Dana Point Sea Caves: What to Expect (2024)

The Dana Point Sea Caves hike is one of the most popular things to do in Dana Point, CA.

To complete the hike, you must traverse the rocky shore which bends around the Dana Point headlands. Your reward is a cool sea cave (pictured below) that looks out at the Pacific Coast.

Key Info

Distance: Less than 1.5 miles round trip

Time: ~1.5 hours total

Difficulty: Short distance but almost exclusively rocky terrain—not for people with weak ankles! Shoes are strongly recommended.

IMPORTANT: Be sure to check the tide before embarking on this hike. High tides may limit access to the caves.

How to Get to the Sea Caves

Park in one of the free lots before the Ocean Institute. Address: 24200 Dana Point Harbor Dr, Dana Point, CA 92629

Behind the Ocean Institute, you’ll arrive at this staircase. Take the stairs down to the beach.

Once you’re down the steps, you’ll start walking north.

The first stretch of the trail is sand, but the rest of the way is basically this terrain:

Trust us—good footwear is a must when walking on these rocks!

The entrance to the sea cave appears small but this is deceiving.

The cave is fairly large and lined with rocks. Doesn’t it look like one of the treasure caves in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland?

Fun fact: Sea caves are formed by erosion from ocean waves!

Here’s the view from the cave looking out toward the ocean. It’s a beautiful sight!

---