Tidepool Paradise
It’s been a tidepool lovers paradise lately. There has been a negative low tide, every day for weeks. Some seasons have extreme tides, and you simply need to check your tide chart, to know when that will be. King tides are extreme high tides that cause flooding. But what we are after are negative low tides, where the tide is about a foot or more below zero. That is the tide you want for the best tidepooling.
About Doheny
Doheny State Beach is a popular beach in summer with surfers, since it tends to offer more favorable conditions for surfers during predominant south winds. It has fire pits, bbq areas, and volleyball nets, along with a cafe. The calm waves make it popular with families, near the north jetty in summer. It’s also a prime spot for tidepooling.
Directions
The beach is located in Dana Point, off of Doheny Park Rd. It has a campground to the south, and is also close to Dana Point Harbor, to its north. To reach Doheny exit the 5 freeway, heading south, at Beach Cities, making a right at the light, and then proceeding to Doheny Park Rd before making a left, along with another left into the state beach. Here is the location on google maps.
Parking
You can pay to park at the fishing jetty on the north end of Doheny State Beach, which costs about $2 an hour. If you’re staying for the day it is $15 for a day pass, to park within Doheny State Beach. I have a beach pass to enjoy coming to State Parks and Beaches as much as I want.
The Jetty
The long jetty here serves as a breakwater, by the harbor entrance. Your likely to see surfers here, more towards the south jetty at the headwaters of San Juan Creek on low tide. On a medium to high tide, the tidepools get covered, and surfers will surf closer to the long jetty.
The Tidepools
Within these tidepools many kinds of crabs can be found. They will crawl their way into shells of various shapes, and sizes. I found one crawling around in a whelk shell, which was covered in seaweed.
Kids will be entertained for hours here, armed only with a bucket.
Hermit Crabs
Looking for hermit crabs was one of my favorite things to do at the beach as a child. I used to have to talk my mom into letting me take them home as pets. She did on a few occasions, but they cannot survive long in a bucket.
Discover Something New
It’s always fun to be on the hunt for a new discovery in tidepools. Just about every time I have visited, I found some new marine creature, shell, or anemone. There is the macrocosm of our big bustling world. Then there is the microcosm, in the tidepools, which you have to slow and look closely to see.
On the Rocks
The rocks here are quite rough, and can be razor sharp, so going barefoot is not advised. I have cut my foot numerous times at Doheny, on razor sharp rocks, walking out to the waves. The best case scenario is I go out closer to the north jetty, at high tide, and just start paddling, as soon as the water is deep enough, or one foot.
More Things to Do
I love Doheny, for bonfires, and just watching the sunset too. So many things keep drawing me here, including the tidepools.
Check Your Tide Chart
Be sure to check your tide chart before you go. You can obtain a small pocket sized tide chart for free, if you ask for one, at the entrance kiosk. You can also find one here.
About me
I’m Serafina! I’m a writer and California girl who loves to go exploring. Hope you will get outside today, breathe some fresh air, and be happy!
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Disclaimer: The work on this blog is my opinion and my opinion alone and I am not responsible for the outcome if someone were to apply these thoughts to their own life. All text and photography copyright 2021 by Serafina, all rights reserved. Information and opinions provided are kept current to the best of the author’s ability. All readers’ usage of the ideas and opinions presented in the blog, are at their own risk. Be aware of the possible dangers of hiking, surfing, walking, cooking, and other activities, which may take place indoors or outdoors. By reading this, you agree not to hold the author or publisher of the content on this web site responsible for any injuries or inconveniences that may result from reading the blog, or partaking in any activity mentioned in the blog. Read the blog, and use its ideas, if you so desire, at your own risk.
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