Dana Point has a string of distinct beaches running about five miles along the coast. From north to south: Strand Beach with its inclined elevator down the cliffs, Salt Creek Beach below the Ritz-Carlton, Dana Strand Beach (mostly private hotel access), Baby Beach in the harbour (calm, family-friendly), Doheny State Beach just south of the harbour, and Capistrano Beach ('Capo Beach') further south on the San Clemente border.
Surfing conditions vary considerably. Doheny is the historical home of Orange County longboarding, with a gentle longshore break — gentler now than it was before the harbour breakwater cut off most of the swell. Salt Creek has more reliable shoulder-high beach break that suits intermediates. The harbour breakwater killed the famous 'Killer Dana' wave when it was built in 1966; surfers still mourn it.