Dana Point Preserve

This place is a hidden gem! Beautiful, natural protected coastal area. The trails are well marked and groomed. The visitors center at the top of the trails is small, but very nice. The staff were all volunteers who were very friendly and knowledgeable. We didn’t have much time to stay, but we learned a lot and really enjoyed it. We will definitely be back!

This park is quite nice and has some groomed trails and some nice ocean views. There is also the visitor center for the park here.

Beautiful beach side trial offering stunning views. We only walked a small section of the trail and wish there was more time to explore, but what we saw was already breathtaking. The entrance is through a somewhat hidden gate, but once your make your way through the tunnel it is like you are being transported into another world. The instant you get to the other side it becomes serenity, traffic and city noises are replaced with calming ocean waves and the slight breeze brings absolute peace.

My son paid so I don't know the cost, but we walked to the overlook and back, and it was quite beautiful. Tours cost but the entry fee is very low for just hiking. There is a tiny natural history museum at the crest that shows some local wildlife. We could see Catalina due to the clear air after the recent rain. Everything was closed at sea level on the south side. The sailing ship and museum were closed. Restaurants seemed to be damaged and abandoned from the storms. No explanation could be found anywhere. Lots of disgruntled tourists were trying to find open doors.

Wonder nature reserve to check out. Everything is very natural. The atmosphere was very calm and collective. I love how they are trying to protect all of the amazing wildlife that surrounds Dana point. Snakes, birds, and mice all inhabit the area, and it's great.

We went for a walk down the beach since it was a beautiful day out. We were really trying to get to the caves so we walked as much as we could but I believe we probably had about 10 more minutes of walking. We stopped mid way in a small cave where we got to sit and just watch the waves. It was beautiful to just be surround by all of mother nature.

A very nice walk. I only did one out and back trail that felt loop-adjacent but the end of it was just another street. It was almost a mile. You could see the water spouts from the whales out in the water! Saw a lot of different birds too. Absolutely beautiful.

The views are gorgeous. It's a very easy hike. We were only able to do a small amount of the trail, but what we saw was beautiful. It even says you may be able to spot whales from one area. The trail is wide enough for two people and is fenced off so that you may not explore.