Dana Point Harbor Waterfall: One of SoCal’s Most Spectacular Seasonal Waterfalls
Over the past few years, California has been in a drought, and the waterfalls that are prevalent in Southern California have been nothing more than a trickle. 2017 changed this though, with a ton of rain that led to strong flows from some of the most elusive waterfalls, like this one in Dana Point Harbor. If you are in Orange County after a good rain, then you should head down and see this impressive tropical waterfall. Here is all the information.
Details
- Only flows after a good rain
- Location: Dana Point Harbor Drive near the West Marina
- Parking available along the street
- This information is from my visit in 2017
Getting There
If you set your GPS to Dana Point Harbor that will take you most of the way to the waterfall. After passing Island Way St on Dana Point Harbor Dr, you will see the waterfall off to the right. Chances are there will be a lot of cars there as well if it is flowing, so you will know you are in the right place. There is parking along the street, but make sure to read the signs.
The Waterfall
After finding street parking, you can walk right up to the waterfall, which is visible from the street and requires less than a 1 minute walk.
The waterfall is man-made as it is fed by a massive concrete pipe that funnels water under Pacific Coast Highway. The water flows through the pipe and down this waterfall into the harbor below.
When we went on January 22, 2017, the waterfall was flowing like crazy from three days of nearly endless rain. It was a sight to behold.
Everything was muddy and slippery, so you had to take your time walking around the area and taking it all in.
There was a constant flow of people coming to see the waterfall and take photos of it, and I imagine this area becoming more and more popular as more people hear about it.
I enjoyed seeing such a spectacular waterfall as it reminded me of something you would see on a tropical island with the palm trees all around. It was a force of nature, with how much water was flowing out of it, so be careful if you make your way over close to it. Be sure to check it out and let me know what you think in the comments.
