2 COLD DAYS !!! WOW - here over the weekend with the fam freezing our butts off - BUT WAVES WERE AWESOME - YEEEEEHAW!! Surfed both Old Mans and Dogpatch .. Dog definitely ruled! Parking at this time of year is easy drive right in and pull right up - better bring your full suit if your getting in the water though! SUMMERTIME - NOPE! PARKING SUCKS read more

San Onofre, or otherwise known as SanO, is a great beach explore! I wouldn't recommend swimming, because of the rocky bottom, but if you are a surfer, this is the best surf spot in town. I usually go to take my 3 dogs to the dog beach, which is located at the very end of the dirt road, on the main beach of SanO. It's a great beach to just let them run and play in the sand. And, if you have a dog who likes to run away and pretend to not listen, like one of my pups, its PERFECT because there is no where for them to run to. The beach is composed of cliffs on one side and ocean on the other, with the exception of where you would enter, since at the far south end it runs into the San Onofre retired power plant; which is fenced off, with no access. The water is usually clean and the locals are nice and forgiving. BE PREPARED with sun block and a towel, but also brace for dog drool and a slight wet dog smell if there are other dogs there. Also, to get into the beaches or trails there is a fee of $15, unless you have a State Park Pass, like me! : ) If you are planning to go down any of the trails, some of them can be steep and slippery with sand, so be careful walking them. You can take dogs on most of the trails and beaches, as long as they are leashed. Parking is first come, first serve. It is located on the dirt road that backs up onto the beach. There are not designated lines for spots, so be friendly to how much or little space you give your neighbor. There is also a couple handicap spots, if needed. If all the spots are filled up, a line of cars will form at the ranger station, and they will let more cars come in as people leave and drive out. Be aware that this is a VERY popular beach on holidays like Memorial Day and Fourth of July (even though you cannot see the fireworks from here), but people like to come and have bonfires and parties, so parking can be tricky. SanO overall is a fun place to enjoy the views, surf, hang with friends, and soak in some rays. read more

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The beach is rocky, but the waves are nice. The parking is terrible, since there are only a few hundred spaces at most and nowhere to park nearby. Get here early on nice days. I've been trying to get superpowers from the nuclear reactors down the beach, but so far nothing. The waters are clean. Maybe one day... read more

San Onofre State Beach - Beaches Near Me - San Clemente, California

A great place to come and hang out and enjoy the sun, surf and sand. Here on a Sunday summer afternoon and parking was super easy. I guess for the $15 entrance fee and being a little tricky to find it does not get much notice. For sure I will come back here when I have time to drive down. Very cool that it's dog friendly on trails 1 and 6 and that we can bring Fido right into the waves. Everyone here had their dogs on a leash which was cool too. read more

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This review really only pertains to Trail 6. It seems that based on the other reviews, no one has thought to mention (or venture to?) SO since they banned the awful, scary nude people that were running amuck and exposing themselves to the local wildlife. I won't bother going into detail about how to get there or what to look out for if you plan on parking it south of the last trail; Symon S. did a great job of describing all of that already. What I will tell you is that, when I went there recently, the overwhelming number of signs reminding visitors not to take their clothes off (good taxpayer dollars at work people) did not seem to deter us from doing just that. I was planning on blaming the public school system on my inability to read ANY of their signs in case I got caught. Anyway, the usual took place: I really didn't see many park rangers on the beach, there was only one other female on the beach beside myself, the helicopters from Pendleton circled around lower and more frequently as the day passed (totally not saying this is on account of me but, rather, routine training exercises), and surfers came and went as the swell did. Now, that all being said, I'm sure that will all change as summer approaches. read more

San Onofre State Beach - Top of Trail 6 - Beaches Near Me - San Clemente, California

Great surf and beach to go to for beginners and advanced. The vibe is nice as well. Parking in the summer can be crowded but that's because it's such an awesome beach. It's a nice slow mellow wave that is good for all ages. Sea slugs, turtles, great whites, dolphins can all be seen here. read more

San Onofre State Beach - Beaches Near Me - San Clemente, California

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San onofre bluff camp site just up the road, I give two stars for the following reasons: The people next to us have two big dogs, that as far as I know all dogs need to be kept in a leash, and their not, and it's annoying because their wondering around our spot and making our small dog bark. And this morning the same dogs early in the morning are running on our side and the people are clueless that any of my group can still be sleeping. And an other reason is that when we got here, and since their a big group, some of the tents and other stuff was already reaching our spot. So for those camping in any site be aware that you're not the only ones camping and follow the rules of the camping grounds, and respect the space of others, as well to follow the rules as it includes the times for no noise and talking loundy past the time set. read more

Camped at San Onofre on weekend of 9/24/2010-9/26/2010. We had camp spots 167 & 168...excellent view of ocean and evening sunset. It's a bit of a walk down the bluff to get to the beach but worth the walk if you're in decent shape. Some people left negative feedback regarding the close proximity of parking spot to camping spot and I would agree with them BUT our location (spots 167 & 168) had ample space compared to many of the other camp spots. Great beach for surfing and bodyboarding! We'll be back next year! read more

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We were able to park our RV right alongside the beach. Lots of room for a long distance walk, but no dogs allowed on beach. Had to leave the boys in the RV while we took our beach walk. Watched a few surfers catch a few small waves. Shoreline a bit rocky, but still very nice. Amazing when the tide goes out, and you can walk out into the ocean with the seabirds and sea cucumbers, oh so awesome! read more

San Onofre State Beach - Beaches Near Me - San Clemente, California

All I can say is WOW! I am obsessed with this beach (even though I don't surf). I'm not much of a sand person so I prefer not hanging out at the beach, but this beach you can basically drive your car right up to the water for an amazing view. If you're not a surfer like everyone else that goes to this beach, it's still a great beach to have a date night at or a picnic and watch the sunset. It's 15 dollars for parking, since it is a state beach, but it's worth it! read more

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This is was amazing!!!! One of the more spontaneous things my boyfriend and I have done, we decided to get up early and take the bus (1 south) with our bikes from Huntington until the last stop in San Clemente where we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly... We were lucky enough to stumble upon this beach and the camp grounds, Erik had been there as a kid and knew right where to go! Very secluded and quiet. We really enjoyed the fact that we had the train tracks right there and used all the change we could find to make some souvenirs :) I can't wait till it gets warmer and we can go camping there! 5 stars for this little hidden gem!! read more

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A hidden gem. Malibu and Huntington are notorious for surfing. I had never heard or been here before. It's near a military base which sounds weird initially. But it's quite picturesque. You could spend the whole day here. It's lovely and you'll find yourself deep in surfing culture. There's not much around here so you'll have to drive north to get supplies. read more

The beach is beautiful. The surf history amazing. But the employees in the pay kiosk are the lamest. There is one specific little boy that is very arrogant. The wait to enter is handled very haphazardly and the boys working it are lazy. read more

Don't get caught in the wait line if parking lot is full! We made the mistake of getting in line to wait and it's a one lane line with no exit once you get in. Waited 30 min! Unless your more patient than me! read more

Wonderful surf beach with great day use. Camping is just up the road. Negatives are construction ongoing nearby which make for a less than desirable view point of the bluffs but the ocean view makes up for everything! Loved this place for a bit more of a quiet sunset than some of the beaches! read more

San Onofre State Beach - Beaches Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Posted yesterday's surf-session under the San Mateo Campground cuz, you know, I was camping. But I came for the beach... read more

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This is a great beach for dogs but not for kids to play in the water. Be careful! This happened on trail #1 and the trail down is super steep. But on the positive side my dog had a great time. read more

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This review is for Trails, NOT Old Man's. This place is amazing, and for awhile, was almost single-handedly responsible for me not moving out of Orange County. First, let's just start with the beach and the surf. I am a (horrible) surfer. A newbie, really. If you start surfing after the age of about 14, you are a newbie...until you hit about 50. So.....still a newbie here. I surf mostly fall and winter, and this is the perfect beach to do it in. When the surf is good it is really good, it is a hike down a steep hill to get there (pack as lightly as possible for the return trip) but it is a very nice walk. During low tides, there are some cool tide pools off of trail 1. There are lifeguard towers but because I generally stay away from this (and a lot of beaches) during the summer (damn tourists), I can't tell you what the lifeguard schedule is exactly. Now, onto my favorite part....the dog friendly part. Dogs are allowed onto trails 1 and 6, YAY! Technically, they are supposed to be on a leash. And during the summer, I would absolutely obey this rule. BUT during the winter....almost no one does. The surfers and people who don't want to be around dogs don't come to these trails (especially Trail 1). Trail one is perfect; I let her off the leash once we get past the brush areas (don't want to disturb the wildlife) and she runs down to the beach. She LOVES this place...running through the waves and the sand...its great. Guaranteed tired doggie after. Tips: They have doggie poop bags there, BUT sometimes the dispensers are empty. Be a good dog owner and bring your own just in case. Park entrance is 10 bucks a pop. Do yourself a favor if you are a local, and buy a state park pass. 120 bucks, so if you go at least once a month for a year, it is worth it. I have used it way more than that. Love it. It also gives me surfer street cred. Wear good shoes. That hill is steep. Bring your flip flops with you if you must. Bring water! If you are there to let your dog off the leash, keep it to fall/winter/early spring. read more

0 STAR because the tips and reviews about having this beach pet friendly was a LIE! We spent an hour driving around trying to find a spot where we can bring our four legged kids but NO LUCK! Best bet is HUNTINGTON BEACH! Disappointed because now we have to drive another hour to get to our destination. Thanks a lot unreliable Yelpers! The deception the betrayal! 5 STARS = beach is clean and nice not crowded! Very rocky for the most part! read more

Amazing beach although it is a mission to get to... Paradise is only a drive away especially if you want to go camping or long-boarding. This is the best beach to go long boarding at! Waves are perfect and long for a cruise that you'll be wondering when you're ride stops because you usually just get up and down within 15 seconds... here it's more like a minute. Doesn't sound like much but trust me it is!!!!! The beach is clean, plenty of parking, life guards are out there, bonfire, etc. Well taken care of and that's the way I like my beaches! HOLLA! read more

My goals for the weekend were to eat carne asada fries and go to the beach. I dream big. After treating my cousin to a rather crappy breakfast (sorry, Susan), we headed back to San Diego. On the way, we got on the 1 and made some weird turn and ended up here so I could walk on the beach. It was windy, the sand was not fine and the water was very cold but my heart was content. It reminded me again that I need to live near the ocean and I think it needs to happen soon. And, no, I never got any carne asada fries but I got more than I expected. Maybe. read more

My second time here and I do love this beach. I've gone to Trail 6 and walked past the Camp Pendleton fence so we can go nude. It's a bit of a hike but so worth it. The cliffs are beautiful. I definitely recommend wearing something tother than flip flops walking down the path as it is a bit steep and the beach itself is a bit rocky. Also no concession stands so make sure you bring food and plenty of water. read more

I stopped off at this beach on my way back home to San Diego... it was a hit a for me. CA is blessed with miles upon miles of gorgeous coast line and beaches, and this jewel is a standout for beauty and pristine views. I was on my way back home after visiting friends in L.A. and decided to stop at the beach and dig on the "green flash". I have to confess, I was so caught up in admiring the beauty of nature around me, as well as the dolphins playing in the water line, I lost track of the moment to see the flash. While all our beaches tend to get crowded, I was there when the crowd was thinned out... perfect for my moment of Zen. So I was able to make a few mental notes about what I saw. Besides the beauty, the public bathrooms are clean; surfing is clearly righteous given the wave action I saw; dog friendly, and yeah buddy... firepits available., The stay was brief but I will definitely be back, and do some sketching at this beach. read more

This is a great place to relax. Great waves, so you'll see plenty of surfing action. Chill people, you can start up a convo with anybody. And big fish, if shore fishing is your thing. I highly enjoyed my lazy day tanning at San O. I even met a cute 3 legged dog. Minus a point for the view of the nuclear power plant (aka the giant boobies.) The reason why I limited my beach activities to tanning. read more

I love this beach and if you are going to complain about the power plant stay home. That just leaves more beach space for the rest of us. My kids love coming here to body board and play in the sand. We always camp at the bluffs so we use our camping pass to get in here free. read more

San Onofre State Beach - Beaches Near Me - San Clemente, California

San Onofre Bluffs Campground isn't primitive camping. There are other campers right by your campsite. The cost of camping isn't even worth the lot. The lot is smaller than the average living room size. Plus, the campsite is near train tracks. Almost every hour we hear loud trains drive by. There are problems with the site too many to list. I wouldn't go here for the price they ask read more

NOTE: Park Rangers will begin citing nude sunbathers after Labor Day 2009. This report is just for the Trail 6 part of the beach. Getting there is really easy . Exit Basilone and head towards the giant radiactive boobies. Drive past it and continue until you get to the State Park booth to pay your fee. Drive a couple miles at (10mph!) until you reach the the fence, the end, Trail 6. Bring at least your towel, water, and sunblock. Use the bathroom before heading down. Head down the path that starts at the bathroom.Take a left at the T in the path and you'll see a big hill shortly to your right. This is your way down. You can head down the big driveway of a hill (watch out for the crevices and ruts) or find the littlegoat path right at the top of the hill on your left. This will get you down in about 2 minutes. Once you get to the bottom, head south (left) until you see all the umbrellas, and nekkedness. Bow chikka bowow.. you have arrived! The nude area is really small, about 1/4 of a mile total. So expect weekends to be really crowded. Get there early (around 9am) to get good parking and a good spot on the beach, otherwise your gonna have to drive up and down the parking lot waiting for someone to leave. Weekdays are totally different. Just come in wherenver you want. The mix of men to women is probably as good as its gonna get between San O and Blacks. I think the main reason for this is because there are less gawkers and less clothed people walking around due to the entrance fee so whoever is there is intending to spend the day nude and enjoying the beach., not to just see boobies and weiners. There is still the typical nude beach code.. gay side straight side, and singles scattered about. People here like most nude places are friendly and of all shapes and sizes, ethnicities, and whitness (in regards to tanning). Seems like alomost every summertime weekend there is a volleyball game going. Ive always wanted to play but am not THAT comfortable in my nudity yet. I'll eventually get over it. There seems to be more social activity here than Blacks as well. The beach is all natural, decorated with high cliffs, and spots of hard packed dirt along the shore miixed in with the typical beach sand. The shore is spottted with alot of river rocks which can make walking barefoot less than desireable. The waves, are perfect for those learning how to surf. Somtimes you can see dolhins or whales migrating in the distance! This is the beach where I broke my nudism virginity! Its perfect for first timers cause on the weekdays is relatively open and there isnt really any gawkers or people up on the cliffs to see you. there are alos some areas on the beach that are lower so you can actually kind of hide. Check it out before its toooooooo laaaaaaaate! read more

Absolutely one of my favorite beaches on the West Coast (or any coast for that matter). Me and a few buddies have made it a lifelong mission of ours to head down there at least twice a year for a surf mecca. We camp either at San Mateo or San Clemente and spend ALL day long at the beach surfing and generally just enjoying everything the area has to offer. Great waves when the swell is right, really nice people from the parking lot to snack bar to the park rangers, and almost always you get great California weather to enjoy while you're splashing around in the waves. I'll be back. Soon. Pro tip: The soft sand caves look really cool and fun to explore, until you actually climb up in there and you get hit with the unforgettable stench of urine. Stay out! read more

Oh, this quiet, soothing gem. I eagerly await for my brother's invitation to watch him surf here every time I visit San Clemente. It is an untouched coastline with serious surfers and nature lovers. I have been gone for 2+ hours walking up and down this gorgeous terrain. If I am in an unhappy place, I picture San Onofre State Beach and all is great with my world! read more

I love the vibe at San O. It's the perfect place to spend a lazy summer day, relaxing on the beach while watching surfers ride the waves. The people are really chill too. Striking up conversation while offering you a beer is not uncommon. I tried surfing for the first time here, and to my surprise, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The waves aren't harsh, and they give most beginners the right amount of push to stand up. Beware of the rocky bottom though, they aren't jagged, but they can be a little rough on the feet. You might want to bring surf socks. read more

This is the best state beach for dogs. Trail #1 and 6. It's a little bit ideals for trail 6 but the journey is worth it. What a killer beach. Not over crowded, especially in the weekdays. It ha beautiful rocks and is just a great beach. I love it, the wife loves it and the dogs just can't get enough of this beach. Go you won't be sorry. Camping is also good but is loud, it's close to the freeway. Worth the drive and the day use fee $15 free if you camp at any state camp site. read more

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My to-go beach pure paradise !! Private & to be honest down to earth people who: live breathe surf to the fullest. Mission to get there, kind of confusing bc of the streets and bc it's literally side by side to Camp Pendleton. What beach can you literally pull-up back into sand & walk straight to the water. Dog friendly, people friendly. Surfer heaven! Beach closes @ 1000pm be sure to leave @ 1000pm or beach ranger comes & gets you & kicks you out. Grrrrr. read more

Great place to go camping! Call ahead to make a reservation...not sure if you can just drive up and get a spot, especially in the summer months. You can set up your tent or RV facing the water and it's a short walk on down to the waves. Very chill like Robyn said...people are friendly and giving with the beer and BBQ items if they're camping. Great little surf spot...and yes, watch out for the rocky bottom! read more

I came here for the weekend before Earth Day. They had trees for the campers to plant in honor of the upcoming occassion. So sweet! Lying on the beach with the train passing by behind you is almost surreal. The entire weekend was like something about a movie. Being on a cliff overlooking the tracks & beach was way cool. The way everything looks around sunset... I wouldn't be able to describe it! It reminded me of how much I loved camping as a girl. The rangers here are nice & their facilities are what you'd expect (blech) but it's all part of the fun! read more

I love this beach! Its great and if you have the annual pass you can park for free! but if you don't then it'l cost you $15 to park here, but its serious just right next to the sand so when you get out you can gear up in your surfing attire and dive right in! The beach is beautiful and this is definitely a place to come surf as the waves are always consistent. There is nothing more beautiful then going out for a surf session and being able to watch the sunset in the water (: If you're thinking about learning how to surf this is the spot! But becareful while walking out during low tide because it is very rocky and its a bit of a bumpy road to get out far enough to start paddling out (: read more

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beautiful rocky beach. Pros: great place for engagement pictures. you can have amazing photos here on sunset Cons: Parking $15. I see trash. Seriously people, protect our nature please. read more

The campground itself is nice. The bathrooms toilets are RV toilets. That's lame. Freeway noise and trains are just to close when sleeping. Military aircraft fly by often enough and that's entertaining. We had spot 113. Had a good view of the ocean. read more

The wait in a one lane to get into the beach is horrible!! Do not recommend if you want to enjoy the beach right away. We have been waiting in line for about an hour. Hoping the beach is worth it. read more

We go here annually with our friends. The Bathrooms are clean Running Showers are Hot and amazing! Beautiful View of the sunset Good Place to surf Good place to take your dogs Firepits are conveniently located at every campsite with nearby benches you can park your biscuit on extra parking for drop in guests and the Camp is overall Clean I could honestly live here one day if I decide to lose my marbles, leave it all, and become a hobo here and be perfectly content, the only gripe I have about this place is that the beach has big rocks all around the front of the shore on most spots so it doesn't make it very kid friendly, but that's about the only downfall I can think of. read more

Longboard Surfing Paradise! Note: Entrance Fee Required Slow, rolling waves make it a great spot for beginners and people who enjoy the slower pace. They have showers along the coast enclosed with live bamboo, with racks and a hose to rinse off your board. Very cool. The added bonus is that the entrance fee is steep, so it keeps the punks out. read more