dana Point - large free parking lot, clean bathrooms (w/showers), easy access ramp (even though a little steep incline), life guards, large park above the beach with a big grass area. Get there before noon and you will have the pick of beach, but pay attention to signs, surfers and swimmers each have there own areas.

We watched a USA Surfing competition at this beach. HUGE waves - lots of fun! Beautiful beach - great spot to take photos.

Nice waves, hard to go swimming with kids. A lot of surfers but this is a very nice beach. Clean and with facilities. Good for parties, family gathering.

A clean and a calm beach with not many people (in December). The view is awesome. It can be a windy and chilly so make sure that you have warm clothes to spend time on the beach. The sunset is beautiful as the sun goes down on the horizon.

The hill can be a killer but its worth it. There is a little black snack stand where you can get burgers etc if you need to. The park is nice as well if you don't want to deal with the sand. Tons of bathrooms.

What a great beach! Easily accessible. Clean. Kid friendly. Lots of room to socialize and play beach games. Parking nearby and very affordable.

With the exception of the hike to and from this beach it is one of the most spectacular beaches in Orange County, CA. Great surfing and boggie boarding when the surf is up. Good for long distance swimming. great kelp beds just offshore for spearfishing. Some nice tide pools. Good for a long beach hike when combined with Dana Strand beach. Lots of paid parking. HINT if you frequent this beach get a beach parking pass as it will save you lots of money in a very short period of time.

Salt Creek Beach is a large beach with facilities. The Ritz Carlton is nearby and transport to Laguna on weekends via trolley bus. There is a sandy area for swimming and a rock area for exploring.

Whether you're a surfer or a surfer watcher, this beach is for you. Large, clean, full of activity. It's a long walk down, but good for your heart and your spirit. Lots of parking in the public lot across the street from the Ritz Carlton.

Had the best time playing with the kids in the waves!!! Beautiful beach! Beautiful walk!! and when you need a break, walk a little down and watch the surfers at any time of day! Loved this place!!

Accessible, great park and extremely clean. Not as busy and hectic as main beach in Laguna. Somewhat secluded an awesome place for playing in the water, watching the sunset or just walking around and people watch.

My favorite beach in Dana Point. Safe, not real crowded and plenty of room even in high tide. A bit of a walk from the parking area but if handicapped, a car can drive down and drop off the person. There is a path just above the beach that continues on along the Ritz golf course and beyond for miles although I haven't followed it to the end.

My husband and I hiked down this beach from the parking lot back to the last steps up to the campground during low tide. So fascinated by so much life teeming in those tide pools and on the rocks! Must walk very gently to not disrupt the ecosystem.

This beach is very nice. Would recommend walking south to Strands beach, which is a bit more scenic. Worth the trip.

This is very nice beach that's easy to swim in or walk along and there's designated surfing as well.

We love this beach! From the Ritz Carlton, which sits above, it looks like a beach in Hawaii with thhe beautiful blue-green water and light fine sand. There are great waves, but they are not for a beginner.

This beach is a gem. The park above the beach is gorgeous. Not too many people around, it is quiet and more tucked away than the other beaches around that area. I can't wait to go back to Salt Creek next time I'm there!

Great beach, clean, restrooms are clean and working. Tidal pools are awesome. Fun to watch the surfers as well. At the bottom of a cliff so it is an uphill hike returning from the beach to the parking lot, but worth it.

I love salt creek for the great waves. But with great waves come a lot of surfers.... Draw back. The coast line is gorgeous. You can either sunbath or play on the sand or the open green belt above the beach. The beach also has a beach path great for walking the dogs/kids or riding the bikes etc... The biggest draw back is the seaweed and the flies it draws because the seaweed isn't cleaned up often or at all I'm not sure. So laying out on the sand is not the best when you have extra sand flies flying around. Good beach but I prefer less critters.

Love to walk the sidewalk adjacent to the parking lot that overlooks the ocean and then up and down the stairs for a great work out. If there is time, then continue the walk along the boardwalk along the sand.

My wife and I were here today for the first time and we really enjoyed it! Make sure and get there relatively early, we got there at around 11 and there was plenty of parking. This beach gets busy quickly so make sure and get a spot on the beach earlier as well. It is very well kept and awesome for surfers! With parking at $1 an hour it also is cheaper than most other beaches in the area.

Beautiful Beach - great viewing and pretty good for beach frolicking fun. The beach requires you to walk down a fairly steep hill - but it's not that bad if you are in decent shape. Sand, not rocky, nice surf --- unlike nearby beaches the water gets deeper more gradually which makes it more fun for body surfing and boogie boarding. Other beaches the water gets deep quickly so that waves break on shore making it more difficult. There is a wonderful large grassy park right above the beach that almost fills like an amphitheater. The base of the park, which runs to the beach has a nice play and picnic area, along with showers and restroom facilities. People often come to the park that overlooks the beach to watch the sunset with a bottle of wine --- not sure that's legal! Warning --- other reviews have said the beach has a lot of seaweed. This was true when I was there.

I had a video camera I was selling and this fellow answered my ad in an online pub. He wanted to buy it and was doing all the filiming of a surf competition at Salt Creek Beach. I took my camera down there and after testing out he bought it. My wife who is a long time surfer girl came down and we enjoyed the competiton while just relaxing on the beach. There's pleanty of PAID parking, and it is a bit of a jont on down to the beach from the parking lot, and if you're not into walking or have bad knees or hips the walk back UP the hill can be challanging. They do have a fellow driving around in a golf cart that can shuttle you back up, for those with problem joints.

Beach is nice, but need to pay for parking. There is free parking on PCH, but then that's a longer walk. There are lots of other nearby beaches with free parking in Dana Point.

Each beach is different. So much depends on wind, tide, and your own likes and dislikes and why you visit the beach. We found Salt Creek to be our favorite beach of the six we visited. We went from 9 to 11 am. Played in the surf, walked in the sand. My ten year old found the waves a bit rough, but we did not stop having fun. Lots of parking for a fee ($1 per hour), but a steep hill to and from the beach to the car.

We dined at the nearby Ritz and then walked back to Monarch Bay. This area was a perfect stop for us. I can imagine outdoor picnics here when it is warmer/ more daylight.

Share one of the most beautiful beaches in Southern California with the clients of the Ritz-Carlton, and the Multi-Million Dollar Monarch Bay Homes for merely the price of parking at the beach lot at the top of the path. Lovely sand, wide beach, lots of room for everyone, and, if you are adventurous, terrific snorkeling at the north end of the beach!

One of our favorite beaches in the area. Cheap abundant parking (cheap). But e large grassy hill above beach with great view. Concessions and restrooms by beach. Not overcrowded. Only downside is steep long paved access road down to beach but can pay $1 to get ride back to top.

This is a great beach for the entire family in a beautiful part of Orange County. There are designated sections for both surfing and boogie boarding/swimming with lifeguard stations during the summer and bathrooms. If you get hungry, there is a snack shack with a great variety of food, and delicious smoothies. The beautiful Ritz Carlton Hotel overlooks this beach. Our family likes to take walks on this beach throughout the year and ride our bikes down to this beach on the trails. As you walk the beach past the Ritz Carlton you can "touch the point of Dana Point" which is the large rock/cliff formation at the one end of the beach. You can see the tiny "sea creatures" along this area. It is never a dull day at this beach, always beautiful and always fun. There is also a grassy hill area where people like to have picnics and watch the awesome sunsets. It reminds me why I live in California!

My husband and I visited this beach on a Sunday afternoon and it was perfect! This is a gorgeous location - beautiful water and waves, scenery and some interesting tide pools. Lots of families enjoying swimming, surfing and lounging. Many wildly extravagant houses on the bluffs overlooking the water made for fun dreaming as we enjoyed the water as we walked. There's also a beautiful grassy picnic and play area with pavilions on the walk to the beach. The only negative is the steep walk from the beach back to the parking lot, but don't let that keep you away from this gorgeous area!

So much to see, so much to walk ! Love this beach for the wonderful paths for walking. A great view of the Pacific Ocean great for surfing and boogie boarding. A MUST SEE

We live only blocks away so maybe I'm biased but this is one of my top 3 fave beaches in the area! One can hang out on the sand or in the water. OR, one can toss a blanket onto the large grassy area above the beach to just have an awesome picnic. For those who don't want to bring their own food, the wonderful dining option of the Ritz Carlton Resort are steps away.

We went on a day that seemed busier than the norm. It took about 30 minutes to find parking. Locals said that it is never that busy, so there must have been some special event. Be prepared to walk about 5-10 minutes down a steep hill to get to the water. Once you get there you will find perfection. The water and sand was clean, and there were a lot of surfers to watch. The waves were perfect!

Second time to the this beach. It’s a nice relaxing beach. Not over crowded. Waves were middle of the road on our visit. Not too high not small.

Plain and simple this beach is great. There is so much going on at any time of day. Sunsets were spectacular, especially when watching from the Ritz. Be sure to walk from one end the the other, the homes are beautiful.

Beautiful wide stretch of beach. Lots of surfing, families and couples enjoying the beautiful beach. Lovely place to spend the day.

Clean beach. Nice sunset. Great for walks. Had a lifeguard nearby when we visited. Family friendly. Watch small children. Certain areas have stronger currents than expected.

My niece was married there on May 27, and it was an amazing wedding! Beautiful venue, excellent view and fantastic company. What an awesome day!!!

We loved this beach! Beautiful walk down, long but beautiful. Be sure to have comfy shoes on. The beach is immaculately clean as we found all the Laguna area beaches to be.

Wanted to go on a beach walk and chose Salt Creek Beach. Parking is $1 per hour, buy a ticket and put on the dash because they will write you a ticket. Nice view from the top, plenty of room for picnics. Once at the bottom the beach is clearly marked for swimmers and surfers. Steep incline so be prepared to walk uphill at the end of the day.

There is a great walking trail here that connects all the way to the harbor on the other side of the point. Some tough stairs make for an excellent conditioning workout. There's also an elevator to take up/down at the Strand Beach which connects when there is low tide, and you want to make a family day at the beach. The views go to Catalina Island, with whales and dolphins and surfers to watch. It's easy to get to from the Pacific Coast Highway, or park at the Harbor and walk through the Headlands Park to get there. It's a great walk to enjoy the beauty of the ocean and lovely beaches.

We stay every year to celebrate New Years at the Monarch Beach Resort (formerly St. Regis) and love to take long walk in the beach for our toddler and can walk back up via trail to the hotel. You can walk to the bay club beach restaurant as well. Very relaxing.

TIP: they have a public parking lot that tends to get packed in summer time so look out for the trolley that runs daily.

When I lived here in the 90's, it was a little-known beach and a lovely place to walk. It was a steep walk down which probably kept it relatively un-populated. Now, between the parking lot and the beach, multi-million dollar homes have gone up and interfere with the original wildness of the area. Also a funicular was built to allow less mobile folks a chance at the beach. A positive aspect is that a "boardwalk" of sorts was built just below the homes, making for a good running trail. I would have given this 5 stars in the 90's but the beach is now not the attraction for me that it was then.

We visited on a Monday. When we arrived (around 10:30-11:00) people were enjoying the beach but it wasn’t too crowded.

The beach and the nearby park were both clean and beautiful.

There is ample parking (it costs $). It’s a bit of a walk from the parking lot to the beach. Going to the beach wasn’t bad (downhill). Going back up the hill took some time. I wouldn’t recommend walking to the beach if you or anyone in your party has mobility issues.

When we left around 3:30 the beach was much more crowded.

Very beautiful. Would visit again.

There's no charge for parking, Bathrooms are very clean. Not too crowded like Newport or Laguna Beach.

Beautiful Beach for surfing and bodyboarding, also just to take a swim, ir has some barbecues and a little park with some benches in the grass

Looking for a gorgeous west coast sunset!! Went an hour before sunset and seems the locals gather with their blankets, chairs and picnics to view the gorgeous sunset. We have been coming to Dana Point for 10 years and sad no one told us about this gorgeous stop !! It’s a must do.

perfect place for family. i sometimes visit there after work just going for the sunset. i think its just chilling and feel blessed to have a nice beach nearby

This is a wonderful long stretch of very clean California beach surrounded by all that is wonderful in Dana Point. Great walking and swimming, as well as surfing.

We visited Salt Creek Beach during our stay in Dana Point. Spotless little stretch of beach with tons of lifeguards. Heavy waves so it was tough with little ones but had a great day on the beach nonetheless.

Expansive and well maintained beach park with facilities. A favorite for local surfers. We saw dolphins, sea lions and very happy characters of all shapes and sizes during our visit. Some impressive high end homes surround it.

This is a very clean, beautiful beach. Check out the magnificent
multi-million dollar mansions on the hills above the ocean. Watch
the Surfers, go for a long stroll, dig your toes into the sand and
chill.

Long walk down a big hill to get to the beach. There is a building with food and restrooms down by the beach. Great place to watch surfers too!

Great beach for surfing and boogie boarding. Beach is perfect for sunbathing and there is a concession stand and shower to wash off the sand.

What a great place to catch a sunset! You can park (for free) just above the beach and the view is great. We like to walk up and down the sidewalk right above the beach. Part of the year, you can take an elevator to the sand and back. There are also numerous steps to access the sand, but unless you are in good shape, the steps coming back up are a killer.

Beautiful beach and nice swimming. Parking is an easy walk to the beach. This is a long wide beach with white sand. Not known as a "surfers" beach butt occasionally tere are good waves.

Salt Creek, before known as Smugglers Cove during Prohibition, is a wonderful beach alongside The Ritz Carlton on the left and the Monarch Beach Club on the right.
If you go to local surf shops that sell large wall posters, you will see one with a perfect "left" wave with a Lifeguard tower. That is on the point at Salt creek years ago. That was my lifeguard tower often in High School. San Clemente had the Lifeguard contract back then and guys would vie to lifeguard there. Why? Get there early and surf, then "work" for $3.65 cents an hour, then surf until dark.

Back then there was only bushes and weeds all along the Coast and not buildings of any sort.
Before the Ritz built on the bluff, the property was a place were a family raised sheep. When I came to Lifeguard, I drove on a dirt road to a little bluffside hut where an old sheep guy spent alot of time watching his sheep. This was only maybe 25 yards off the PCH.
He would have a stick with a clothes pin nailed to the end where we all had to put a dollar in the clothes pin to be able to go down to the beach.
Today, there is a beautiful grassy area where you can watch everything. Some of us locals still like to drink wine from a paper cup siting on the grass or from your beach chair at sunset and enjoy the ambiance and scenery. When the surf is big, the place can be packed with all types of people watching.

Still great family beach area with expensive metered parking.
Enjoy !

We spent three days on this beach and each day was just perfect! the sand is soft, and the beach is clean. The water was a bit chilly, but that's to be expected.

easy parking and only $1/hour. the walk to the beach is downhill; remember that when you leave. the beach is 1/2 surf area/ 1/2 swim, but it got pretty rough in the swim area and the riptide was ever present. it was nice, but it got very crowded.

One of the best beaches in South Orange County. Do not forget to pay for parking and save some energy or $1.00 during summer for the hike back up the hill. But once you are on the beach, the views and waves are worth all the hassle of getting down there.

Wonderful beach venue, a calm cove, close-by parking, clean bathroom facilities. Excellent location for a day at the beach.

Very popular beach for weddings and family days, as well as surfing. Literally 40-50 or more surfers here every day we were here.

This beach is located adjacent to the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Monarch Beach. They could not have picked a better location. Parking is easy (metered) but Handicap parking is available. Try to park close to the underpass where you walk towards a beautiful park with benches and picnic tables. The pathways wind down to the sea past Multi million dollar homes. You can walk a dog on leash , let the kids loose or just wander and enjoy the scenery. If you wish to walk on the sand you may ; check the tide charts. Surfers populate the waters so it brings a local charm . You can always wander to the Hotel for cocktails . Thursday's are Yappy Hour for you and your pet. Great way to meet and mingle people and pooches. What ever way you decide it's not your ordinary beach surrounded by the California Riviera lifestyle. Sea terrace park is across the Highway where in the summer Musical concerts and Food Festivals are common.

This beach has it all, Surfing all day, good body boarding and swimming. Showers, well maintained rest rooms, and a decent beach cafe. A super place to picnic and watch the sunset.

Parking can be a challenge, but the beach isj great, and there are some great walking paths and butterflies all over the place!

I have traveled all over the world surfing, and been to beaches all over the globe. For Southern California there is no other place with such exquisite clean water color. The Dana Point Headlands are a magical place with some of the finest waves for surfing in all California.

Its a long walk down and up the hill but the beach is so worth it. Perfect sand - Perfect Surf - Perfect Boogie Boarding. The Ritz overlooks it. There is a big grassy area too - perfect for sunset. Would have loved somewhere to wash off though....other than that - PERFECT!

Easy to access thanks to the large parking lot on PCH. The terrain is hilly enough to make the scenery gorgeous but not so demanding to make it difficult. The main paths are paved unless you want to get to the beach of course. Worth a stop!!

very clean beach, good for boogie boarding.it is a small beach but good for kids. Clean bath rooms. We went there early morning to hold the place for our group and after few hours we were there we were asked to move further, so they can allocate the space for some group competition. It would have been nice they could have posted the sign in advance, so we could have gone and got another better place.

My favorite beach here! Great place to get your walk in & put those feet in the water! Yes water is cold at first, but so good for your soul & body to get back in touch with nature. Ladies, feel safe walking alone on this beach!

This stretch of beach on the Pacific is so beautiful. It is a public beach area but very well maintained. It's also very wide so you don't really feel the people around you. It's the perfect way to spend an afternoon.

This beach is great for watching surfers or just hanging with the kids. The walk to the beach is very long, downhill on the way there and a brutal up hill walk so think ahead before taking too much stuff with you. The grassy area leading down is great to hang out on and read/play/enjoy the view.

Parking is ample at lovely Salt Creek Beach, and if you are staying at the Ritz-Carlton, they offer a complimentary shuttle to the sand. If not, you can walk down to the beach and take a shuttle back up to the public parking area for one dollar per person. It is a clean, safe, and relaxing beach and we truly enjoyed ourselves here over the weekend.

I absolutely must not give this beach 5 stars. If I do it might become overcrowded and the way it is now is perfect! I love this beach and prefer it remain as is, not a tourist trap!

Walked down from the carpark, average beach and swimming. Spoilt by Aussie beaches I guess. Ok for a surfer and better scenically than a lot of Cal beaches but nothing special.

There is a fee for parking, but the lot is large with easy access to the park and beach. It is a wonderful place to see the sunset.

Excellent!

The beach also has a large grass are perfect for a picnic in case you wanted to avoid getting sand in your food. Parking is very easy and everyone seemed very kind.

We visited on a Tuesday and it was not crowded at all. Snacks avaliable on the beach, parking only $1 per hour. Nice sand and surf, great for families.

One of my favorite little gems in this over crowded part of Cali. Rarely has there been big crowds.
The beach is beautiful, clean bathrooms, food shack, a shuttle ($1.00) for getting you up the steep hill, plenty of parking - yes you pay.
I love to do my 45 minute power walk here. Just beautiful.

Stopped on way through. Parking is at top of hill. Long walk to beach. Lots of grass to sit if you don’t want to walk to beach. Basketball court and cover for picnic. Restrooms next to beach, clean. Lots of surfers on day we went. Clean beach can walk a long distance if you are up to it.

This is a clean beach with the largest greenspace that I've seen. Very few are on the green and beach on a normal, non summer touristy day. My kids just run the green for a full hour. I like to just sit and watch them run because the ocean view is amazing from anywhere on the green.

If you are with a handicapped person, I would do the wheel chair rather than the walker. The walk to the beach from the parking lot is LONG. There is a basketball court and a nice picnic area right before the sand (with bbq pits). I wonder if the Ritz will allow you on the golf cart that drives its guests down. I'm sure that if you ask, they will let you on if you are visibly handicapped.

As for kids, less is more. There are a few trees for shade. It's just such a long walk with kids and a triple handful of beach things.

Enjoy a warm summers day by the beach. Read a book, enjoy a swim in the ocean and relax on the sand. It's doesn't get any better that this location. There is a great walking trail along the coast.

Salt Creek Beach is a very scenic place to do what you want. Surf, walk, picnic, exercise, socialize or just chill and enjoy the gorgeous scenery. Parking is close by for easy access. One of the most scenic spots along the Orange Coast.

Although we were there in the winter, the die hard surfers never give up! this area was still teaming with surfers eager to catch the big one, and there was plenty of action to watch, great for phtographers looking for that great surfing shot. The beach was clean and well patrolled, I dont forsee any issues in having a n enjoyable time here The California coast is littered with great beaches, this is one of the smaller ones, but very enjoyable for all

This beach is a little more hidden than most, probably more for locals and the guests staying at the Ritz than for random tourists. Which is exactly what makes it quaint. There is a lovely trail, along the beach and tons of surfers and families playing in the water. Loved it.

I like his beach because you can picnic in the park or go on a walk or bike ride. They had a basketball court and picnic tables for use. This is a very clean park with nice views of the coastline and Ritz Carlton.

Surfers, sand, lovely, park available, showers, elevator and stairs, walking distance to my hotel. Thre is nothing I dislike about this beach area.

While the current is a bit strong along this sandy beach, there is plenty of room for everyone and every need. Ample parking at the top of the hillside is $1/hr and there is a free shuttle to and fro. The massive green area allows you a space to escape while being close to the surf. Picnic areas dot the green, lawn hillside and the walking trail going in both directions along the shore provides access to even more adventure. The outdoor shower rounds out amenities and makes this location one of my favorites in the area.

We wanted our kids to try boogie boarding. We rented wet suits and boards. We tried Doheny beach but it was so rocky in the water that my daughter's feet got a few cuts. Salt Creek Beach was suggested by our hotel staff. We drove there and the sand was soft, the water had a gradual incline, and the waves were perfect. It's clean and beautiful. Great beach for families.

The beach is beautiful, the sand is soft, the parking is cheap, and the waves are fun. You have to walk down a pretty long hill, but that just keeps it real. It's the best in the spring and fall. Enjoy!

It's a beautiful beach, extremely well serviced toilets, large car park up the hill (pay to stay).
Not much else to add, other than it's a quiet beach, so if noisy bustle is your thing it's not for you.
As a wedding venue, hard to fault

We have visited Dana Point several times before but never visited this area before. A major mistake on our part. The Strand Vista Park ( which also has sign Salt Creek Beach Park at car park!) is a beautiful location with extensive free parking, toilets, seats and fantastic views across Pacific. The steps down to the beach are numerous but there is also a funicular in high season and weekends. Also very safe and well maintained with seating at appropriate times if you need a rest but great workout if desired! The beach is beautiful with showers, toilets and picnic areas. You can then choose to walk south and do bluff trail to Dana Point harbour or north to Salt Creek Beach towards Monarch golf course- both easy with public trails with good surfaces

i go here often, as I live in South OC , This summer it was Easy to find and access with parking right in front of the beach. its a locals favorite. You wont see as many people coming from far away drives to visit here...making it good for Locals and for those visiting the South County area. if you are south of Laguna and around the Laguna Niguel, Dana point area but want to miss the crowds at Dohenny and San Clemente...hit the beach at Salt Creek , right on PCH , the beach flows much bigger than what you see from the road and the cliffs and sand make a great back drop. one of my Local favorites!

I’m local here & this is my favorite stay cation spot. Just can’t get enough of this beautiful long stretch of beach, waves & sunsets.

This is an awesome beach. The surf/boogie boarding is awesome! There are bathrooms, showers, and a snack shack. The sand is nice and soft(not coarse). There is a fair amount of sea weed in the water, so if you get brushed in the water, that's probably what it is. The water is super clear too! I was in shoulder deep water and could see my feet. There's a lot of families on the beach. Usually, my family heads to the beach around 6AM and arrives around 7AM and parking isn't a problem. The parking is cheap.

BEWARE OF THE MASSIVE HILL YOU HAVE TO WALK DOWN/UP. It's not that bad. But pack lightly.

Overall, an awesome beach!

Worth your time to visit!

Lived on this beach for 30 years and recently moved away. The only regret to relocating was leaving this beach, especially September through December when the tourists and students leave. The walk from cove to cove (Hedlands north) is a mile and a half or three miles round trip all on soft sand with a gradual decline into the surf allowing for a walk in the water, with varying surf breaks, surf fishing, dolphin sightings, views of Catalina and San Clemente Islands, coastal bluffs, and the ability to get lost in nature.

My first time here and I was not disappointed! My husband and I are always in for a couple of hours during the day to take off and find fun destinations that are 40 mins. to an hour away from where we live. Today we drove to Salt Creek Beach Bluff Park.
The park is great and you can take your dog if on a leash. Peaceful park and incredible views of the ocean. So you can picnic in the park or walk down to the beach and hang at the beach. The best of both worlds.

This is a small beach area, maybe a one mile walk back and forth and that is why we liked it. It was right next to the Ritz property, just beautiful. There were lots of surfers to watch and it was nice to walk barefoot on the beach and listen to the crash of the waves. There is a park space nearby or a steep walk up the hill for a Ritz meal. Great for viewing a sunset.

Fun place to do lots of things. Been around with local for 100 years literally. Good parking but metered.
If you enjoy watching surfing, it can be epic on big days.
I used to Lifeguard it in High School.

Easy parking, convenient walk down the hill and there is a beach shuttle for a buck if you do not feel like walking back up the hill with friendly drivers who bring you to your car. There is a wonderful walkway and the beach is just fabulous, a must visit!

Been coming here for the past 17 years and still has been the best experience and cleanest for our Families and Friends.

The beach was really dirty with trash left behind by visitors, but mostly saturated with piles of seaweed that were covered in swarms of flies. Apparently, unlike most east coast beached, California beaches are not cleaned at night by the vehicles with the large forks/screens that pick up trash, horseshoe crabs and other debris. Too bad because Salt Creek could be a beautiful location. This was our second visit and it was the same both times.

We had breakfast at a hotel overlooking this beach and were so intrigued we decided to take a walk to the beach. This beach has fine sand which is a bit darker than many other beaches I've been to. It's fine for walking on and soft to the touch, perfect for sunning or beach volleyball, both of which were happening during our visit. The ocean break was 6-8 feet on the day we visited, great for the many surfers who were there - a bit rough for swimming or kids playing in the break. Although there were lifeguard stations, they weren't manned - I assume that this is off season. We'd recommend this beach if you're in shape or can take some time to get there as the pathways which access the beach are either long, steep or sometimes both. There are public bathrooms at the beach level which make a longer stay possible. I did not see food sources nearby although I didn't look for them.

This is a stunning beach spot with a large grass area for a picnic event overlooking the beach, then a cool walkway going down to the beach itself. Very picturesque with cliffs near the sides. They have refreshment places up top as well.

Dana Pont is a very nice area and this beach was very unexpected. We actually came here originally to get lunch today. A lucky find.

This is a very cool beach. If you could pick one beach with the California attitude, this could be the one. It has it all including a very cool beach with cliffs and surf all day. A beautiful spot. Great to surf, go to the beach or just enjoy the scenery. Surfers hang out until dark.

We were driving around Dana Point and happened upon this beach. Great for boogie boarding, very clean and not too crowded. There’s a bit of a walk down to the beach but so picturesque!

We loved this beach! Great to explore and relax! Cannot wait to return! It is a hike to get down to it, but worth it.

Upon recommendation, went to the parking lot, off Selva Road, for this beach, to watch the sun go down. Excellent choice. Highly recommend this location. Plenty of parking with restrooms if needed.

one side (public side) has great surfing and people watching. Swimming a littler further down. Keep going and you will get to a very quiet part of the beach. worth the walk!

Been going here for 40 years and still a beautiful experience. Perfect sand! Good waves and usually not terribly crowded. Great for families. Easy to get to. Stairs or a gondola if walking a problem.

This area is beautiful. The grounds leading to the beach are lush. It's a good hike to get to the beach, but well worth it.

Even if not swimming (April has some cold water temps), walking the paths around the golf course and through the open space is the best way to spend an afternoon. No particularly steep grades along these paved/asphalt paths make for easy biking/walking. This beach and path lies at the base of upscale Ritz Carlton Resort.

A parking lot out front (upper street level) fills up quickly so consider going by way of Laguna Beach's free trolley, if possible. The path continues under the tunnel and extends over to Sea Terrace Park (which is also another site for the Laguna Shuttle stop). Normally, we get on and off the trolley right in front of the path down to the beach.

Between this park/beach and Laguna Beach's Main Beach, there is also a stop for the Aliso Beach, which is a pretty sweet beach with lots of activity.

The is wide open space for great beach walks. Tides are from 2 to 3 feet and don't interfere with your walks. Watch surfer and people to your heart's delight. There are no dogs allowed so you don't have to watch were you step. Kids are OK but beware of the surf.

You'll find this beach between South Laguna and San Juan Capistrano, just north of the Dana Point harbor area. Best parking is above adjacent to the headlands. This beach is frequented by locals and those who are hiking the headlands trail. Because it bumps up against Dana Point, it doesn't have the sweeping views you might expect from a California westward facing beach.

Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point is a fabulous place to spend the day. There are 3 reasons why I am a fan.

First, there is plenty of affordable parking nearby.

Second, there is a nice grassy area to set up your chairs, other equipment, and simply chillax.

Third, it's the beach!! No explanations needed.

Mostly families but a very good place if u don't mind the kids playing. Don't want to sit in sand but still want to watch the waves no problem there are rocks at one end of the beach.

Walking down the hill, not so bad. Walking back up ....a workout! You could always pay for a ride up the hill on their golf cart 😉

Parking above and easy downhill walk to a grassy area with concrete tables, walking path, and benches. Beach is 50 or steps below. Nice sand, clean (on the day we visited), some tide pools on one side. Can walk to beach area next door in 5 minutes, which had almost no people.

Nice picnic and a few hours at the beach.

The perfect place to bring our family. We enjoyed a few mornings and afternoons here. Quiet in the winter.
Gorgeous and formidable waves.

Wonderful time watching surfers tackling the impressive waves. Loved the soft sand (and I'm Florida Seaside picky!). Clean, good crowd, great views.

My husband and I enjoyed a walk on the beach. There were runners, people meditating and surfing, but not busy! Truly something for everyone!

It’s another gorgeous day at Salt Creek Beach. Even though school has started for many kids, there are still lots of people at the beach. The sand, water and view are incredible. We ate at Zack’s Shack and the food was very good. I highly recommend Salt Creek Beach. Steve Concialdi

This beach has convenient public parking near the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel. The beach is lovely, and you can stop at the hotel for something (luxurious) to eat or drink, even if you're not staying there.

Great place to watch surfers. Beautiful, clean beach. Nice park just a bit up the hill from the beach.

The beach is best in the morning when the wind tends to be calm, by the afternoon the winds usually pick up and you will see umbrellas take off. The hill to get to the beach can be daunting after a full day at the beach.
There are restrooms and a snack bar at the bottom of the hill. There is also a great grassy hill to picnic on. Beautiful views day and night.

I’ve been going here since the 50’s when nothing was here but a beautiful beach and a single lane dirt road going down to the beach where you could park. The dirt road was now the road/walking path between the Ritz Carlton and the grass area. Love it here.

Great location for enjoying the beach. Metered parking with a short walk, downhill to the beach, uphill back. May not be desirable walk if one have physical problems. Back from the beach area is a public park with picnick tables for eating and Catalina sunset views.

Love, love this beach. Great trails for bike riding or walking. Good surf. Bathrooms. Snack bar in summer. Adjacent to Ritz Carlton.
Awesome spot to watch the sunset. Bring a blanket and seat in grass overlooking the ocean. Cofee shop and cafes very close.

Worth the hike, you might want to consider the $1 ride uphill though. Nicely kept, all ages, great surfing 🏄

One of the best beaches in SoCal. Great for running, sitting on the grass and watching the sunset, and surfing.

Nice and clean - great waves and well-maintained. Fun to watch all of the surfers and pass the day. Restrooms are decent (I've seen so much worse) and the food shack offers a lot

Salt Creek Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the OC.
It is a healthy hike down the hill to the beach, but worth it.
The waves are usually big and it is fun to watch the experienced surfers and swimmers in the water.

Or all three! We had an afternoon before a rehearsal dinner and wanted to get some beach time in on our trip to Southern Cal. Some beaches were described as rocky. Not Salt Creek. The swells weren’t very big that day. Big enough for surfing or boogi board but small enough for a competent swimmer to enjoy. No weed either. The next day we went to Laguna Beach. It was similar but with lots of bits of seaweed.

Parking here was easy this day. A nice size lot and $1 / hour.

Really did not k wow hat to expect and we were very happy. What a great menu and great outdoor sitting area. Great scene and ambiance. Had an excellent meal and nice sitting and having a few cocktails.

Mile Long Beach, lots of surfers. nice beach,restrooms and a snack bar.Nice walk down to the rocks for a bit of exploring.Pleanty of parking available.

Loved this beach. Plenty of Parking. Large Grass area for the kids to run and play. Plus, a gorgeous beach, barbeque. Wish it was the beach across from our hotel, however, it was only a 15-minute drive but worth it!

The views are beautiful! The beach is clean. There is a longer walk down to the beach from where you park, but that was ok for us. There wasn't a lot of beach area because the water was pretty high so that made it a little more crowded. There was a lot of seaweed in the water which didn't make it enjoyable for the kids to boogie board. That's the reason for my rating.

Great beach is a must visit!! Clean, beautiful, clear water! So glad a Laguna local told me to go, I would have never known about it otherwise. Breathtaking views and beautiful park land. My kids loved it! The parking is cheap $1 per hour. The only slight inconvenience is the steep hill to get to the beach, but well worth it!! Great access to shower and there's even food and drinks for sale.

For us, every and any trip we take to Laguna Beach always includes us taking the "Catch the Wave" free PCH bus service to this wonderful park. From here, we take the long and pleasant walk on the paths along the golf course. The open space is so relaxing and the stops to admire the coastine from up above are just what the doctor ordered: serenity and beauty are a hard duo to beat.

People watching doesn't get any better than it does here and we so enjoy watching family time in all of its manifestations. The grounds are skillfully maintained and it shows.

The salt Creek Beach was a fabulous find. We encountered a variety of surfers and beach goers of all ages. The beach is right off Pacific Coast Highway and has plenty of parking. The only real problem I think is accessing the beach from the parking lot. The walk down to the beach isn't so bad since it's down hill however upon ones return the steep incline may be difficult for some. A beautiful place to experience and plenty of spots for taking great photos.

Pretty beach. Not that crowded. Situated right below the Ritz Carlton, which is nice. You can easily relax, surf, paddle board, play basketball. Alot of green space adjacent to it as well. Very pleasant.

Too cold to swim at this time of the year but lots of surfers were out. Great sandy hard packed beach to walk and walk

love this beach when it's not the middle of summer, way too crowded then. The burger shack always has pretty awesome food.

this is one of my favorite spots. the fact that you can surf and bodyboard there is great. this a local spot on the surf side but be nice and dont hog all of the waves and you will be treated with respect.

Salt Creek beach worked ideally for kids who wanted to do activities like boogieboarding as there were some waves throughout our beach day. Smaller kids enjoyed playing in the silky sand and splashing in the water. Amazing views, great beach!

We always have a wonderful time when we come down to Salt Creek Beach. The beach park area has lots of grass and is dog friendly. It a beautiful place to eat & watch the sunset. Dog owners please pick up after your pets. Highly recommend. Steve Concialdi

Great beach for family fun and a relaxing afternoon. There is a basketball court, snack bar, restrooms and grassy hills for those who do not want to ly in the sand.Paid parking and then you walk down a long hill.

The smalll shore break is no problem for swimming and kids wading in the water but if you are there early in the morning or late afternoon to test the waves on your short board, then you better be very good, have thick skin and have the tolerance to be called out. Just saying!

No long boarders. Go to boneyards in Doheny for that. Soft easy and small waves

Great for swimming, walking, exercise, whatever works, get a yearly parking pass and visit often.
Now a word of caution, the hill on the way down is easy, not so much on the way back up to your car!!
The park is great for picnics, dogs or just laying back and chilling.

Huge beach. Great waves for boogie bard surfing. Enough room for the whole family to have fun! Lots of locals enjoying the beach. We saw a group of surfers both in the morning and the evening catching some good waves. Definitely need a wet suit if you you want to surf, as the water is on the cooler side. We were there on a really warm sunny day so the water felt great to cool off. Be careful with the little ones, the waves can knock you down. Will be back on our next visit.

this is what a California beach is supposed to be! nice sand, nice surf, low-key atmosphere. be sure to walk the bluff-trail nearby to get some exercise and enjoy a beautiful scenic view.

We did some boogie boarding on this fantastic beach. It was good for beginners and small children, however we still held hands with the kids because there were rip currents. Ideal southern California beach. Amazing sunsets.

Of all the beautiful beaches I’ve seen, this is one of the most memorable. It is wide and sandy and huge. Lots of room to explore. Parking is good. People watching very good. All happy to be there. A favorite with surfing crowd. Stay all day. There’s facilities nearby. Good times.

One of the best, most accessible surfing beaches in South OC. Plenty of parking and a nice place to take a walk.

Salt Creek beach parking lot is usually full in summer.
You can go down under the bridge to the beach, or up under PCH to Sea Terrace park.
There is another beach with a free parking lot, but I won't tell you about it ;)
Toilets and life guards are there, and a food shack. You can go for an expensive lunch/dinner into Ritz Carlton (may use their valet parking then)
There are a couple of picnic tables with grills, and a toilet, north along the beach (towards Monarh Bay)

The day was perfect with a little overcast. Water was perfect with lovely waves. We thought it would be busy but it was delightful. My Grandson loved every minute and my son dove under the waves and felt better than ever.

This is my favorite place to surf in Orange County. It is crowded but if you are a good surfer, you will have fun. Check it out.

Nice beach near the grand Ritz Carlton. Bathroom and shower facilities are nice. Very popular surfer beach. There was a lot of seaweed in the ocean when I was there, which seemed to be common for all the LA beaches I went to.

What a great little beach, nice surf, clean sand, easy parking.... A bloody big hill to get back to the car, but well worth the effort.

My favorite beach at all time. Clean fine white sand with medium wave. It is adjacent to big grass lawn and million dollar houses. It is just beautiful here. Parking was limited.

The view in park setting with walkway to the golf area, back to Ritz is incredible. This is without a crowd and lingering shoppers compared to Laguna Beach. Plenty parking available. The surrounding homes are exceptional.

We love to come to this beach when the weather gets warmer. We always make sure to arrive at the parking lot before 10 am to get a good spot. A little downhill walk on a paved path gets you to the park and beach area. The park has amazing postcard picture perfect ocean views from above and it is just breathtaking to enjoy. We always walk to the beach area to the end of the big rocks area almost a mile from the bottom of the path. Sunbathing and watching the crashing waves are best if you find the spot without the crowds. Such relaxing way to spend the whole morning or afternoon on this great beach. Must visit! 

The water was beautiful, and it wasn't crowded. Might have had something to do with it being a Thursday.
They have parking available for $1 per hour.

First time dining at this restaurant, ordered the Tuna tower, looked good but way too much soy(?) sauce and the tuna itself looked weird and the texture was not what I was used to. Tried the roasted brussel sprouts but they had to many ham chunks in it. Nice atmosphere and the band was good. Probably try again but maybe one of the mains.
My scale gives it a 6.5 out of 10

I was married at this beach. Gorgeous, stunning views. They have newly renovated bathrooms. They do have major surfing competitions at this beach so sometimes access maybe difficult. You do have to pay to park at this beach.

This is a wonderful beach. The view is amazing with dolphins often seen there. Only downside is the steep downhill entrance

OK - Laguna Beach has many beaches for sure. Thus far in my experience, this is the nicest and most scenic if you want to spend the good part of the day just hanging at the beach. Nice grass area, nice beach and very long, walking he beach is great, and yeah, there are a lot of surfers there, and the waves are great. If your bringing a lot of stuff with you, note, it is a ways to the beach (vertical more than length). I'm told at times there are $1 shuttles to the beach and back from the huge parking lot above. Which is another great thing you don't have to worry about - there is a huge parking lot right off Hwy 1. It costs $1 per hour though. Any kind of cash or credit cards work! Really, this is a no headache fabulous beach with easy parking.
Note - if you want to hike to Dana Point (and that's a great area too) - you really can not pass the headlands area in between the two areas without going up the hill, then back down again. At the end of Salt Creek Beach , you will note the switch backs to your left that take you up and over to Dana Point.
Note - this .gpx track takes you up for a drink at the Ritz Carlton Hotel (swank city) to an outside patio overlooking the ocean, then through the hotel to your parking lot.

You will need to be able to walk up and down a lot of stairs. We love this beach spot for the view and my husband for the surfing.

What a great spot for views, swimming, and surfing. There's an outdoor shower, a small fast-food restaurant during daylight hours, and public bathrooms.

A nice little beach tucked away. There is a nice park behind the Ritz Carlton with picnic benches, and a nice path to take a leisurely stroll overlooking the beach.

great spot to go to the beach with easy parking. gota walk down the hill but no big deal. Nice grass area above the beach between and parking lot.

Beautiful spot to watch sunset, go for a walk on the beach, watch the surfers and surf yourself.

Parking lot available in 2 min walk

Just went to this area for the first time. Great beach with Mild to ruff surf, but great for a strong swimmer. You can snorkel, boogie board or grab some great waves.

This is one of my favorite beaches ...as a local get there early , to get some surf and sand before the tourists arrive

Awesome beach with great waves. There was quite a bit of seaweed when I was there in June. Lifeguards on duty.

I love this beach. Get ready for exercise. It takes a lot of energy to get back up to your car after a long day at the beach. There is a great pathway for walking and beautiful views of the ocean, surfers, seals and homes. One of the best beaches for surfing.

Just down the hill from the Ritz, this place is beautiful, and has an incredible large, grassy park in terraces leading down to the beach. There are clean bathrooms in a couple locations. Dogs are not allowed on the sand, but are welcome in the park and on the walkway at the edge of the beach. Some nice tidepools over to the left among the rocks.

The ribs are so delicious; the fall off the bone into a sauce that is awesome.
Servier Matthew, was terrific.

Salt Creek Beach is a beautiful/scenic stretch of the CA coastline. There are a lot of steps (or a 'lift') that take you down to the sand. There are designated areas for surfers and swimmers. Lifeguards are there of course and a blackboard telling you everything you need to know. I found the waves to be quite decent, breaking not too far off shore! Big car park up the top and the best part, it's NOT A CROWDED BEACH!!!! :)

Gorgeous views and setting, Great waves. You need to park at the top of the hill and hike down to the beach. The hill is fairly steep going down to the beach, coming up its even steeper. :-) There is a grassy area with pavilion and park benches above the beach, great place to have a picnic. There is a full court basketball court next to these pavillions.

Have Fun!!

This is amazing not only because of the beautiful Pacific Ocean, but everything around the beach. You'll see some of the most beautiful homes on south Orange County and acres of habitat. Wonderful 2 1.2 mile walk, great exercise. Beach isn't big wide and sandy, but very nice.

large parking lot off PCH on the North end of Dana Point. Ritz Carlton over looks the beach if you want to dress up a bit for meals or drinks. A little walk down hill to the beach. Bring your beach chairs, umbrella and beach towels. Carry a cooler of drinks and food for a long pleasant stay. Watch or join the surfers up and down the shore. Great family place, but high school and or teens use the beach a lot. Bring your sand games and throw a frisbee or book and relax. Life guards on duty.

Salt Creek Beach Park is a dreamy venue located adjacent to "The Ritz Carlton" Laguna Niguel in the City of Dana Point. This expansive white sand beach is beneath the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel--- sitting prominently on a cliff---as it if were a glittering crown turning to burnt orange in the tangerine light.

The park is dog friendly, no dogs are allowed on the beach. Salt Creek Beach Park is "vista rich” grass park with picnic tables and paved walking paths going in all directions. Safety is insured as OC Lifeguards are active at the SC4 tower and do patrol on the beach.

Located right off of PCH. Salt Creek Beach Park is ideal for photography, picnics and long walks on the beach with friends and family. Hungry? You may wish to sample five-star cuisine at Raya or 180 Blu at "The Ritz Carlton." Must visit, experience the waves and luxuriate.

We visited because it was advertised as having great tide pools. Not so much! Though it was a beautiful beach, at low tide the pools had very little to observe compared to other beaches,

It's always enjoyable to spend time relaxing on the beach and watching the ocean. The kids enjoyed building sand castles and running in and out of the water. I enjoyed running in and out of the water!

We went here twice as visitors to the area. The beach is also accessible not only to public but to The Ritz-Carlton and I am sure other nearby hotels. Large dedicated areas to surf and another for swimmers. Both days we were there, it was a yellow flag day. Waves were awesome when we went in the late afternoon. We unfortunately had our 10-year old slammed by a wave and hit a rock cutting his chin, but the lifeguards were right there to help and get him bandaged up so we could get him to the hospital for stitches. Even though he is experienced at bodyboarding, accidents can happen and knowing there are lifeguards there is a great comfort. Parking is close by and pay at a meter $1 per hour. There is a steep hill to climb, but definitely worth it for this beach.

LOVE this beach. Parking $1 hr perfect for a short play in the sand run in the water. 🙌🏻 🌊 Loved it! Who doesn’t love the sound of the waves?

One of the very good beach for families to visit in the Dana Point. The beach is an average but what makes it amazing it is great lawns with picnic tables, golf course, salt creek and public facilities like car parking (nominal fee) and place to bath and restrooms in beach vicinity. The views are amazing. I have heard that this is nice place to watch sunset but have to leave early and will visit again to catch up sunset. Also have nice walkways for strolling, jogging next to oceanfront villas near the ocean and the beach.

Great beach & great waves! There was a hurricane hitting Mexico at the time which made some great waves. We loved watching the surfers.

Good beach for families. A little rocky for California but nothing to complain about. Lots of activities nearby including SUP, kayaking, etc. Attraction is free, but have to pay to park - which is about $1.

Salt Creek Beach is a primo place for body surfing. It's also pretty darn dramatic, with soaring cliffs looming over the crescent bay with its thundering surf.

The waves for surfing and boogie boarding were excellent. The beach get's quite crowded so get there early. It is also a nice beach for running.

It is a clean beach with clean water. It includes good walking/hiking paths, tidal pools, hamburger stand and beautiful coastal mansions to view.

For some reason this little stretch of beach gets nice and warm - great for tanning! Usually pretty quiet in the mornings also. I love coming and leaving before the crowds.

Salt Creek Beach is beautiful, it has a nice burger shack, and the sand stretches out for a bit under the water. For many of those reasons, the surfers love it too, so there are parts of the beach - not all - where swimmers should not dare. Not he other hand, they can be fun to watch!

This is an absolutely beautiful beach. Lots of good walking areas, beach is perfect, rocks and hills around as to the scene. Saw lots of beautiful dogs and people.

This beach is beautiful. At any given point there are 50 to 60 surfers waiting for waves to carry them to shore. There's a beautiful park for children to play. The vegetation and landscaping is natural and beautiful.

This by far is one of the best surf spots in Southern California and the best one in Orange County. There is plenty of paid parking, public bathrooms, a park and a lifeguard on duty during the summer.

Did a 5k here in October for Halloween and although the whole "running up hill" killed me, the view was very pretty. I would love to go back and just walk the trails with my dogs up there or relax at the beach.

What a beautiful and well maintenance beach area. This is a great place for a picnic or a stroll along the beach. The view is breath taking and very romantic for couples.

Great beach with easy parking. Lots of space and great waves. Right off PCH, so it's easy to get in/out.

Great beach and picnic areas. The sunsets here are gorgeous with an unobstructed view. Peaceful surroundings make foe a great place to relax

Not a beach to learn to surf, has strong waves but quite a view! Has a good summer snack shack and decent bathrooms. Parking will be an issue after 8am.

Starting with the very convenient and ample parking, then walk through impeccable green meadows towards the volleyball nets, BBQ grills and covered tables and benches, or continue walking down to the huge sandy beach favored by many surfers, and where friendly lifeguards keep you and your family safe. My absolute favorite part about this beach is its vast views of the horizon, ocean, clouds, sun rising pink-gold in the early morning, and spectacular copper flamingos at sun setting. It's not just perfect as a romantic interlude for couples of all ages, but an unforgettable day at the beach for families, friends and all sea lovers!

This beach is divided into 2 distinct sections split on either side of the Ritz-Carlton. To the North is public access from Salt Creek Park with public parking. This area is more crowded, though I’ve seen worse. While we were there we had to deal with more kelp washed up on this side. It is split into a surf side and a swim side. It is important that this is the side with the Ritz shuttle and resort amenities. On the South side there is more limited public access, less crowds, and a beautiful view of Dana Point. Both sides have beautiful views of the Pacific, lifeguard protection, and a walking trail

Went to Salt Creek on a weekend with my family. Overall it was a good time. The currents are strong-wouldn't recommend for children unless they are experienced swimmers. Parking was close and easy. Walking up the hill at the end of the day can be avoided by taking a $1 per person "trolley". Really the only thing I disliked about the beach was the seaweed. It was all over the place. I'm and east coast and gulf, Florida/South Carolina beach goer so I'm not certain if this is just a common issue with west coast beaches. Maybe it was just the time of year. Either way, there was so much of it, that it gave the beach a dirty appearance.

This beach has got to be one of the top ten most beautiful beaches in the world. This place in my opinion is the definition of "California dreaming" and what California beach life is. The views from this place are postcard perfect. Lots of people surfing, playing volleyball and just tanning at this place. I loved it.

This beach is a diamond in the rough. If you're deciding between Salt Creek, Baby Beach, Doheny... Pick Salt Creek. It is long enough for a nice walk on the beach, great for watching surfers or boogie boarding. When you want a break from the waves, you can walk up the hill to the beautiful green park to throw a frisbee, have a picnic, or people watch!

Great beach for views and surfing. People watching and sunsets are amazing! Great place for teens and any agetohang out it is a local favorite for our young adults

Want to ride some waves and spend hours enjoying the swells, this is your your beach! Take in views of the cliffs, landscape and ocean, including some amazing surfers. Right next to The Ritz. Numerous life guards; public restrooms; food shack & boogie rentals, check hrs of op; and tons of convenient parking, $1 per hr. Easy & Fun!

Salt Creek is an excellent beach. The grassy park above the beach is a great place for picnics and parties with the beach below. Beautifully beach with excellent surf break. Ample affordable parking is a big plus as well.

The walk down to the beach from the bluffs above is a perfect way to enjoy sunset at the end of a beautiful California day. The paved walk is suitable for all ages. Kids will enjoy frolicking in the surf as the sun sets. Be careful to keep an eye on the tides though as when they are up the beach itself can become cut off from the paved path above. There is a stairway climb at the end that will get your heart racing, but is is relatively short and quite doable.

A bay colse ti Dana Point! Week the weather doesn’t help us since it was mostly cloudy; I took a 30 minutes of walking along the beach and in the meantime my colleagues were surfing! There is also a beautiful green park where to play...

There are lifeguards on duty the beach is split like most beaches with a surf and swimming side parking is normally pretty easy here. Popular with the high school crowd.

Salt Creek is one of the prettiest beaches in south Orange County. It is a bit of a trek to get to it, but well worth it!

The stop is in front of the Ritz Carlton hotel (such a beauty) and the short walk down the stairs to the park and beach gives incredible view of the green park, the surf, and those mansions that line the bluff above the beach.

Trails either go along the beach or meander through the golf club area up along the way to the Monarch Beach Club. During the course of our stay, we had occasion to take the trip here and walk these routes often.

This rates so highly for us because of how extensive the walking paths are and how easy it is to stop in at the Ritz Carlton for a little shopping or a snack in their cafe. And the trolley brings us back to our hotel in Laguna! It's a win-win, on every possible front.

Salt Creek Beach is THE place to surf or boogie board in Orange County. The surf break is ideal for both activities, and pros in both disciplines routinely ply their trades. I am not a surfer or boogie boarder, but I loved being able to see pros in action. The amenities at the beach are very good, too. Clean restrooms, a lovely park on the bluff above the beach...a VERY cool beach!

Excellent lifeguard coverage and easy swimming beach with perfect white sand. Good food for sale and shuttle from parking.

Great park and beach, loved the parking. Google and other pamphlets said it was dog friendly beach - the park IS but not the beach. This park has ONE rinse off shower despite the large number of people, bathrooms were extremely DIRTY.

This beach was the highlight of our vacation. Beautiful beach, beautiful scenery, the bathrooms were clean and there was a little stand for food. It was a bit of a hike from the car to the beach (but worth it) and the parking lots gets full fast. Definitely one of the best beaches I've been to.

An impromptu visit to this beautiful beach park was the perfect excuse to get out of the house on a lazy Sunday afternoon. We easily parked in the empty big lot; paid at a nearby automated station ($1 /hour; cash/credit card accepted); and found the path to the beach (located adjacent to the tidy restroom hut). Our leisurely stroll led us past a clean, open grass area with picnic tables and gorgeous homes with panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean, to the quiet, practically deserted beach. A lone sailboat in the distant glistening blue water provided a picture-perfect backdrop to this soul-soothing serene environment. So glad we came!

This was a great place to sit and watch or walk. The surfing was crazy with the high surf. The sounds of the waves is amazing! Favourite sound ever.
Didn’t see any whales off shore but lots of pelicans cans!

A great beach, nice lawn area and a snack bar as well. There is a hill to go back up, they do have a shuttle for a dollar tomgetbyounbwck up if needed.

Nice beach were the locals go to swim, surf, boogie board. Only negative is the walk back up the hill. If you a young pup no problem but not good for those who have trouble walking or tire easy.

I live at this beach, literally, I love it here. All the beach goers treat this beach very well. Salt Creek beach is always clean and super family friendly😎

What we liked most about this beach was that it was within walking distance from our hotel. There isn't anything really special or distinguishing, but it's clean and wasn't too busy when we were there.

Great stretch of beach in Dana Point (just below the Ritz).
It has a great surf break, and there are many excellent surfers to watch.
The other end is part of the Monarch Beach Resort, and is usually pretty quiet.
Easy parking above the beach (off 1 and Niguel), but it is a bit if a walk from the car to the beach.Good for kids too, can skimboard at the shoreline.

This is the quintessential California Beach. Huge cliffs, huge waves, devoted surfers and sun worshipers. It also has abundant bird and sea life. Whales, dolphins, sea lions, seals and the sweet endangered snowy plover. I spent a week walking it every day. The homes atop the cliffs are impressive. Parking is easy with a $1 trolley to lug you up the hill if needed.

I have lived near Salt Creek for nearly 20 years. It is my all time favorite place on earth. This beach is all about surfing and sunning. You can get in the water but be careful of the rip tides.The drop is about 50ft out and its rocky, but once you get past it, its heaven. There is a great park at Salt Creek where we used to walk to for fireworks on the 4th of July. There is also a great walking/ running path that stretches a long the coast and then back under Coast hwy. It's a large beach. You can also walk up or park at The Ritz Cartlon and grab dinner or a drink and watch the sunset. I love my Salt Creek,

This is a beautiful, clean, and uncrowded beach. On a clear day there are gorgeous views of Catalina island. It attracts a very young crowd of local surfers. I felt like the average age of beach goers was 15 years.

Walks and jogs along the shore of the beach were very enjoyable. I spotted dolphins and sea lions. There is a nice public park with tables and grills near the beach. I also saw a reasonably priced snack bar with burgers, fries, etc.

Overall, a great beach in Orange County.

I have been to many, but Salt Creek has to be top on my list. It has a wonderful grassy park with the back drop of multi-million dollar homes. The lawn is immaculately manicured. There are wonderful picnic benches for having a lunch.

The beach itself was pretty cool. First the sand SQUEEKS! Yep, drag your feet lightly across the surface and it sounds a bit like BARKING SANDS. Pretty cool. The surf is great (nice long break due to the gradual beach). So there were quite a few surfers and body boarders enjoying the waves when we visited. Ritz Carlton is above the beach. Parking was easy in the large lot ($1/hour).

Beach is clean and well kept. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a low key beach to spend the afternoon at!

Been here 2 weeks & down to the beach 8 times. We're retired travelers & walk a lot. View thru the golf course & park are great
& easy to get 4-5 miles in. Beach is not dog friendly but great walking area next to beach.
Walked it many times last year also.

There is even a weekend elevator to the beach or use the stairs. It's a great workout. Nice parking lot and the paved walking path with viewing benches let's you contemplate the ocean view.

This beach is below the Ritz Carlton and across from the St. Regis hotel in Laguna Niguel and is an extraordinarily beautiful beach. There is normally plenty of paid parking in the lot. You have to walk way down to the beach (and then get back up the hill), but it's a pleasant wide walkway and well worth the view. The sand is wide and deep and the waves are good for swimming and surfing. It's almost never crowded and there is a really nice vibe to the place. Highly recommended.

This beach is fairly easy to get to and typically has parking. When we went recently, the shore was very steep but still fun and a great place.

As a resident of San clemente, I can highly recommend salt Creek Beach as one of the best beaches in south Orange County. The parking is excellent and expensive and there is a great walk if you walk away from the beach under the PCH overpass and take a left past the dog park and down the hill to the beach if you continue on you can walk at low tide and walk up the steps at the headlands or take to finish kille The parking is excellent and expensive and there is a great walk if you walk away from the beach under the PCH overpass and take a left past the dog park and down the hill to the beach if you continue on you can walk at low tide and walk up the steps at the headlands or take tHe funicular. You can also walk up and have dessert at the Ritz . This beach is exemplary of southern California lifestyle.

We used to live near Salt Creek and our place enjoyed a trail that leads to this beach. We used to bike or run to the beach. The trail passes through the golf course and the monarch beach resort. You also go through multi-million dollar homes. This beach is not super crowded and we often a pod of dolphins here in the morning. There is a tide pool to the right of the beach that we have frequented. A friend has also gotten married here. Now that we live in San Juan we actually park up the hill. If you are heading towards Laguna Beach you turn left pass the Ritz Carlton. There are events that are held here in the summer. This is a great surfing beach and a great place to chill. The park on the top is great place to play with little ones.

This is a beautiful stretch of beach. It is much quitter than other Orange County beaches. It has natural beauty, peacefulness and so many areas to explore. Excellent place for children to ride the waves...BRING BOOGIE BOARDS for each child to avoid fights over whose turn it is to ride the board!

I frequently walk my dog Jaz in this park. Although you cannot take dogs directly on to the sand, there are plenty of pathways and walkways where you have a
wonderful breeze and oceanview

I have visited this beach many times as it was perfect for a toddler. We could picnic above the ocean overlooking the water on the expansive lawns, then walk to the sandy beach and play in the surf. The walk to the water can be a bit daunting for the elderly or handicapped, but they do provide transportation. I recommend this beach very much, it is crowded on weekends but which beach isn't?

This beach is great for walks. There are a lot of surfers to watch. It's pretty low key. The beach is clean and the ocean beautiful.

This is nice beach to walk and watch surfers atempt their sport while you're walking. The beach is not as long as some of the others but beacuse you have to walk to reach to beach in certain areas it is less crowded, which was a bonus to us.

Great place to go for a walk, a picnic, to people watch, etc. The beach is beautiful and in a great area.
The houses surrounding the park area are stunning.