Salt Creek Beach California
Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point, California is easily one of the most beautiful Ocean Parks in Southern California! (We also love the Treasure Island Park at the Montage in Laguna Beach). Mom started walking at Salt Creek Beach over 25 years ago! Sable, Scooby and now Ella and Luna have all loved their adventures at this gorgeous ocean view park! We want to share our BEST Salt Creek Beach Park Dog-Friendly Tips so you can enjoy too!
Scooby Smith and the Salt Creek Beach Park View!
Is Salt Creek Beach Dog Friendly?
The actual “Beach” (sand and ocean) at Salt Creek Beach are NOT Dog Friendly but Salt Creek Beach Park is! Dogs on a 6ft leash are allowed pretty much everywhere except the sand and ocean. The park is a beautiful green hill full of picnic tables, free standing bbq’s and water fountains. The park goes all the way to the sand which give you the best of both worlds! The grassy spots are WAY cooler for all the dog and people toes too! Just claim a picnic table or put your beach blanket down and you’re set for a fun day! Don’t forget a pop up pup tent for your dogs and sensitive people!
What’s the Best Time for Dog Walks at Salt Creek Beach?
Salt Creek Beach Park is a gorgeous place for an early morning or pre-sunset dog walk next to the Pacific Ocean! Mid Day in the summer in Orange County CA can be full sun, hot and typically humid which is super hard on pups. If you prefer serene and peaceful surroundings, plan your dog friendly time for the early morning and leave around noon. It’s typically you, the surfers and a few locals! An hour before sunset until an hour after sunset also allows you to miss the worst mid day heat! Walking your dog around the sunset hours is also a little less crowded and the view is beautiful! The entire loop path around Salt Creek Beach Park is approximately 3 miles of ocean air and sounds!
Salt Creek Beach Trail
The trails at Salt Creek Beach Park are actually part of 7.6 mile Official Salt Creek Beach Trail. During the summer the coyote and rattlesnake populations are at their highest so, we say skip the big trail! The BEST part of Salt Creek Trail is next to the ocean anyway! The furSmiths have a route which takes you through all of Salt Creek Beach Park so you experience the best, coolest part of the path while getting a great dog walk in! Here’s our Salt Creek Beach Park Dog Friendly Tips for the BEST Dog Walk!
theScoobylife Favorite Salt Creek Trail Dog Friendly Route
- Park at Salt Creek Beach Parking Lot
- Walk through the tunnel to the entrance of Salt Creek Beach Park
- Turn right at the first sidewalk and follow it to the bottom of the grassy area. (You can also walk through the grass and zig zag on the sidewalks for some extra steps and fun)!
- Once you’re on the bigger sidewalk path (just past the picnic tables and barbecues), turn right on the sidewalk and head away from The Ritz Carlton.
- Turn left on the first dirt path. This downhill dirt path takes you towards the sand and ocean to another sidewalk next to the sand!
- At the bottom of the dirt path make a right on the sandy / gravel path and head north towards the restrooms.
- Walk past the restrooms and you have arrived at the furSmith’s FAVORITE “secluded” green park! This area is great for picnics and relaxing!
- When you’re ready for the next trek, backtrack onto the sandy path on the other side of the restrooms
- Walk next to the beach towards the Southern portion of the park. You’ll pass Young’s Beach Shack (above on your left).
- Veer right on the path and keep walking next to the sand.
- A life guard tower will be on your right which sits on a mini natural “pier” that jets out to the ocean! This is a great place for surf, ocean and beach photos!
- After you’ve taken some time enjoy the view, fresh air and ocean sounds, keep walking south the dirt path.
- You will dead end at another grassy area with more restrooms and picnic tables for more relaxing! (Dogs are not allowed on the beach on the other side of the grassy section)
Choosing Your Route Back – Cardio or Light Cardio?
- When you’re ready to head back, take the dirt path back towards Young’s Beach Shack.
- If you want an easy, meandering walk back to the parking lot, zig zag up the sidewalks up the hill.
- If you want to get some cardio in, take the paved hill back to the parking lot! Extra workout tip: If you want even more cardio (and more magnificent views) take the steep hill on your right up to The Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel. You are also allowed to explore with your on-leash dog in the grassy section through their garden! (If you are super lucky you will stumble upon of of many romantic, ocean view Weddings in The Ritz Carlton Garden)!
Salt Creek Beach Picnic Area
Basically all of Salt Creek Beach Park is a giant picnic area! Put down a blanket or arrive early to claim your picnic table or bbq and you’re all set! Dana Point has many great restaurants but Mom says the best way to plan your picnic is at Gelson’s Market.
We recommend that you stop by Gelson’s (on Pacific Coast Highway) before you park at Salt Creek Beach. Gelson’s has a great selection of freshly prepared salads and deli food. You can also pick up all of your favorite ingredients for sandwiches and snacks! Purchase a temperature controlled bag from Gelson’s or better yet, buy a cooler next door at CVS!
Young’s Beach Shack at Salt Creek Beach is a nice option for additional food and drinks iif you don’t want to take your own.
Bonus Tip: Wild’s Pet Food is also located in the Gelson’s Parking lot! Be sure to pick up some delicious Dog Food and Treats for your picnic!
Sunsets Tips for Salt Creek Beach Park
Salt Creek Beach is gorgeous at Sunset and for Sunset Photos! We recommend that you arrive an hour prior to Sunset and get your dog friendly walk in. Just before sunset and up to an hour after sunset is when all the magic happens! It’s the BEST show of the day! If you’re lucky you’ll see some of the most colorful sunsets of your life!
Weather Tip: If you see a few clouds in the sky about an hour before sunset it usually means an amazing, colorful sunset is in the works! Be sure to check the Dana Point Weather Report as well as the Sunset Times on Willy Weather so you don’t miss the show!
Weather Forecast for Dana Point, CA
Weather in Dana Point fluctuates year-round…Overcast in the morning then hot and sunny or, the other way around! Be sure to have blankets, umbrellas, pup tents, windbreakers (fur your peeps) handy in your car just in case!
Be sure to check out The Salt Creek Beach Cam by Surfersview.com Beach Cam for Awesome views and the latest weather and surf report!
Parking at Salt Creek Beach and an extra PawVenture!
There’s typically plenty of parking in the pay by meter parking lot at Salt Creek Beach Park. If your Pup likes Dog Parks, walk through the tunnel under Pacific Coast Highway (away from the ocean) and there’s a gated Dog Run / Dog Park on the other side of the rose garden! This is the perfect place for your Pup to get a little fetch and run game before heading to Salt Creek Beach Park!