San Clemente Beaches

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Beaches (from North to South)

Doheny Beach

A few miles to the north of San Clemente lies Doheny State Beach. Doheny has several surf breaks that are quite popular among longboard and beginning surfers. Doheny is primarily a summer break because Dana Point Harbor acts as a barrier from westerly swells.

Poche Beach

I don't have any info on this beach. See the photos on this website here.

San Clemente North Beach

Pacific Coast Highway and Avenida Pico
(949) 361-8264
Hours 6 a.m. to 10 p.m

If you want an easy access beach with snack bar and playground equipment, this is a great beach. It’s Nice to take the kids to a beachfront playground even in the winter. Or if you want to take the train to the beach, this is the place, as an Amtrak/Metro link station is located nearby. The surf is moderate to good with a nice sandy bottom. The concession stand rents boogie boards and snorkeling gear. Parking: $1/hour (pay-and-display box) Facilities: Lifeguards, food stand, playground, rentals, showers, volleyball. Dogs are not allowed on the beach.

204

Just south of North Beach lies "204". Here, swells refract over offshore reefs before breaking on shallow sandbars. For easy access, park in the lot at North Beach and walk south until you find the right peak. The surf can vary greatly with different swell directions and constantly changing sandbars.

Linda Lane

A small and rather unknown beach with parking lot (bring your quarters for the meters), easy access and short walk to pier. When the pier parking is full there are usually spots at Linda lane. Beach access through a short tunnel under the train tracks. Nice, sandy beach. Beach size depends on tide. Good beach for families. Directions: 5fwy. Exit Palizada and go west. Go right on Presidio and R on Linda Lane. Follow Linda lane down to ocean.

Pier

San Clemente City Beach
Downtown San Clemente at the Historic Fishing Pier
(949) 361-8264
Hours: 4 a.m. to midnight

The North side of the San Clemente Pier is another popular surf break. Although large swells often produce closed-out conditions, you'll find someone surfing the pier nearly ever daylight hour of the year. This is probably due to convenient access from the large public parking lot at the bottom of Avenida Del Mar. Surf conditions range from terrible to excellent depending on the size and "peakiness" of the swell. The beachbreak waves at the pier also vary with tide and wind fluctuations. While the pier blows-out on a westerly wind, the pier itself can sometimes offer protection from a south-east wind.

The South side of the San Clemente Pier, a popular beach for swimming and bodyboarding, is closed to surfing during summer months. Surf condition are similar to the north side of the pier, although the south side is typically more closed-out. During southerly swell, beware of the strong current running toward the pier. It is responsible for many lifeguard rescues each year as unsuspecting swimmers are swept toward the barnacle-covered pilings.

Easy beach access, lots of nearby amenities and an adjacent Amtrak station. The extended hours cater to the avid pier-fishing crowd. Even the surf is moderately good with a nice sandy bottom. It's all very family- and kid-friendly (the ratio of youngsters to adults is about 75/25). Parking: $1/hour (pay and display box) in lot on bluff overlooking the pier, plus street parking in the surrounding neighborhood. Facilities: Lifeguards, surfing, bus stop, food stands, picnic tables, rentals, showers, basketball courts, volleyball. Dogs are not allowed on the beach.

T-Street (Trafalgar Street)

You know it is the perfect beach because it is bustling with activity year-round. Street and metered parking. Acesss to the beach is by an overpass and stairs over the train tracks. Great beach for everyone- kids, families, teenagers, surfers, body boarders, walkers. A large sand bar makes the water shallow almost out to the break. There is a snack bar, restrooms and lifeguard tower. Walking distance to pier and downtown shopping.

Beach House

Just a short walk from T-street. This small stretch of sand is named for the beach houses directly behind it. You might find a few volleyball players or a small break worth surfing every once in a while. Park at T-street.

Riviera

Mostly locals use this beach with access only via the Riviera district of houses. Park on the neighborhood street and look for stairs between houses. A good swimming and surfing beach.

San Clemente State Beach / Calafia State Beach

Avenida Calafia and Avenida Del Presidente
(949) 492-3156
Hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m

Just south of San Clemente City Beach is San Clemente State Beach, home of the surfing spot know as "Toads"-for "Take off and Die". If you're not surfing, you can still enjoy the overnight camping, cookout facilities here. There are 157 sites, 72 with RV hookups. Hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m Parking: $3 all day; 200 day-use spaces and 149 campsites available. Facilities: Lifeguards, surfing, bus stop, fire rings, picnic tables, showers. Dogs are allowed on hard trails but not on the beach.

Cotton’s / Trestles / Old Man's

San Onofre State Park (Trestles and Old Mans’)
San Onofre Beach and State Park
North San Diego County off of Interstate 5 at Basilone Road.
(949) 492-4872
Hours 6 a.m. to 10 p.m

As home to Old Man's and Trestles, two of the West Coast's most famous surfing spots, San Onofre is a boarder's paradise. It's also spartan and not easily accessible, which lends it a 1950s feel. A paucity of lifeguards and the long hike down a rugged hill make it less than ideal for small kids unless you are lucky enough to get a parking spot right next to the sand below the bluffs at Old Man's. A paved path up on the bluff allows biking and skating all the way to San Diego. Parking: $3 all day; 200 day-use spaces and 149 campsites available No concessions on site and the nearest food is seven miles away in San Clemente. Facilities: Lifeguards, surfing, fishing, fire rings, picnic tables, bike trails. Dogs: OK in parking lots and on hard trails, but not on sand.

Links of Interest:

San Clemente Surf Cam - See live video of the San Clemente pier and surrounding areas.

San Clemente Surf Shops - Support the locals.

San Onofre Surfing Club Website - Join the club.

SanOSurf.com - Rick Rickman is a long-time SanO surfer and a world-class, Pulitzer Prize-winning sports photographer. He loves to shoot where he surfs — the classic beaches of South County.

Surfrider - These bros are headquartered right here in San Clemente.