San Clemente Beach

Orange County

San Clemente Beach, Orange County, California
San Clemente Beach, Orange County, California

San Clemente Beach

Orange County


San Clemente Beach

San Clemente's 4-mile coastline is divided into a number of popular beaches, including North Beach, San Clemente City Beach, Calafia Beach, and San Clemente State Beach.

Along most of their length the narrow beaches are guarded by high bluffs, interrupted by an occasional ravine. Running along the edge of the beach at the foot of the bluffs is a railroad line. With the combination of precipitous bluffs and the railroad tracks, safe access to the beaches is limited to a number of key places.



San Clemente Pier is at the heart of the city beach. Near the pier is a railway station, making it convenient for passengers to hop off a train and be on the beach with just a few steps.

San Clemente Beaches map,  Orange County, CA

Accessing San Clemente City Beach

A dozen beach access points are spread along San Clemente City Beach, some combined with facilities, others simply a path to the sand. All parking lots are metered at $1.50 per hour. Most take credit cards.

  • North Beach - Next to Ole Hanson Beach Club at Boca De La Playa.
    • Parking lot, level access to beach
    • Restrooms, concession stand
  • Dije Court - Dije Court at Buena Vista
    • Street parking, no facilities
    • Long, steep stairway down bluff to beach
  • Portal 204 - Calle Oso at Buena Vista
    • Street parking, no facilities
    • Long, steep stairway down bluff to beach
  • Mariposa - Western end of Mariposa (see map above)
    • Street parking, no facilities
    • Long, steep paved path down bluff to beach
  • Linda Lane - At Linda Lane Park (see map above)
    • Parking lots, restrooms
    • Gentle paths leading to beach
  • Corto Lane - (see map above)
    • Street parking, restrooms at beach
    • Long stairs down bluff to beach
  • Parque Del Mar - Pier Bowl, main beach (see map above)
    • Parking lot, full facilities
    • Level path to beach and pier
  • Esplanade - T Street - (see map above)
    • Parking lot, pedestrian overcrossing to beach
    • Restrooms on beach, concession stand
  • Los Alamos - Calle De Los Alamos
    • Street parking, no facilities
    • Steep path down bluff to beach
  • Riviera Beach - Northwest end of Plaza a La Playa near Avenida La Costa
    • Street parking, no facilities
    • Short stairway to beach
  • Calafia - Avenida Calafia (see map below)
    • Parking lot, beach cafe, restrooms
    • Short path and stairs to beach
    • Part of State Beach, but operated by the city

Calafia Beach, San Clemente, CA

Calafia Beach

Calafia parking map, San Celemente, Orange County, CA


Parking at San Clemente State Beach

The day-use parking area at San Clemente State Beach is atop a rugged bluff overlooking the ocean and beach. A picnic area, restrooms, and a visitor center are located there. Access to the beach from there is via two long trails that follow ravines down through the sandstone cliffs. (see map below) A pedestrian tunnel leads under the railroad tracks.

Parking at the state beach is $15 per day for each vehicle. Alternative access to the beach is at the city run Avenida Calafia parking area to the north. (See the Calafia Parking map above.)

San Clemente State Beach, San Celemente, Orange County, CA

San Clemente, Orange County, CA

San Clemente Beach


Ride the Train to San Clemente Beaches

San Clemente has two stations along the railroad line that runs along the edge of the beach - the North Beach Station and the San Clemente Pier Station. Facilities near each station include parking and restrooms. A ticket machine is located at the station, but there are no attendants.

Riders have their choice of Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner or Metrolink's Orange County Line.



Pacific Surfliner

Trains run from San Luis Obispo San Diego. Two daily, morning trains to San Clemente Pier take about 45 minutes from Santa Ana with stops at Irvine and San Juan Capistrano. A pair of northbound trains stop at San Clemente Pier in the late afternoon. Check their website for precise times: Amtrak Timetables

train  in San Clemente

Metrolink

Metrolink trains run between Oceanside and Los Angeles, with connections there to greater LA. Metrolink stops at the North Beach Station next to Ole Hanson Beach Club on weekdays and also San Clemente Pier on weekends. Bicycles can be taken on Metrolink. Metrolink Orange County Line Timetable.

San Clemente Beach Trail

A beachside trail runs parallel to the railroad tracks from North Beach all the way to Calafia Beach. The multi-use trail makes it convenient for pedestrians and cyclists to move from one part of the beach to another.

San Clemente City Beach Information

Beach and Pier Hours: 4 AM to 12 midnight

Beach Concessions

  • Fisherman's Bar & Restaurant - next to the pier
  • San Clemente Pier Shack & Grill - at the end of the pier
  • The Crab Pot Restaurant and Beach Eatery - south of pier
  • T-Street Surfer
  • Calafia Beach Cafe - Calafia parking area

Beach and Pier Regulations (partial list)

  1. No alcohol or dogs on the beach.
  2. Fires in self-contained BBS (off the sand) or provided fire rings only.
  3. No glass containers on beach or pier
  4. No jumping and diving from the pier.

Accessibility

Two beach wheelchairs at Marine Safety Headquarters for public use (free of charge). Please call (949) 361-8219 to make reservations (highly recommended).

Lifeguards

The Marine Safety Division is staffed from 8 AM to dusk, every day. The main lifeguard tower on the pier is staffed from 8:20 AM every morning. Lifeguard towers staffed from 9 or 10 AM until 6 or 7 PM. Staffing and hours are partially based on crown conditions.

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Ocean Safety

California State Parks and Recreation cautions that "large surf, cold water temperatures, backwash, sudden drop-offs, pounding shorebreak, and dangerous rip currents can turn what seem like safe activities such as playing near the surf line, wading, or climbing on rock outcroppings, deadly." Learn more about ocean safety at CA State Parks: Ocean Safety