Doheny SP (Dana Point, CA)

[wavery]

Doheny is a favorite spot for many campers here in SoCal. I noticed that no one has written a review so I thought that I would.

Doheny is a typical SoCal, no hook-up CG (dry camping). Although there is drinking water available to fill your tanks. The sites are fairly small but well placed and most offer some privacy. There is a large, grassy park in the center for the little ones to play and for some separation. The beach front sites (of which there are several but hard to get) have space between sites and all offer a full beach frontage with a fire-ring and picnic table.

The parking pads are paved and level and offer some unique combinations for pop-ups (see photo below). The ocean breakers are very close and can be quite loud. That's a mixed bag. If you love the sound of the surf (as we do), it doesn't get any better than here. If the loud surf bothers your sleep, you may want to consider that. Amtrak also passes close by but is barely noticeable and I never heard them blow there whistle once.

This is a favorite SoCal surfing spot and there are lots of surfers in certain sections. It's fun to watch them surf. You can often see Dolphins, right out your bedroom window, playing in the surf. The 2nd picture was an attempt to get a picture of dolphins in the surf. I took the picture while laying in bed and the screen made it pretty fuzzy. The picture gives you an idea of the view from your camper.

There are lots of sailboats to watch and kite flying is a big deal here. We saw about 20 kites of every size and shape, all being flown at once. Very colorful. There is a nice breeze that comes up everyday at about 10:AM and drops off to dead calm by sunset (during normal conditions) and is pretty reliable from April through September. The campground also borders a bird sanctuary with thousands of beautiful birds and a large (tidal) wetlands area.

They have clean restrooms and showers (showers are $.25 for 2 1/2 minutes).

The one draw back to this beach is that there are signs posted stating that the ocean water may be hazardous to your health (I guess surfers can't read). Although, I did see plenty of people in the water.

View of campsite #51 from the beach:


View from inside our bedroom, looking out at the ocean (through the screen):

[oldmoose]

We've been there twice for the annual Beach DOG. I agree it's a nice campground. Once I take out my hearing aids, I don't hear the waves. Lucky me.

Moose

[griffsmom]

Doheny is nice. We stayed there this past January along with Moose and Paula for the So Cal IDOS Beach DOG.  

When I was in college and then grad school, I lived in Dana Point from 1983-1985 and San Clemente from 1985-1992 and used to surf and ocean kayak every weekend and whenever I could play hooky during the week.  The break that is immediately south of the Doheny jetty is called "boneyard" and was a fun place to surf, but all I can say is regardless of the number of surfers out in the water, I would NEVER surf at Doheny anymore.  
 
See that big "creek" draining to the ocean just North of the cg?  It contains every untreated substance that people wash down their gutters or throw out into the street.  Blech!  Really want to get grossed out?  Check out Doheny's bacteria levels after a nice refreshing rain--they're crazy off the charts and Doheny is always closed down for at least a week or so!  Actually, the bacteria levels aren't much better even when it hasn't been raining!  The surfers you see out in the line up probably already have Hepetitis B or C and don't have to worry about what's in the water anymore!  It's sad, really.