A Walking Tour of Dana Point
An outdoor room with a view
One of the best things about Dana Point is how walkable it is. Not only walkable but also scenic. The second best thing? It’s nice most of the year. the majority of the pictures featured on this post were taken in mid-February. Not bad, eh?
If you have a day, this tour of the hill and cliff tops of Dana Point will leave you with some of the the best scenic selfies. It also passes through the Lantern District where you can end with some shopping, stop for a respite, or enjoy a leisurely brunch.
Starting at the Top
Dana Point Headlands and Harbor Point Conservation Park
On the west side of Dana Point along the Pacific Ocean is a large conservation area. This nature preserve serves to protect the habitat of endangered species in the area. The preserve features ocean views and a series of trails. From the preserve and the Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center walk along Scenic Drive to Harbor Point Conservation Park. The park features an overlook and a trail that loops to the cliff edge on the east end of the Dana Point Harbor. The trail features a series of signs telling you about the area and history along with an amazing view of the harbor from the east.
Leaving the Harbor Point Conservation Park, follow Scenic Drive as it turns into Green Lantern. Turn down Santa Clara Avenue and walk to Blue Lantern. At the end of Blue Lantern you will come across another scenic overlook and the Blue Lantern Gazebo, a Dana Point Historic Landmark, Also know as Dana Point Hilltop Cabana, it was built in the 1920s as part of the development projects meant to build up the city and attract people to move to the area.
Bluff Top and The Lantern District
The Lantern District
From the end of Blue Lantern, walk north to Pacific Coast Highway. There you will enter the Lantern District at Del Prado Avenue and PCH. walk along Del Prado enjoying the shopping and dining. Grab a coffee at Bear Coast Coffee, a burger as The Shwack Beach Grill, or a pint at Dana Point Ale House.
When you are ready to resume your walking tour, head south down Amber Lantern. At the end of Amber Lantern you will find a panoramic overlook and the entrance to Bluff Top Trail.
Bluff Top Trail
West Entrance
If you came in town from the North, you will start out from the west entrance on Amber Lantern. At that entrance is a nice overlook area of the Dana Point Harbor and Pacific Ocean.
Seasonal Waterfall
In the middle of the trail is a bridge over a gully. During the spring time the gully can be full of green foliage, blooming wildflowers, and a waterfall.
Dana Point Inn
Remnants of the Dana Point Inn are a highlight of the trail. You will pass through the old arches that were built in 1929-1930. The inn development project was soon after abandoned due to the stock market crash and subsequent Great Depression.
The Hide Drogher Statue
After the Dana Point Inn, you will come across a tribute to the early days of the area. The trail simulates one used in the 1800s by ranchos to deliver cowhides to yankee sailors. Hides were tossed from the cliffs to the crews on the beach below.
East Entrance
You will conclude your journey of the Bluff Top Trail at the entrance on Violet Lantern. There is another nice overlook area at this entrance to stop and enjoy the view.
Heritage PArk and the Harbor
Heritage Park
Just one block east of the Violet Lantern entrance of Bluff Top Trail is the entrance to Heritage Park. From Bluff Top Trail walk along El Camino Capistrano to the Heritage Park Entrance on Golden Lantern. Walk down the sidewalk on Golden Lantern half a block and you will enter the Doris Walker Overlook. The overlook has near 360 degree views of the harbor, ocean, and Dana Point. In the center of the overlook is a giant compass rose with a tribute plaque to Doris Walker on the edge.
As you explore further into Heritage Park, you will follow paths and descend to a series of grass knolls. At the eastern end of the park is a path down to Harbor Drive.
Dana Point Harbor
From Heritage Park, you can add to your walking tour and follow a trail down to Harbor Drive and visit the Dana Point Harbor. The harbor has shopping, dining, water crafts sports, and Baby Beach. It also features its own series of walking paths. You can start from The Wharf and Mariner’s Village follow the walking path along the drive to the Dana Point Pier. Then walk along the marina towards the Island Drive Bridge. Crossing over to the Islands, you will first see Richard Henry Dana Statue. Take the peaceful loop first to West Island, where you’ll see the Dana Point Yacht Club. Then you can follow the length of the Main Channel, watching small craft boaters, paddler boarders, and kayakers enter and leave the marina. At the end of East Island, you will want to sit at one of the benches in the park area and watch the whale watching vessels, large craft boaters, and Catalina Ferry enter and leave the harbor.
This tour took you along the major overlooks of Dana Point for selfie and vacation photo ready shots. It also took you through two of the shopping and dining highlights of Dana Point: the Lantern District and the Dana Point Harbor. This will be a day of hiking and sightseeing you won’t forget.
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