Salt Creek Beach

Salt Creek Beach is an Orange County park at 33333 S. Pacific Coast Highway in Dana Point, beside the Ritz-Carlton. It's known as a popular surf spot, where an offshore reef shapes some of the area's best lefts. On calmer days swimmers, bodysurfers and sunbathers fill the sand.

Layout

From the paved parking area off PCH, a paved path drops down past grassy Bluff Park, with picnic tables, barbecues and a half basketball court, to the beach. Visitors with a valid disabled placard or plate can be driven to the bottom of the access road. Four public restrooms, all accessible, are spread from the parking lot to the main lifeguard tower. Outdoor showers are near the snack bar and the North Shore event area.

Food and rentals

Young's Beach Shack sells food from 7 a.m. to sunset every day, weather permitting. Equipment rentals are available.

Tide pools and the marine protected area

The beach is the north end of Dana Point State Marine Conservation Area, which runs about 4 miles to the Dana Point headlands. All tide-pool animals are protected, and taking anything living from tide pools is prohibited. Recreational hook-and-line or spearfishing for finfish, and take of lobster and urchin, are allowed under state rules.

Rules

The park is day-use only and open 5 a.m. to midnight. Dogs are allowed in the park on a leash. Alcohol is prohibited, and no personal barbecues of any kind are allowed on the sand.