Salt Creek Beach - Dana Point

The long, sandy beach is a popular surfing spot. Both upland and beach facilities can be reached from Ritz Carlton Dr. off Pacific Coast Highway. Parking and wheelchair-accessible restrooms are available at a large metered parking lot, open 6 AM-midnight, on Ritz Carlton Drive.
From the west side of the lot, a paved path leads to the beach and to the grassy seven-acre Bluff Park, which has benches, barbecue grills, picnic tables, and wheelchair-accessible restrooms.

Just south of Ritz Carlton Dr., a pedestrian gate, open 24 hours, leads through the Ritz Carlton Hotel grounds to a paved path along the bluff above Salt Creek Beach; the path, which skirts the southern perimeter of the grounds, has numerous benches and overlooks providing views of gray whale migration routes, Catalina Island, and the coastline.

At its northern end, the path joins a paved multi-use trail leading north along the shoreline past Bluff Park. Several stairways and paths lead from the multi-use trail to the beach, changing rooms, outdoor showers, restrooms, snack bar, firepits, and a path along the seawall. Paths and trails lead north and east through a golf course and along Salt Creek, a scenic corridor featuring small parks and several miles of trails.
The southern entrance to Salt Creek Beach Park is off Selva Rd. and features picnic fables, barbecue grills, restores, and path and stairs to the beach. The parking lot is open 6 AM-midnight.