Poche Beach
Capistrano Beach, CA
Poche Beach is a genuine local spot reached by simple foot access, a smaller and quieter stretch of sand between the bigger beaches at Capistrano and San Clemente. It doesn't draw the crowds its neighbors do, which is exactly the appeal for regulars.
A genuinely quiet, easy-access stretch of sand that gets passed over for its bigger neighbors, worth it if crowds are the concern.
How we score beachesThis is a real local's pick precisely because it's smaller and easy to overlook next to the bigger beaches nearby.
Dogs are not allowed at Poche Beach.
Orange County's water takes until late summer to really warm up, climbing into the low 70s by September.
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