Strands Beach and Strands Vista Park in Dana Point: Walk the Loop or Play in the Sand

Strands Beach in Dana Point goes by many names. I’ve heard it called: The Strand, Dana Strands, and Strand Vista Park.

I call it “pure bliss.” It’s just a beautiful spot beneath the Dana Point Headlands.  If you can imagine the coastline here, it’s squeezed in the small cove between the point of the headland and Salt Creek Beach.

How to Get to Strands Beach: Reach the parking area by taking Pacific Coast Highway to Selva. Turn right past the sign reading “Salt Creek Beach Park.”  MAP TO STRANDS BEACH AND STRAND VISTA PARK IN DANA POINT

Highlights

From the parking lot, you’ll spy a paved path running along the top of the bluff. There’s a funicular at the north end and a flagpole (Memorial Plaza) at the south.

In between, you’ll spy an assortment of mosaic sea creatures artistically integrated into the path.

The views are the main reason to visit this perfect patch of Earth. Some days you can see Catalina, some days you see dolphins. I always see surfers and watercraft.

This beach is staffed by lifeguards during the summer.

You choose from a range of desired activity levels for this outing.

• Sit in your car to watch the sunset
• Take a short stroll along the upper part of the park.
• Walk down the steps to the beach and walk back up the the same stairs (on the north end).
• Walk down the steps to the beach and continue on the boardwalk south until you reach another set of steps to a winding ramp that makes its way up the to the headlands — follow the sidewalk on Selva back to the parking lot.
• Do that loop backwards by walking down the winding ramp, across the boardwalk, and up the steps to the parking lot.
• There’s a funicular near the steps which used to be a fun thing to add into plans when it was working, but now it’s permanently closed.
• Check the tides and go tidepooling.
• Build sandcastles.
• You can even COMBINE walks and start at the Dana Point Headlands Nature Interpretive Center, walk down to the beach via the winding ramp on the south side of Strands, walk the boardwalk, head up the stairs by the funicular, walk along the bluff top back to the headlands. If you’re super ambitious, this could easily be combined with the Salt Creek Trail walk.

This is not a partially accessible beach outing because of the stairs. The funicular used to solve for that, but not anymore!

Frequently Asked Questions about Strands Beach

Is Strands Beach parking free? Parking is free.

How do you get down to Strands Beach? Park in the parking lot off of Selva. You will be at the top of the bluff. There are 3 ways to get down to the beach from the top.

1. As you are facing the ocean, there is a route to the beach on the north side (to your right). This entrance has LOTS of steps down. When the steps end on level with the restrooms, there is a STEEP hill that can be slippery with sand on asphalt but it will get you right to the beach.
2. You can also enter by walking down through the housing neighborhood by entering the gate just to the left of the entrance, taking Beach View Avenue and Oceanfront Lane to the rest of the path that dumps out in the center of the beach below. There is another gate by the Memorial at the south end of the park that takes a similar route along Oceanfront Lane.
3. Finally, if you pass the parking lot Selva turns into Dana Strands Road. Parking is challenging along one side of the road. You can walk down the Switchback Trail and Beach Revetment Trail which is more of a winding/zig-zag concrete path to start, but there are steep stairs at the end of the trail.

No matter what, it’s a hike to get down to the beach and elevation gain to get back up and out.

Does Strands have a bathroom? Yes, there are 3 restroom buildings at Strands. The first set of restrooms is at the top of the north side at the stairs and funicular building. Then, there is another restroom down the hill at the halfway point. Finally, there is a restroom building at the south side of the beach at the end of the Revetment Trail.

Are dogs allowed at Strands Beach Dana Point? Not at the beach. They are allowed on the walking path above the beach at the South Strands Conservation Park.

Be Aware

• If you’re heading down to the beach, there’s no escaping HILLS or STAIRS.
• If decide to walk down the beach to see the sunset, remember it might be dark by the time you get back to the parking lot.
• This is a SKINNY beach at high tide. You’ll be okay getting from Point A to Point B on the boardwalk, but you might not be able to get all the way across the beach on the sand.
• The funicular is closed permanently.
• I wouldn’t recommend this beach for swimming during the winter. It’s very rocky to the south and there are experienced local surfers in the water. It’s certainly fine for dipping your toes and playing knee-deep in the waves. In the summer, check in with the lifeguard and then you can walk straight off the ramp to swim near and beyond the lifeguard station.

Checklist:

• Parking is free.
• Restrooms on the north side of the parking lot have showers (push hard to make them work).
• There are restrooms, showers and drinking fountains at the bottom of the stairs.
• Restrooms, showers and drinking fountains also available on south side of the boardwalk before your winding ramp climb.
• A few picnic tables and some tiny lawn areas at the the top along the bluff.
• I’m not the first to give away this secret. The OC Register reported the official park opening in January.  Soon after, Jennifer at Tiny Oranges made her way for a visit. I met with Sharlene from Double the Adventure for a some beach play and she put up a post on it, as well.
• Bring food and water for the kiddos. No snack bars here!

Originally published in July 2010.