OUTDOOR PLANNING
Before you go in the water
Checking county postings…
Orange County's beaches run from Seal Beach to San Clemente, each with its own access, lifeguard coverage and water-quality postings. Check the beach you choose before you go.
Before you head to the beach
Orange County beach conditions
Orange County's coast runs about 42 miles from Seal Beach to San Clemente, with city, state and county beaches, harbors and coves in between. Conditions differ by beach; check posted flags, lifeguard instructions and current county advisories before swimming.
Water-quality advisories
The OC Health Care Agency samples ocean and bay waters and posts closures, postings and rain advisories on OC Beach Info. Check the posting date; this site does not infer a current advisory status from old results.
OC Beach Info water-quality advisories →Tides and regional waves
Newport Bay entrance (NOAA station 9410580) is the tide reference, and the Capistrano Beach Nearshore buoy (NDBC 46285) provides wave and water-temperature observations off south Orange County; neither is a beach safety guarantee or a surf forecast for a particular beach.
View the regional readings →County beaches and harbors
OC Parks manages county beaches and harbors, including Aliso, Salt Creek, Capistrano and Dana Point Harbor; cities and California State Parks manage the others. Check the managing agency for parking, hours and access before you go.
OC Parks beaches →Hours and availability change, so check with each place before you go.