Doheny

Our Mission Doheny State Beach The mission of California State Parks is to provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. At daybreak, the calm ocean draws surfers waiting for that elusive perfect wave. California State Parks supports equal access. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the park at (949) 496-6171. If you need this publication in an alternate format, contact interp@parks.ca.gov. CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 For information call: (800) 777-0369 (916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. 711, TTY relay service www.parks.ca.gov Doheny State Beach 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive Dana Point, CA 92629 (949) 496-6171 www.parks.ca.gov/doheny © 2008 California State Parks (Rev. 2015) A s California’s first state beach, Doheny covers 62 acres of scenic oceanfront. This Orange County beach beckons to those seeking sun, sand, and surf. Doheny State Beach enjoys mild weather year-round, with generally fine air quality and coastal breezes. Average summer temperatures range in the high 70s, while winter ushers in fog and slightly cooler mid60-degree weather. PARK HISTORY Native People The Dana Point area was primarily inhabited by the Acjachemen (Juaneño) tribe. For at least 9,000 years, they lived in coastal or valley villages from San Clemente to Aliso Creek. The first recorded contact between the Acjachemen and Europeans came in 1769 when Gaspar de Portolá led an expedition of Spanish soldiers and Franciscan missionaries to the area now called Orange County. By 1776 Mission San Juan Capistrano had been constructed in an Acjachemen village; the tribal people who labored there were then called San Juaneños by the missionaries. Juaneño customs and population rapidly declined as they succumbed to hard labor at the missions, confinement, and diseases carried by Europeans. Today the Juaneño tribe’s culture and language survive in their traditional ceremonies and song; the tribe is pursuing recognition from the federal government. Edward L. Doheny Doheny State Beach takes its name from oilman Edward L. Doheny. In 1893 he borrowed money to dig the city’s first oil well, striking oil at 200 feet deep. Doheny created a vast land and oil empire in Southern California and Mexico. Before he died in 1935, he donated 41 acres of his beachfront estate to the State. In the late 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed campgrounds, picnic areas, and the custodian’s lodges at Doheny beach and at nearby San Clemente. The sole CCC remnant at Doheny is a plaster and tile wall and entryway near the campground. NATURAL RESOURCES Plants and Animals The park’s four sensitive wetland/riparian plant ecosystems are coastal brackish marsh, southern willow scrub, southern sycamore riparian woodland, and mule fat scrub. Gray whale The park provides habitat and nesting ground to such birds as black-crowned night herons, ruby-crowned kinglets, and snowy egrets, while black-bellied plovers and sanderlings dart across the sand. Doheny enjoys migratory visits from gray whales offshore and monarch butterflies in season. Marine life includes grunion, halibut, and stingrays, while garibaldi and common dolphin also swim beneath the waves. ACTIVITIES 1967 surfers’ mecca SURF’S UP Dana Point hosted surfing legends like surfboard maker Hobie Alter and Endless Summer filmmaker Bruce Brown. “Down Doheny Way” was memorialized in the Beach Boys’ hit Surfin’ USA. Its spectacular pipelines and point breaks ended when Dana Point’s harbor breakwater was built in 1966. Doheny surf still breaks consistently. Junior Ranger and Interpretive Programs Junior Ranger and campfire programs are offered during the summer. Check with the park staff for schedules and topics. Doheny’s remodeled visitor/interpretive center and aquarium exhibits show the natural and cultural history of the park habitats and surrounding open spaces. The Junior Lifeguard Waterman’s Academy, for ages 8 to 16, shares beach and ocean safety information, physical fitness, lifeguard barbecue grills, and parking. To reserve for a group from 25 to 1,000 people, contact (949) 496-3617 or doheny.events@parks.ca.gov. Experience many tide pool residents at the visitor center’s exhibits. skills, and ocean-oriented activities. For more information, call (949) 496-6162 or visit www.dohojg.com. Camping Warm water and more than a mile of sandy beach consistently earn Doheny State Beach the title of “Orange County’s best camping site.” Its 113 campsites, including 33 beachfront sites, have fire rings, picnic tables, and hot showers. The group camp can accommodate up to 40 people. Reserve at (800) 444-7275 or www.parks.ca.gov/doheny. Beach Activities A rocky area at the beach’s western end attracts certified divers and licensed anglers. During low tide, visitors may explore tide pools. Volleyball, horseshoes, swimming, sunbathing, kayaking, and paddle boarding are popular, while surfing is restricted to the day-use beach north of San Juan Creek. Picnicking Doheny’s five-acre landscaped picnic area has plenty of family and group picnic tables, ACCESSIBLE FEATURES Parking, some camping and picnic sites, restrooms, showers, and the campfire and visitor centers are accessible. A boardwalk runs from the north picnic area to the palapa. A beach wheelchair may be available. PLEASE REMEMBER Warning: The sea is unpredictable and often dangerous. Use extreme caution. Never turn your back at the ocean’s edge. • Collection of dead wood is prohibited. • Only registered campers may drink alcohol in their campsites. Special-event alcohol permit holders may serve alcohol. • Dogs must be attended on a six-foot leash at all times and must be confined to a vehicle or tent at night. Except for service animals, no dogs are allowed on beaches. • All natural and cultural features in the park are protected by state law and may not be removed or disturbed. NEARBY STATE BEACHES AND PARKS • San Clemente State Beach 225 Avenida Calafia, San Clemente 92672 (949) 492-3156 • San Onofre State Beach, 3 miles south on I-5 (Basilone Road exit) (949) 492-4872 • Crystal Cove State Park, 8471 North Coast Hwy. 1, Laguna Beach 92651 (949) 494-3539 This park receives support in part from a nonprofit organization. For more information, contact: Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive Dana Point, CA 92629 (949) 496-2923 www.dohenystatebeach.org to Laguna Beach int Ha rb North Day-Use Area rk Dr Pa Horseshoe Courts N or Park Entrance Pacific Co Po Pu rn na erto Pl La nt e Da ast Hwy Doheny State Beach P Visitor Center/ Aquarium De lO bis po St Service Area P 0 200 0 50 400 100 800 Feet 600 150 P 250 Meters 200 Park R d Snack Bar and Rental Concession Beach Palapa Legend Main Lifeguard Tower San Juan Cr eek Trail Major Road Paved Road San Juan Trail: Hike & Bike Creek Beach Area Accessible Boardwalk Hwy Accessible Feature Barbecue Pit Bridge Pedestrian/ Bicycle Access Campfire Center DOHENY Campground 1 Pacific Co Building ast Doheny Beach Campground (sites 1-122) Food Services S TAT E rk y Pa hen Rd W t Dr Poin Pa cif P Restrooms aD rW Picnic Area ic C oa st Parking Da n aB Hw y Lifeguard Tower Vis t BEACH Campground: Hike & Bike luf fW Pa rk Picnic Area: Group P Do Rd Campground: Group View RV Sanitation Station Showers Volleyball Court E t Dr E Via Verde to 1 Via C Ca mi alif Via C no Ca ata lina pis t ran o P orn ia Los Angeles SHP LOS Pedestrian ANGELES 605 Overpass Access Hw y st Chino Hills SP 57 55 22 ic C oa CLEVELAND Santa NF Ana Huntington Beach Crystal Cove SP Corona del Mar SB cif CA Citrus SHP Laguna Beach 1 FI Dana Point C Doheny SB I en y Pl s ade Dr lis Do h to San Clemente Pa Santa Catalina Island Avalon OC 0 0 EA San Clemente SB San Onofre N 5 10 10 Mi 20 Km 15 Lake Elsinore 74 5 C Pedestrian/ Bicycle Access 10 Riverside 91 405 Bolsa Chica SB Huntington SB Pa 71 Anaheim 91 Long Beach PA P Chino 60 Pio Pico SHP 110 710 405 Sewer Pump Station 5 rde H Vi arb ew o e Via V r © 2008 California State Parks (Rev. 2015) Poin South Day-Use Area View Visitor Center/Aquarium Pacific View Vis ta D r Swimming Da na Bluff E Surfing CAMP San Onofre SB PENDLETON 5 to San Diego USMC