Before leaving Los Angeles, we wanted to get in one more hike. Since we had finished seeing the Niguel Botanical Garden in Laguna Niguel, we weren’t too far from Dana Point. Lucky for us, the Dana Point Headlands Conservation Park offers a scenic and short hike right along the Pacific Coast.

Dana Point

Located halfway between San Diego and LA, Dana Point is a community of 34,000 residents along the Pacific Coast. I’d heard about the area back in the early 1990s, just a few years after it incorporated, when friends stayed at the Ritz-Carlton Dana Point. Hearing about their trip made me want to see this part of Orange County.

The town grew in fits and starts. Due to easy access to the railroad line, Hollywood Hills developer Sydney Woodruff purchased land in the 1920s. He built a Spanish-style neighborhood and affixed color-coded maritime lanterns on lamp posts. The Depression ended future residential efforts, but the area is still known as the Lantern District. After WWII, people settled into the area and it soon became a mecca for surfers after Hobie Alter (of Hobie Cat and Hobie Surfboards) opened one of the first surf shops in California.

Dana Point Harbor

While I didn’t get a trip to the Ritz-Carlton, we did stop at Dana Point Harbor the previous evening. It was just a small detour from our drive from San Diego to Laguna Hills. The Harbor encompasses the marina, restaurants, and shops.

The sun set in the distance as we drove to the marina area. Completed in 1971, the marina houses 2,400 boat slips in two basins. It’s no surprise that multiple fishing expeditions and whale-watching companies set sail from this point, earning Dana Point the nickname “Dolphin and Whale Watching Capital of the World”. It’s also one of the places to catch the ferry to Catalina Island. 

The Harbor boasts a dozen or so restaurants offering everything from seafood, burgers, and pizza to espresso and ice cream. Since we wanted to check into our hotel, we opted not to eat here. However, we did walk around to see some of the Christmas lights. 

Dana Point Headlands Conservation Area

The next day, we returned to hike at Dana Point Headlands Conservation Area. The total public trail system connects four conservation parks. We chose to start at Dana Point Preserve with a half-mile trail. At the parking lot, the Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center featured a brief history of the Acjachemen Nation.

On display was a replica “kiitcha.” Tribal members would construct these dwelling spots from willows and leave an open hole at the top. This hole provided sunlight during the day and an escape for smoke from the fires built inside for the families to stay warm.

The Trail

At first glance, the trail seems otherworldly, leading to no-man’s land. Because the day was cloudy, we didn’t realize we were walking directly toward the Pacific Ocean.

 

With views of scrub on both sides, we wondered what we were doing out here. Thankfully, the wire cables kept us on the path. Soon, the Pacific Ocean appeared, and the trail afforded us beautiful views. 

As we rounded a bend, Dana Strand Beach appeared in the distance. This beach is well-known for its excellent surfing and stunning sunset views. Several (somewhat steep) trails take visitors from the hilltop parking area to the sandy beach area. At one time, a funicular provided transportation to the beach, but it closed due to maintenance problems. As of 2025, there is talk by the city to reopen this transportation option to allow improve handicap accessibility to the beach.

We thought the trail continued in a loop. Instead, the trail seemed to end at a gate leading to a parking lot. This one-mile (out-and-back) trail is U-shaped and not a loop. We quickly backtracked the way we came since we had to book it to the airport for our flight home. For people wanting to access Dana Strand Beach, they would walk through the parking lot and pick up the trail on the other side of the row of buildings. 

Back at the interpretive center, we saw an elephant statue painted with the beaches of California. The interpretive center is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10am-4pm. We didn’t stay to explore because we had a plane to catch. 

Conclusion

Dana Point is a fun and hip resort town. If I had to do it over again, we would have made hotel reservations here instead of in Laguna Hills. The Harbor area is an excellent spot to people watch, grab a bite to eat, and shop. Plus, the sunset can’t be beat! For information about Dana Point Harbor, click here.

The Headlands Conservation Area is a great place for a scenic (and free!) hike. Information about the trail is located at the website here.