Strands

Strands is a beach break in Dana Point, CA, covered by a free live cam from City of Dana Point.

About the Break

Strands is a long stretch of sandy beach break south of Dana Point Harbor, with several peaks along its length that work best on south swells and offer a mellower, more family-friendly lineup than the harbor’s rockier spots. As a sand-bottom beach break, it’s generally well suited to longboarders, intermediate surfers, and anyone working on their pop-up — more forgiving than reef or point breaks, without a sharp takeoff zone or fixed hazard.

Surf Etiquette at Beach Breaks

Beach breaks tend to be more forgiving on etiquette than reef or point breaks: because the sandbars shift and there’s rarely one single best takeoff spot, the lineup is usually more spread out and less territorial. Still, the basics apply everywhere — the surfer closest to the peak has right of way, don’t drop in on someone already riding a wave, and take a moment to watch the lineup before paddling out if you’re new to it. Every break has its regulars, and a little patience goes a long way.

About the Cam Host

The cam is provided by City of Dana Point, the municipal government of the City of Dana Point, California (33282 Golden Lantern), which runs the Strands Surf Cam for beach monitoring. Watch Live Cam →

Location & Access

Strands sits on the Pacific coast in Dana Point, Orange County, California. See the California surf guide for the full regional picture →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Strands surf cam free to watch? Yes — every cam in the directory is free and public, no login required.

Where exactly is the camera? At City of Dana Point in Dana Point, CA — see the map above.

Are there other free surf cams nearby? Yes — see Nearby Live Cams below.