Doheny State Beach, State beach and campground in Dana Point, United States

Doheny State Beach is a 62-acre (25-hectare) beach at the mouth of San Juan Creek in Dana Point, where the creek forms a freshwater lagoon before reaching the Pacific. The sand is pale tan, with a low concrete retaining edge and scattered pebbles near the back of the beach; three dark cylindrical trash cans stand together on the upper sand. The northern end holds a day-use surfing beach, while campgrounds occupy the southern section.

Edward L. Doheny donated the beach for public use on May 31, 1931, shortly before his death, making it California's first state beach. It was formally named Doheny State Beach on July 1, 1963. The original donation was 41 acres; later acquisitions from the Santa Fe Railroad, the University of California Regents, and Union Oil added 21 acres. The Acjachemen lived in the area for an estimated 9,000 years before Spanish contact in 1769.

The beach carries the name of Edward L. Doheny, who struck oil 200 feet down in Dana Point in 1893 and donated the shore for public use on May 31, 1931, shortly before his death. The name became official on July 1, 1963. Surfers call the place Doho, and four takeoff spots are named within it: Boneyard, Doheny Rivermouth, Second Spot and The Hammer.

The campground offers 113 sites with fire rings, picnic tables, and access to hot showers, with 33 located right on the beachfront. Day visitors can find good space for swimming or walking, especially during low tide when tide pools become accessible.

Dolphins and seals appear regularly near the shore, especially during spring and fall when large migrations pass along the coast. Some visitors spot them swimming from the beach itself, often in small groups moving parallel to the shoreline.