Sunset sessions in Dana Point

Dana Point, California

Sunset and golden hour times for planning your evening session.

After-work glass-offs in Dana Point can rival dawn patrol on good days. Afternoon thermals die, the crowd thins, and these 4 west-facing breaks catch the last clean sets of the day.

Sunset

6:30 PM
Golden Hour: 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM

Day length: 11h 41m

-2 min vs yesterday

Sunrise

6:49 AM

First light: 6:19 AM

Sunset

6:30 PM

Last light: 7:00 PM

Data from Doheny Beach · Updated daily

7-Day Sun Schedule

Today(Today)

Sunrise

6:49 AM

Sunset

6:30 PM

Day Length

11h 41m

Tomorrow

Sunrise

6:50 AM

Sunset

6:28 PM

Day Length

11h 39m

Fri, Oct 9

Sunrise

6:51 AM

Sunset

6:27 PM

Day Length

11h 36m

Sat, Oct 10

Sunrise

6:51 AM

Sunset

6:26 PM

Day Length

11h 34m

Sun, Oct 11

Sunrise

6:52 AM

Sunset

6:25 PM

Day Length

11h 32m

Best sunset surf spots in Dana Point

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Featured Beaches(4)

Doheny Beach

Beginner friendly

Doheny State Beach offers Orange County's second-easiest learning wave after San O' Dogpatch, rated 4/10 overall but 6/10 for beginners.

Doheny State Beach

Beginner friendly

Doheny State Beach offers Orange County's second-easiest learning wave after San O' Dogpatch, rated 4/10 overall but 6/10 for beginners.

Salt Creek

Beginner friendly

Salt Creek delivers 8/10 quality across three distinct sections. The Point produces extremely rippable left pointbreaks when sandbars align; Middles offers wedgy A-frames year-round; Gravels reef breaks with board-breaking power.

Strands

Beginner friendly

Strands is a beach break in Dana Point, CA. It is suited for beginner-intermediate surfers. Watch out for rip currents, pollution.

Sunset session picks in Dana Point

West-facing beaches with golden hour potential and evening access.

Doheny Beach
beach
beginner
4.3(3)

**Doheny State Beach** offers Orange County's second-easiest learning wave after San O' Dogpatch, rated 4/10 overall but 6/10 for beginners.

Beach facing
S-facing (170°)
Evening access

Use official state-beach access and keep learners in the supervised, open sandy sections.

Doheny State Beach
beach
beginner
4.0(13)

**Doheny State Beach** offers Orange County's second-easiest learning wave after San O' Dogpatch, rated 4/10 overall but 6/10 for beginners.

Beach facing
S-facing (170°)
Evening access

Use official state-beach access and keep learners in the supervised, open sandy sections.

Salt Creek
beach
beginner-intermediate
4.1(17)

**Salt Creek** delivers 8/10 quality across three distinct sections. The Point produces extremely rippable left pointbreaks when sandbars align; Middles offers wedgy A-frames year-round; Gravels reef breaks with board-breaking power.

Beach facing
SW-facing (236°)Golden hour
Strands
beach
beginner-intermediate
3.8(18)

Strands is a beach break in Dana Point, CA. It is suited for beginner-intermediate surfers. Watch out for rip currents, pollution.

Beach facing
SW-facing (243°)Golden hour

Sunset session tips

  • West-facing beaches for stunning sunset views
  • Often cleaner afternoon conditions
  • Golden hour photography opportunities
  • After-work session favorites

Surf Guides for Dana Point

Conditions

Dawn Patrol
Best early morning sessions
Sunset Sessions
You're here
Tide Windows
Optimal tidal conditions
Water Temperature
Conditions & wetsuit guide

Style

Beginner Spots
Gentle waves for learning
Longboard Spots
Mellow waves for logging

Frequently Asked Questions

About surfing in Dana Point

The best sunset sessions in Dana Point are at Doheny Beach, Doheny State Beach, Salt Creek. These spots offer stunning golden hour views while you ride.
Yes! Afternoon often brings cleaner conditions as morning onshore winds die down. Plus, the golden hour light and fewer crowds make for magical sessions.

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