Published: July 12, 2026
Read: 2 min
In: Travel Guide
Poche Beach

Poche Beach is a little pocket beach at the very south end of Dana Point, bordering San Clemente. On the north end of the beach, Poche Creek (or Prima Deshecha Cañada storm drain) empties to the ocean. Poche Creek is largely a drainage canal carrying runoff water from Shorecliffs Golf Club and the surrounding neighborhood, so the water can look dirty. The water quality of the Poche Creek Ocean Interface is tested weekly by OC Health. It usually shows green marks, but after heavy rains this beach scores some of the lowest and should be avoided.

On the south end of Poche Beach is Shorecliffs Beach Club. This is a private members-only beach club association for homeowners within the Shorecliff residential community.

Accessing this beach can be difficult as there is no parking on the section of Pacific Coast Highway nor El Camino Real and surrounding neighborhoods along with the nearest parking lot are private. It can be popular with surfers, a stopping point on their bike ride from Doheny and Capo to T-Street looking for a prefect break.

Surfers at Poche Beach
Surfer leaving Poche Beach
View south to San Clemente

Information

  • Address: 2798 N El Camino Real, Dana Point, CA 92624 or 2798 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente
  • Hours: 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM
  • Parking: Some street parking along Camino Capistrano as well as the side streets in the Shorecliffs business district
  • Amenities: Bike path, no facilities
  • Accessibility: Coast Highway Protected Trail – a bike path from Capo Beach
  • Dogs: no dogs allowed on this beach
  • Know before you go: Checkout the Surf Report: Surfline – Poche Beach, the water quality: OC Health, and the tides
  • More Information: https://www.ocparks.com/sites/ocparks/files/2023-05/Capistrano%20Beach%20Park%20Map.pdf

OC Beach Apparel and Souvenirs

Dana Point Hoodie

Dana Point Long Sleeve T-shirt

Dana Point Slides

Strands Beach T-Shirt

South end of Poche Beach
Pedestrian entrance to stairs and rampway down to Poche Beach
Sign to Poche Beach
High Tide Flood Warning
Walkway back to street
Poche Beach
Shorecliffs Beach Club Fence
Private beach area fence
Surfer leaving Poche Beach
OC Parks Poche Beach Sign
No Dogs Allowed on Beach
Walkway under rail tracks
Waves at Poche Beach
View south to San Clemente
Surfers at Poche Beach
Shorecliffs Beach Club
Ramp back to El Camino Real
Poche Beach looking north to Capistrano Beach
Poche Beach Satellite View courtesy of Google 2023
Beach Club Monument
Light and Crosswalk
at Camino Capistrano and El Camino Real
Coast Trail along El Camino Real to San Clemente
First View of Poche Beach
Poche Creek Outlet
Poche Creek Ocean Intercept
Poche Beach Waves and Shoreline
Poche Beach Shoreline

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Related

  • Capistrano Beach
  • North Beach