North Beach in San Clemente is located as the name describes, on the northern boundary of beaches in the city. Though not listed in the San Clemente City site, Poche Beach is further north than this beach, providing limited beach parking.

A public beach parking lot makes it easy to access, though wandering further south along the perimeter of this beach you'll find the hills become steep and feature houses perched, overlooking the ocean. Sets of stairs to nearly every street above the cliffs provide additional access to the beaches that offer more isolated areas to relax.

As you enter the City of San Clemente from Dana Point, you will have passed around the bend in Pacific Coast Highway, entering a flat beach area with gently sloped hills in which the Ole Hansen Beach Club, shopping and roads to the freeway sit.  This flat beach condition is your easiest access point until you reach the San Clemente Pier.

Some describe the scene above as 204, known for swells that hit the offshore reefs, then break near the beach. San Clemente beaches are known for surfing and you'll often find road travelers planning a stop or making a special trip to take in the surfing in San Clemente.

San Clemente neighborhood beaches, Amtrak access to San Diego and Los Angeles and its own tucked away lifestyle that's a bit slower paced than the faster-moving cities next door such as Dana Point and Laguna Beach or inland spots Laguna Niguel and Lake Forest make this the kind of place you'd think about packing up and moving to. But tourists like it for its small time charm and family friendly beaches.

The southern-most beach city in Orange County California is located next to Camp Pendleton in San Diego County and as such, enjoys open space.

San Clemente, California 
County: Orange 
Elevation:  208' 
Information:  (949) 492-1131